How to Eat Out Without Breaking the Bank: Simple Ways to Save on Fast Food and more...

Discover smart and easy ways to save money while eating out with these budget-friendly tips and strategies to save on fast food! The following is a guest post by Todd Hebert from GlitchnDealz: In today’s economy, dining out even a few times a week can ... ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  View Online Here's what's new: How to Eat Out Without Breaking the Bank: Simple Ways to Save on Fast Food Join me for the FREE 10-Day Decluttering Challenge! (We start Monday!) My Honest Experience With Nourish How to Eat Out Without Breaking the Bank: Simple Ways to Save on Fast Food Discover smart and easy ways to save money while eating out with these budget-friendly tips and strategies to save on fast food! The following is a guest post by Todd Hebert from GlitchnDealz: In today’s economy, dining out even a few times a week can put a serious dent in your budget. But if you’re like many busy individuals, avoiding quick meals isn’t always practical. Between hectic schedules, after-school pickups, and long workdays, fast food often becomes the go-to option. How to Save Money Dining Out: Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to enjoy eating out while still being mindful of your spending. With the right approach, you can enjoy the convenience of restaurant meals without the financial guilt. 1. Join Loyalty Programs Many major chains offer free rewards programs that allow you to earn points for every purchase. These points often lead to free food, discounts, or exclusive deals. Whether it’s McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, or Taco Bell, signing up for their loyalty programs can pay off quickly! Many even offer a free item just for signing up and a free item on your birthday! It’s an easy and passive way to save every time you order. 2. Use Restaurant Apps for Exclusive Offers Downloading restaurant-specific apps is a smart move. Many apps provide access to exclusive coupons, surprise rewards, and app-only menu pricing. For example: Subway is known to release app-only deals, such as BOGO sandwiches and discounted combos. Sonic frequently offers weekly app-only deals. Recently, Pizza Hut has been offering $2 personal pizzas on Tuesdays with their app! Not only are these apps a great way to save money, but they also make mobile ordering quick and convenient. 3. Look for Promo Codes and Online Deals Before placing an order online or heading to a drive-thru, take a minute to search for current restaurant deals. A quick web search can often uncover discount codes, printable coupons, and combo offers that aren’t advertised in-store. These promotions change often, so staying informed is key to maximizing savings. Psst! We round up the best restaurant deals and free food every day! 4. Check Out Daily Specials Fast food chains and casual restaurants frequently offer day-specific specials. Whether it’s Pizza Tuesday or Wings on Tuesday, these rotating offers can be a game-changer for budget-conscious diners. Plan your meals around these specials, and you could enjoy a restaurant meal for less than what you’d pay cooking at home. 5. Order the Right Way Being strategic with your order can lead to immediate savings. Consider skipping the combo and ordering à la carte to avoid upsells. You can often save $2–$3 by avoiding sides and drinks. If you’re dining in, ask for a free water cup instead of purchasing a soda. These small choices add up over time. 6. Hack the Kids’ Menu Kids’ meals aren’t just for kids anymore. Many restaurants don’t enforce age limits on these smaller, lower-priced meals. They’re perfect for smaller appetites and often come with a drink and a side for a fraction of the price of adult-sized meals. It’s a budget-friendly choice that many overlook. 7. Use Deal Aggregator Sites Aggregator sites and mobile apps are a great way to track deals across multiple restaurants. These platforms compile discounts, limited-time offers, and ongoing specials from dozens of chains, all in one place. Subscribe to alerts from your favorite spots to stay informed without constantly checking individual sites. We regularly post restaurant deals and food freebies daily here on the site! 8. Stack with Cash Back Apps Apps like Ibotta, Rakuten, and Fetch Rewards allow you to earn cash back on restaurant purchases. Some partner directly with food chains, while others reward you for uploading your receipt. Combine these with loyalty points and online deals to triple-dip on savings. 9. Avoid Delivery Fees Delivery apps are convenient, but they often come with hidden costs like delivery fees, service charges, and tips that can quickly add up. When possible, place your order directly through the restaurant’s app or website and choose pickup instead. Many restaurants even offer curbside pickup to make it just as easy as delivery, minus the extra cost. 10. Follow Restaurants on Social Media Social media is a goldmine for limited-time offers and flash deals. Many brands announce new promotions, product launches, or giveaways through their social platforms. Following your favorite restaurants on Instagram, Facebook, or X is a simple way to stay ahead of the savings curve. (You can also follow our social pages for alerts to restaurant deals each day!) Final Thoughts Eating out doesn’t have to be an expensive habit. By combining loyalty programs, smart ordering, deal apps, and promo codes, you can significantly cut down your dining costs. A few extra steps before each meal can lead to consistent savings throughout the week! What are your favorite ways to save on dining out? We’d love to hear them in the comments below! You Might Also Like: Ask Crystal: How do I save money on groceries when costs keep increasing? How I Reverse Meal Plan Is it Possible to Eat Healthfully on a Budget? Ask Crystal: How much should you spend per person for food? 15 Ways to Eat Out on the Cheap 35+ Places to Eat Out with Kids that Don’t Cost A Fortune 6 Ways to Save Money at Culver’s The Master List of Kids Eat Free Restaurants 16 Ways to Save More at Restaurants Over 60 Freebies You Can Get On Your Birthday FREE DOWNLOAD: 60 Meals To Help You Avoid Takeout! Meal time just got so much easier!       