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Home > Smart Spending > Archives > 2008 > October > 16
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Something To Chew On: Use Those Restaurant Coupons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Coupon clippers, once regarded as socially challenged twerps, have become accepted, even applauded.
But the looks of admiration can turn chilly toward those of use who employ restaurant coupons. We’re like the lepers of the coupon community, especially at the nicer dining establishments.
That’s why I surreptitiously slip the precious money-saver beneath my credit card in the payment folder, lest somebody at the next table think, “Well, if he can’t afford the prices here, why doesn’t he just stick to Mickey D’s?”
Do you use restaurant coupons without shame?
Waiters have frowned at the sight of my coupon. One returned with my bill and announced loudly enough for anyone not plugged into an iPod to hear, “Sir, your coupon expired last week.”
I tend to hold out for buy-one, get-one-free coupons, obtained mostly from fliers in the mail. They have dried up lately, but I expect a new batch as the recession drives restaurant regulars back to their kitchens.
Online coupons are plentiful, but the sites I’ve found generally charge a small fee or knock off just a few dollars per meal. Have you discovered any two-for-one deals online?
Some organizations hawk entertainment booklets stuffed with restaurant coupons. You can usually recoup the cost of the booklet with your first outing. An advantage here is access to local, independent sites in contrast to the chains generally found on the Web.
I like to eat out. If I can knock 15 bucks off a $50 tab, which eventually provides me a bonus meal down the road, what’s the prob? It’s more dough in the restaurant’s cash register — and in the server’s pocket, since I don’t scrimp on the tip.
Hey, hungry coupon clippers, share your experiences at the finer eateries. Have you gotten snotty harrumphs from waiters? Have your tablemates embarrassingly covered their faces with napkins?
Or, frankly, my dears, do you not give a darn?
Check out Your Money for more tips for cheap and free fun and for general money saving tips.
