6 ways to eat out on the cheap

“Less is more” has been the mantra for countless consumers in the current environment marked by high inflation and rising interest rates. That’s especially true when it comes to dining out.

As of the February Consumer Price Index, prices at restaurants, fast-food joints and other away-from-home establishments are up 8.4 percent year over year. Meanwhile eating at home will

cost you an 10.2 percent more than a year ago. ​ “Between labor and ingredient shortages, coupled with the unpredictability of transportation, it has led to rising consumer costs,” says

Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com. “Food manufacturers are experiencing delays waiting for ingredients and in the end they are paying higher prices, so they are charging higher prices.

It’s hard to tell if food costs will go down,” he notes. “More times than not, when costs rise they stay that way.”​ Without a doubt you’ll pay more to eat out, but that doesn’t mean you

can’t splurge from time to time. There are ways to indulge without breaking the bank.​ 1. TIMING IS EVERYTHING Demand plays a role in the prices you pay at a restaurant. If you dine out at

prime time expect longer waits and higher prices. But if you visit the establishment during slower times, you’ll be seated quickly and you’re apt to get a discount. “Restaurants are more

likely to offer deals when they experience slow periods; that’s why you can enjoy cheaper meals and appetizers during happy hour or late at night,” says Andrea Woroch, a money consultant.

“Going out for lunch over dinner is another way to snag cheaper meals. Many restaurants offer lunch specials, some of which you may not be able to finish and could be eaten for dinner later

that night.”  2. SHOW YOUR LOYALTY TO SAVE Many restaurants offer loyalty programs that often are free and enable you to earn discounts on future orders and snag freebies. Woroch points to

Panera Bread’s MyPanera loyalty program as one example. Not only do you rack up points for each purchase that can be used for a future order but you get a free pastry, sweet treat or bagel

when you make a purchase within two months of signing up. Restaurants aren’t the only ones that give older adults a discount on their meals. With an AARP membership you get a percentage off

at a slew of restaurants across the country.  3. DOUBLE DOWN WITH COUPONS To get more patrons through their doors, many restaurants offer coupons. There are a plethora of ways to find these

deals, whether you are tech-savvy or old school. “You can find dining coupons in local entertainment books, on the back of grocery and other local business receipts, snag daily deals for up

to 60 percent off restaurants via Groupon or LivingSocial, or check online at sites like CouponCabin.com,” says Woroch. ​