Join me for the FREE 10-Day Decluttering Challenge! (We start Monday!) Clutter piling up in your home? Join the FREE 10-Day Decluttering Challenge to clear out space in your home and feel more calm! If you feel like your home is overflowing, if you’re tired of cleaning the same spaces over and over, or if you just wish you could breathe a little easier in your own home, I want to invite you to join me for the FREE 10-Day Decluttering Challenge! This is a fun, realistic, and doable challenge I put together to help you clear out clutter quickly! And I thought it would be so much more enjoyable if we were to do the challenge together, so I’m going to go through it live with all of you starting Monday, September 1st. The FREE 10-Day Decluttering Challenge is a simple, step-by-step plan to help you make a real difference in just 10 days. No marathon cleaning sessions. No giant to-do lists. No unrealistic expectations. Just quick, 15-minutes projects each day to build momentum and create a calmer, more peaceful home without adding more stress to your plate. How This Challenge Will Work Go sign up for the 10-Day Decluttering Challenge to get your free printable plan. Beginning today, you’ll get access to all 10 daily challenges. Each one takes about 15 minutes or less. Starting Monday (September 1st), I’ll be walking through the challenge myself and cheering you on every step of the way! I’ll invite you to share your before-and-after photos of your progress, and we’ll celebrate the little wins together each day! You can do all 10 days in a row, or spread them out to fit your life. Either way, every small step forward is one step closer to a more organized home! This Challenge Will Help You: Declutter everyday spaces like your purse, car, and junk drawer — one simple task at a time! Build real momentum with quick before-and-after wins (hello, clean countertops!). Feel more peace as clutter clears and space to breathe returns. Create calm in the places you walk into daily and feel the impact right away. Ditch the guilt, because this isn’t about doing it all. It’s about making small, intentional progress. Form habits that stick so your home stays peaceful long after the 10 days! Each day gives you one clear, doable project (most take less than 15 minutes!) that will help you create order, see visible progress, and breathe a little easier in your own home. Click here to sign up for the challenge now — it’s completely FREE!       My Honest Experience With Nourish Looking for a free dietitian online or online nutritionist consultation covered by insurance? I have been LOVING my Nourish dietitian and this is my completely honest review! Truly — it’s been life-changing for me! This One Small Step Has Been Quietly Transforming My Health (and It’s Covered by Insurance!) Are you wanting to make healthy changes in your diet but don’t know where to start? Struggling to hit your health goals or feeling overwhelmed by trying to stay on track? Two months ago, I made a decision that I honestly didn’t expect to have such a big impact. I signed up to meet with a Nourish dietitian. Not because I had a big health goal or some drastic change in mind, but because I was feeling a little stuck. I had been working out more, trying to be mindful of what I was eating, and wanting to better support my body through this full season of life. I figured it couldn’t hurt to get a little expert insight, especially since Nourish is fully covered by insurance under our plan. Honestly, I expected to get a few helpful tips on calories and macros. I didn’t expect it to shift so much of how I view my body, my energy, my relationship with food, and even how I approach rest and recovery. But it has. And I’m so grateful. Let me tell you more about my honest experience with Nourish… What Is Nourish? Nourish is a virtual platform that connects you with a registered dietitian — someone trained to help you with everything from emotional eating and hormone health to energy levels and gut issues — all from the comfort of your own home. Instead of handing you a one-size-fits-all meal plan or a strict list of foods to avoid, your Nourish online dietitian walks with you step-by-step. They listen to your goals. They help you build habits. They offer insight on how nutrition, sleep, stress, and movement work together. And they empower you to nourish your body well — without shame, restriction, or overwhelm. My Completely Honest (+ Very Vulnerable) Nourish Dietitian Review To be honest, I was hesitant at first. I wasn’t sure I needed an online nutritionist consultation. I wondered if my health goals were “big enough” or if it would be worth the time. But I also knew I wanted to take better care of myself. I felt a little foggy some days. I wanted accountability and clarity, and deep down, I wondered if I was giving my body what it needed to thrive. That first call with my Nourish dietitian? It blew me away. She helped me understand how the stress and depletion of the last few years — pregnancies, nursing, fostering, adopting a child with disabilities, caregiving, running a business, and raising six kids — had left me running on fumes. She walked me through how undereating and undersleeping were actually slowing down my metabolism and affecting my mood and hormones. She didn’t guilt me. She didn’t overwhelm me. She encouraged me and gave me clear, simple