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Saving money is rarely fun when it feels like you’re depriving yourself. But what if you could save money without sacrificing things you love, like going out to restaurants?
In the list below, you’ll find several money moves that could keep more cash in your wallet so you can still afford to eat out. They won’t make you rich, but they’ll help you save money, earn cash, and much more.
Rethink your insurance
Raising your insurance deductible might help you lower premium costs. This can be a great way to save, but only if you have enough cash to cover a higher deductible without going into debt.
If that is not your situation, there are still ways to save on insurance. Call your agent and discuss possible discounts.
Many insurers offer price breaks for being a careful driver, a good student, or having more than one car insured with the company, for example.
Ohio Driver? Cancel your car insurance
We've got bad news. You could be wasting $600 every year on overpriced, second-rate car insurance. And you should probably cancel your existing insurance right now, because there's something much better.
Our tool can tell you if you're overpaying for your car insurance in just a few clicks. We match drivers with companies that report saving drivers up to $600 or more per year when they switch! Each driver’s savings will vary by driving history and how many discounts you’re eligible for. And once you try it out, you'll never have to look for affordable insurance again because we find you the lowest rates that other companies can't match.
Oh, and it's also free. And come on — you can't tell us you don't want to save up to $600. To find out if you're losing up to $600 or more a year, just answer a few questions, and then make sure to enter your zip, DOB, and email, to see if you qualify for a lower rate. It takes less than 2 minutes.
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Transfer debt to a 0% interest card and pay it off
If you have high-interest credit card debt, consider seeing if you qualify for a balance-transfer credit card with a 0% introductory interest rate.
Once you transfer the debt, your monthly payment will decrease, thanks to the lower interest rate. That buys you some time during the promotional period to cut down your debt before the interest rate on the card jumps.
Pay no interest on balance transfers into 2026
Imagine getting 18 months with 0% intro APR on a balance transfer. Sounds great — right? You could dramatically change your financial picture with this industry-leading card - the Citi Double Cash® Card.
If you want to kick high-interest credit card debt to the curb, this is one of the leading get-out-of-debt cards available. Transfer your high interest debt to this card with a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After the intro period for balance transfers, the APR is 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable). Your payments can go directly to paying down your balance without incurring a pile of additional charges. That could save you hundreds of dollars in interest!
It doesn't stop with balance transfers though. Cardholders can also earn double cash back — 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25. Even better, you can redeem your cash back as direct deposit, a statement credit, or even a mailed check! You can turn your everyday purchases into cash back and make a dent in your debt, regular bills, or save for the future.
The best part? There's no annual fee with the Citi Double Cash® Card(Rates and fees).
Earn Cash Back Twice
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Current Offer
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25
Shop online instead of driving to the store
The price of gas can add up. A great way to beat pain at the pump and make your dollar stretch further is to order items and groceries online.
You’ll save on fuel, and you can comparison shop from home to ensure you get the best deal. It’s a win-win.
Check for coupons or promotions
This tip is old, but gold: Always be on the lookout for coupons or promotions that help you save at local restaurants. This can be in the form of:
- Rewards associated with your checking account
- Birthday specials
- Discount gift cards
- Promotions via apps
- Gift certificates you get from an employer
- AARP discounts
Of course, be sure to read the fine print, as some deals may exclude items like alcohol or may only be valid during certain hours. Still, these coupons can really add up, especially if you use them regularly.
Pro tip: Looking for a great Costco hack? The retailer often sells gift cards to popular restaurants for a discounted price.
If you’re over 50, take advantage of massive discounts and financial resources
Over 50? Join AARP today — because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks. When you start your membership today, you can get discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, prescriptions that aren’t covered by insurance and more.
How to become a member today:
- Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today”
- Create your account (important!) by answering a few simple questions
- Start enjoying your discounts and perks!
You’ll also get insider info on social security, job listings, caregiving, and retirement planning. And you’ll get access to AARP’s Fraud Watch Network to help you protect your money, as well as tools to help you plan for retirement.
Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (Do not skip this step!) Doing so will allow you to take up 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.
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Become a member and enjoy discounts on things like travel, meal deliveries, eyeglasses, and more.
Use a rewards credit card
When used responsibly, the best rewards credit cards offer a great way to save. Find a card that suits you and use it to pay for regular purchases. You’ll accrue points you can redeem for travel, cash, or other perks.
Paying your balance in full each month is the key to making this tip work. If you don’t pay the bill in full, you might pay more interest fees than you earn in rewards.
Earn up to $150 in cash when you shop at Amazon
There's a credit card that's making waves this holiday season. The Discover it® Cash Back(Rates and fees) card has no annual fee, and through the end of 2024, you could earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 of Amazon.com purchases when activated.
But ... you could double that 5% cash back to 10% with a rare welcome offer: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. The result? You could earn up to $150 — basically from doing your holiday shopping at Amazon (which we all do anyway).
After that, earning max cash back all year is simple. You can earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum when you activate, including gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. Plus, you'll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically. And remember, all of that cash back from your first year gets doubled with the welcome offer.
Accepted by 99% of merchants, if you want cash back, the Discover it® Cash Back card can help put more back in your wallet.
Annual fee: $0
Split restaurant entrees or order appetizers
Few things are more enjoyable than dining out at a favorite restaurant with people you love. However, the cost of eating out can add up quickly.
Instead of eliminating restaurant expenses, try splitting an entree or ordering an appetizer rather than a main dish. You might also find great deals on food during weekday happy hours.
Don't ignore the weekday specials
If you go to a particular restaurant frequently, or even if you’re trying out a new place, don’t ignore the weekday specials. These could be everything from the weekly lunch specials at your go-to Thai restaurant to the items written on the board each week at your local diner.
Restaurants frequently offer these meals in hopes you will keep coming back, or in an effort to bring in new business. By ignoring such specials, you could be missing out on staple favorites or creative offerings that are slightly cheaper than the rest of the menu.
Opt for happy hour
Happy hour got its name for a reason: It’s a special time of day when restaurants offer discounted food and drinks to pull in customers when traffic might be slower than peak times, such as lunch and dinner.
You can get more bang for your buck by dining during happy hour — think 2-for-1 drink specials, cheap pub snacks, and discounted small plates — even if it means you’re going out a little earlier than you intended to.
Those who don’t drink alcohol should still check out the happy-hour food prices.
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- You could save up to $600 with some companies
- Compare dozens of providers in under 5 minutes
- Fast, free and easy way to shop for insurance
- Quickly find the perfect rate for you