Saving Money by Sharing and Cut Your Restaurant Costs in Half

You shouldn’t have to give up the luxury of going out to eat with co-workers or friends during your well-deserved lunch break just because prices continue to rise. This is probably happening because the average portion that is given to people at restaurants is twice the size it was just a decade ago. No wonder our obesity rate continues to sky rocket! Maybe this is also the reason for our national debt. 

Okay, maybe I can’t blame the food industry for our national debt, but going out to eat does cost me a lot of money. Splitting my entrée with my friend or co-worker will cut this in half and it will help me with portion control as well.

When you decide to “share” your entrée with your friend or co-worker at lunch, you will both save money and calories.  Be smart by splitting entrees that are easy to share, such as sandwiches or burgers that can easily be cut in half, large salads that can be divided between two plates, or grilled items that frequently include two pieces.  Of course, pizzas, quesadillas and fajitas are also very easy to share.

And be sure to order just water to save another 20-25% off your bill.   

If I spent an average of $50 a week over the course of my expected 30 year career, it would equal a little under $75,000, just on lunch alone. Although I always thought I was going to inexpensive restaurants for lunch, it still added up over the course of a week and definitely would have over the course of my career. Just by splitting my entrée with a co-worker, I cut this amount in half. Not to mention the health benefits I received from just sharing with my friend.

Stephanie Nelson is the Coupon Mom. Her web site, http://www.couponmom.com/, has 6 million members, and she is established as the nation’s top expert in couponing across the country. Stephanie has been on every major national television talk show and taught millions how to save money for the past 11 years. She has been called ‘”the rock star of the recession” by the Washington Post and her book, The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half, is a New York Times best seller.