You deserve to be rewarded for living a frugal lifestyle, but you don’t want a night out to bust your budget. Here are some great ways to dine out and enjoy a bit of culture without breaking the bank.
Dining
The Early Bird Gets the Worm
A great way to enjoy fine cuisine for less is by taking advantage of early bird specials. This is a time when a restaurant typically has a low volume of customers, and lowers prices to try and draw diners in.
Off-Season Specials
If you live in a part of the country that draws tourists, you’re bound to have an off-season. Just like with the early bird specials, restaurants are eager to attract customers. This means lower prices for you.
Coupons for Cuisine
You can find coupons for top-notch restaurants in a variety of ways. The Entertainment Book and Valpak mailings are filled with great restaurant deals. Other great resources for coupons include the local newspaper and the chamber of commerce. You can also get restaurant.com coupons which offer you gift certificates from your favorite restaurants for $2-5.
Back to School
Ever had dinner at a culinary institute? If not, you should. The prices are lowered because the chefs are in training, and sometimes you can even watch your meal being prepared. That means you get some entertainment included with the price of the meal!
Do Lunch
If there’s an exclusive, pricey restaurant you are just dying to check out, do it for lunch. Prices on a lunch menu can be as much as 25% lower for the same items found on a dinner menu. Better yet, some restaurants offer “business lunch” specials on top of the already reduced lunch menu prices.
Bargain Culture
Half-Price Ticket Booths
The world-famous TKTS Booth in New York City sells tickets to various Broadway shows on the day of the show for up to 50% off the regular price. This deal isn’t without its drawbacks, however. You may spend a very long time waiting in line, the tickets to the show you want to see may be sold out, and your tickets may be in a less than desirable section.
Two-Fers
These are vouchers that let you buy two tickets for the price of one. They look like tickets themselves, and can be found virtually anywhere you look. They can be found at hotel desks, near cash registers, and at newsstands. You won’t get into any hot shows with these vouchers, they are usually used to promote new shows that need to develop a following, but if you’re seeing a Broadway show at half-price, does it really matter? Another upside to the vouchers is that you don’t need to stand in line for hours to use them. You simply take them to the box office and purchase your tickets.
Previews and Matinees
A preview is essentially a dress rehearsal done in front of a live audience. You may see a few kinks that are still being worked out, but in general, a preview is the same as a regular show with the exception of price. Matinees are another option. They are lower in price because attendance is usually low. (Think back to the early bird concept at restaurants.) Your best bet to catch one of these shows is to go to the box office well in advance to purchase the tickets.
Student and Senior Discounts
This discount only applies to a select few, but it’s still a discount. Bring your student ID, or proof of age if you’re a senior citizen, and enjoy the reduced ticket price.
Thrifty Theater
If you truly love going to see shows, consider subscribing to the season of shows. While this requires substantial cash up front, the savings are significant when compared to what you’d spend on individual shows. You can save as much as 50% off ticket prices by becoming a subscriber. Subscribers also get extra benefits, such as great seats and the ability to change the dates of attendance without penalty, and advance notice of special events.
Now you have proof that a night out on the town doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Go find a babysitter and plan a nice evening out!