Saving money on restaurants

If I have one New Year’s resolution, it’s to spend less on eating out in 2012. Like many other Americans, I spent a lot of cash on dining at eateries last year, and my net income took a hit because of it. But if you don’t want to completely give up going out to eat, there are some good ways to find savings on dining in the New Year.

Be a coupon clipper

OK, you don’t necessarily have to clip coupons anymore – printing them is more likely. You can find more coupons on deal sites now than any retailer could ever snail mail to your front door. In addition to sites like Groupon and Livingsocial, check out Restaurant.com. But don’t forget to look for deals straight from your favorite establishment – many offer programs that give you freebies if you’re a frequent eater at their restaurant.

Split the meal

Serving sizes at dining establishments, especially in the U.S., are pretty generous. If you’re at all like me, you end up taking home leftovers and forgetting about them until a week later. Instead of wasting what could have been another meal, share with a friend. Order one meal and ask for two plates. Most places are more than happy to do this.

Don’t drink and eat

If you’re really looking for some savings, opt for water. Alcohol and other drinks are generally overpriced, tacking on a good amount to your bill. Ask for water only to keep the bill on the low side.

Hit up happy hour

You can also start saving money by visiting a restaurant during happy hour instead of during normal business hours. Happy hours usually occur from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the week. It’s a great way to meet up for a quick meal right after work – or before work depending on your profession. Most establishments will list their happy hour on their website.

Cook at home

Of course, the most obvious road to savings is to cook at home. But cooking at home doesn’t have to be a drag. I like to invite friends over and learn to cook new things. There are plenty of recipe – and instructional cooking – sites online. Foodnetwork.com, simplyrecipes.com and allrecipes.com are some of my personal favorites. Google also makes it easy to find recipes – just type in what you want to make and click on “Recipes” under the “Search” section on the left side of the screen.

How do you plan to save on dining out in 2012?