You don’t have to sacrifice your whole budget every time you go out to eat, especially when you eat at chain restaurants. Though some foodies roll their eyes at the thought of enduring a chain restaurant, overall, Americans like the familiar sights and tastes of chain restaurants. Not only do they provide some familiarity and family-friendly eats, but they also provide lots of opportunities to save money when you eat out, especially if you frequent the same restaurants over and over again.
Here are some easy money-saving secrets your waiter doesn’t want you to know. Just make sure that when you use them, you tip your wait staff based on your pre-discounted amount. That way everyone walks away happy.
1. Sign up for their loyalty program
Pretty much every chain restaurant has some sort of loyalty program that rewards you just for eating there. It’s free to join, and you’ll get points for every dollar you spend. You can then redeem your points for free food. Because they want you to frequent their restaurant over their competitors, most restaurants will reward you relatively quickly. You might get a free burger after spending $50, for instance. It’s worth signing up for any loyalty program, even if you don’t think you’ll end up earning the rewards.
Next: You’ve got mail.