steps I could take that very week. What I’m Learning from My Nourish Dietician Every session has been eye-opening. Not because of some radical overhaul… but because of how freeing and healing it’s been to undo old beliefs. My dietitian has helped me: Identify and challenge long-held beliefs about food and weight. Realize how often I’ve equated worth with a number on the scale. Shift from restriction to nourishment. Take baby steps toward what she calls “food freedom” — where food supports your life, not controls it. It’s emotional work, too. But so, so worth it. Making the Most of Your Free Dietitian Online If you decide to sign up (which I highly recommend if you’re curious!), here are a few tips to make the most of your online nutritionist consultation: Track your eating, movement, and sleep for a few days ahead of your first call (I used MyFitnessPal and my Oura ring). Bring questions or struggles you want help with — even small things like “I snack all day and feel tired after lunch.” Share your health history (I even brought my bloodwork to our second session!). Be honest and open — this isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress. How Much Does a Session Cost with a Nourish Dietitian? If you’re wondering what a Nourish session might cost, here’s the exciting news: 94% of users pay $0 out of pocket when they use insurance! That’s right! You have a very good chance of being able to meet with a free dietitian online — right from the comfort of your own home. How cool is that?! I have been sharing about Nourish for the past 6 weeks or so, as I have been using it and benefiting from it, and I would say that number they give is quite accurate as the majority of my audience is also finding that Nourish is covered by their insurance, too. That said, every insurance plan is a little different — some may have a small copay or coinsurance — but Nourish does everything they can to keep your costs low and offers a simple insurance coverage calculator to help you know what to expect ahead of time. Here’s what you need to know: Most people pay nothing. Yes, really! The majority of users don’t pay anything out of pocket because Nourish is in-network with hundreds of insurance plans across all 50 states. You can check your coverage easily. Nourish makes it super simple to verify your insurance and see if there may be any copays or fees. No surprise bills. What your insurance says is what you’ll pay — no hidden costs or unexpected fees. All appointments are backed by the Nourish Guarantee to provide a no-surprise billing experience! Note: One of my followers was told that her insurance would cover Nourish and then that ended up not being the case. Nourish zeroed out her balance and didn’t charge her anything for the two sessions she had because of their Nourish Guarantee. Paying out of pocket? If your insurance doesn’t cover sessions, the self-pay rate is $145 per session — and you’ll know that up front. Why I Recommend It If you’re: Feeling stuck with your health goals Battling low energy or brain fog Walking through a tough postpartum season Wanting to build a better relationship with food Or simply needing some gentle accountability… I highly recommend checking out Nourish. This is one of the most grace-filled, personalized things I’ve done for myself in a long time. Ready to try Nourish? Head here to check if your insurance covers it: Nourish Dietitian Program If it does, you’ll get access to a caring, credentialed online dietitian covered by insurance who will walk with you, encourage you, and help you create a life that feels vibrant, nourished, and whole. Nourish FAQ How much does a Nourish session cost? 94% of users pay $0 out of pocket when they use insurance! Is Nourish really free with insurance? Yep! Most insurance plans cover it 100% and you’ll pay nothing out of pocket! One Last Personal Word… I had to share this text I sent to my accountability group a month ago. I still cannot believe that our insurance is paying for me to hire a dietitian — and I cannot believe how much it is changing my life and challenging me in such good ways. Whether you’re dealing with postpartum changes, low energy, hormone shifts, or stress eating — Nourish takes a whole-person approach. Your dietitian helps you connect the dots between nutrition, sleep, mood, and overall wellness. Go here to sign up and see if Nourish is covered by your insurance. More Links You’ll Love: 5 Steps to Start and Stick With Better Habits Greek Yogurt Bowl with Protein Powder (Easiest High-Protein Snack That is Delish!) 6 Tips to Find Motivation to Work Out Every Morning How to Find Time to Work Out Multiple Times Each Week 6 Strategies to Kickstart Your Morning Success (and get my habit tracker FREE!) If you’ve ever tried an online nutritionist consultation or free dietitian online, I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below! FREE Goal Setting Worksheets!  Let me help you set, track, and actually accomplish your goals this year!       Latest finds on Pinterest This Easy Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe is amazingly delicious and practically fail-proof! It's SO easy!! #breadmachine #cinnamonrolls #easycinnamonrollrecipe #easybreakfast #mothersdaybrunch Feeding Teenagers Without Breaking Your Budget (100+ Ideas!) Need some easy recipes or cheap meals for large groups? Here’s how we fed 27 people on our recently family vacation including the meals we made + how we divvied up the responsibilities! #menuplanning #menuplan #mealplan #easydinnerideas #dinner #dinnerideas #budget #grocerybudget #vacation #mealplanforgroup #mealplanforcrowd Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy Email subscriptions powered by FeedBlitz® • 650 E. Palisade Avenue Ste 2, PO Box 173 • Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632