If you’re going to eat out, go to lunch instead of dinner

Eating out can break a lot of habits at once, from saving money on food to throwing off your diet. However, if you’re going to indulge in eating out try to head to a restaurant for lunch instead of dinner.

As personal finance site, Five Cent Nickel explains, many restaurants have a different lunch and dinner menu, even though most of the food they serve is the same. However, there are two fundamental differences: lunch portions are often smaller, and they’re slightly cheaper. This can help both your diet and your wallet.

“Go out for lunch instead of dinner. Restaurant menus tend to be similar between lunch and dinner, so you can get the same entree. The main differences are portion size and price. Lunch entrees tend to be a bit smaller and cost less. You can have the same restaurant service experience at a fraction of the price if you go at lunchtime instead of in the evening.”

Of course, this only works if the restaurant you’re eating at has a different lunch menu. Take a look at online menus to find places that can save you some cash during the earlier hours of the day.

How to Save Money on Food | Five Cent Nickel