Constantly on the lookout for new eating spots? Think plating food is a serious art form? You’re definitely a foodie. While curiosity is a great asset in your arsenal, eating out to indulge your taste buds quickly gets expensive. Enjoy tasty and unique food and avoid dreading the check. Follow these money-saving tips, so you can treat your fierce foodie soul with something other than a drab PB&J existence.
- Pack lunch for most days.
Eating out for lunch everyday is a sure way to develop an out-of-control food budget. Reign in your food enthusiam and save it for the weekend. Instead of eating out during the week, prepare enough food at home to sustain you at work.
Not up for the daily prep? Take a few hours on Saturday or Sunday to plan and cook all your meals for the next week. Do this frequently enough and you’re looking at savings of a few thousand pesos a month.
- Skip chips for veg.
The next time you cruise the aisles of your local supermarket, shop for items at the store’s perimeter. These areas are where you’ll find fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, and dairy products. These are the food you can’t inhale by the bag during a heavy Netflix marathon (e.g. chips, chocolates, candies, and cookies). They not only keep you full longer, but cost you less money and guilt in general.
- Break out your pots and pans.
In your quest for saving up for the meal-that-inspires-envy-in-all-foodies, you will want to learn the ways of the kitchen. Cooking at home is a great way to save money and try out dishes you would have to travel to other countries for.
If you’ve never held a skillet in your life, don’t despair. Start out with the basics—an omelette here, a tomato and basil pasta there. Once you’ve gotten decent, get some tips on technique from the many chef videos in Youtube. Hone your cooking skills enough and you might have trouble ordering something you can’t already prepare at home.
- Seek out happy hours and special promos.
If you do find yourself paying someone else to slave over a stove, plan to visit at the times when a restaurant is running specials. Knock off a few hundred pesos per drink during happy hour. Order for a special set menu for a discounted price.
Rewards from your debit or credit card can even entitle you to vouchers for participating establishments.
- Agree to split.
Leave the KKB (kanya-kanyang bayad) mindset at the doorstep. When eating out in large groups, share several entrees with your dining mates and split the bill. You get to sample more food—the ultimate goal of the serious foodie—and spread the cost of the meal around.
Got a regular foodie group? Keep tabs on who owes whom what by using a bill-splitting app.
- Don’t count out mom and pop.
It’s silly to think that the greatest meals only emerge from the kitchens of fancy restaurants. Amazing cooks are found everywhere. The best finds are often small operations that offer high quality with hard-to-beat prices. Seek out these establishments in your money-saving journey and you won’t have to scrimp to have a satisfying meal.
These money-saving tips can help you fix your budget in the long run. But if you have a special dine out planned sooner, apply for a PeraJet loan today and get your cash in a flash! Our application process is easy, secure, and worry-free.