Eating out at Tampa restaurants will always be associated in our minds as a sort of special event or occasion, especially when we were still children. A successful softball game can be celebrated at the local pizza joint, and a birthday was held at the restaurant of your choice.
Now that we’ve grown up and are capable of making our own choices in terms of where to eat, we’re faced with the dilemma of choosing to eat versus saving money. One of the very first tips that usually come up when it comes to saving money is that you should absolutely stop eating out at restaurants, save your money, and eat at home.
However, there will be times when you feel like you deserve a treat, whether it’s a special event, or simply a very long week at work. So how do you manage to indulge yourself once in a while and still manage to save? Read on for some of our tips.
Eat for free on your birthday
Plenty of restaurants, especially buffet restaurants, allow diners to eat for free if it’s their birthday. If you’re looking to celebrate your special day somewhere great, then you should look into local restaurants that offer this type of promotion.
If you’re not interested in eating at those restaurants and have already decided on a certain restaurant, check out their website and see if they offer any birthday discounts or promos that you can use on your birthday.
Split a large meal
Food portions at Tampa restaurants are huge, and if you’re looking to spend a night out with a significant other or friends, you can easily split a large meal without going hungry. This way, you can still get a full meal, and still, manage to cut the cost of your meal.
Avoid ordering drinks
The markup on drinks at restaurants can be pretty high, especially when you take into consideration how much you’d usually pay for them at supermarkets. Avoid the alcohol and the sodas, as these beverages are usually the ones that are marked up the most.
If you really want to drink alcohol with your meal, you can ask ahead and ask the restaurant about their policy regarding the corkage involved with bringing your own drinks. And if you’re looking to drink something at dinner, then simply ask for service water. It won’t cost you anything, and it’s always good to drink more water.
Eat at home
If all else fails, you can simply take out something from your favorite Tampa restaurants, and eat it in the safety and comfort of your own home. You won’t have to pay for a tip, a service charge, or a delivery fee, plus, you can mix your own drinks at home.