Dinner Hack #1

Let’s face it – going out for dinner is sometimes a challenge with children, but there’s no cooking, no dishes and if there is an indoor kids zone, free entertainment and couple time…..just like the old days?? Maybe, not quite!

Before kids, going out for dinner once a fortnight seemed affordable - a meal and drink set you back $60 for the night (or cheaper without the drink! - Remember I am not talking fine dining restaurants here…...)

Then kids came along and when you dared to venture out for dinner (at 5.30pm) you shared your meal with them…..still $60…

Then the appetite increased and the all-inclusive ‘kids meals’ with drink and ice cream was only $12.50! But you know the chips and nuggets or spag bog really only cost the restaurant $5 and the kids barely ate any of it!

What a waste!!!!... You are thinking – Waste of Money and Waste of Food!

This was our family when our kids insisted on having their own meals….it didn’t seem to matter so much when there was one child….but when there were two…the wastefulness really hurt…so what did we do?

We sussed out the local pubs and restaurants that were family friendly and worked out which nights they had their KIDS EAT FREE NIGHT!

Boom! $25! Back in our pocket and if you are a regular fortnightly (bi-weekly for the non-Aussie folk) then this is a saving of $650 a year! Now we don’t tend to go out that often but it made me think about how just changing the night we ate out could save us a small fortune.

Now if you are a parent that is very unimpressed with the nutritional value of the kids menu or know they will just eat the chips….then here are some other options:

• Instead of a meal…buy the sides: $6 bowl of chips is $6 saved!

• Add some veggies: $6 and vitamin hit for the same price as a kids meal – plus you don’t have to deal with the sugar filled soft drink and less then frozen ice cream on offer!

• Buy a starter/Entree – usually more nutritious and cheaper than the kids pack

• Buy a main meal and halve it! – This is my favourite as the meals are larger and have more options.

• Whether you have kids or not….skip the drinks! Water is very hydrating for your body….and your wallet!

Or, better yet – only go out once a month and save over $1,000 (full tote) or $720 on Kids Eat Free nights!

I’d love to hear how you manage to balance the pennies while eating out whether you have a family or are fabulously single!!!

- Coach Rach