With the econony (and many real estate markets) performing, ummm let's say "slugglishly" to be polite, I am all about saving money!
OK, truth be told, it's my wife that is the saving nut and I'm just along for the ride. I don't mind saviung money (who does?) but I don't want it to painful, or feel like I'm living in the Great Depression (although for some, it is!) And, if you have ever met me, you probably have guessed that I enjoy a good meal - especially my favorite: Food Someone Else Made for Me!!
So, when my wife suggested that we trim back our dining out habits, well, it wasn't my favorite idea ever. But then I stumbled on the most amazing, wonderful, brilliant saving tip EVER!!!!! All in one swoop, I was saving buckets of cash, and getting to dine out as often as we (ok, I) want!!
Here's all you have to do: go to www.Restaurant.com and get a gift certificate, use a promo code, and you can go to any one of a zillion restaurants and pay $4 for $50 worth of food and/or beverages (or $2 for $25, etc).
Many people have heard of Restuarant.com, a website where you can buy a $25 gift certificate to one of dozens of particapating bars and eateries near you at a discounted rate. Sometimes it's a $10 coupon for $5, or $25 for $10. You get the idea.
What many people DON'T know is that if you search for a promo/coupon code online, there is always a code that gives you an extra 70-90% off. So, instead of getting my $50 gift certificate for $20, it only cost me $4. When I gave the waitress the coupon and saw $50 come off the bill, I couldn't have been any prouder, if I'd given birth to it.
OK, so where do you find these magic promo codes? There are a million sites that come up on a Google search for "promo code restaurant.com," but for no particular reason I like: http://www.obeythepurebreed.com/restaurant_coupon.html It's frequently updated, easy to navigate and has worked 100% of the time for me. (Side note: my wife Google's promo codes or coupons for any and everything she buys, and saves a bundle).
You can buy the coupons anytime online, and use them (or give them as gifts) at any time after that. Just print it out, hand it to the server, and enjoy the filet and lobster tail with a side of $46 savings!
The catch? Well, only that not EVERY restaurant is on restaurant.com, but (at least in the Philly area)the selection that does offer the discounts is so vast, even I would have trouble trying to work my way through the list. Also, typically you have to spend some specific amount (like $35 to use a $25 coupon, etc). Other minor inconveniences on some coupons are that they can be invalid on weekends, or drinks aren't included - but that varies from restaurant to restaurant, so read the details that accompanies each coupon before buying it.
So, to sum up - www.Restaurant.com saved my marriage....ok, maybe not, but it did save me a whole pile of cash, and with Christmas coming, that's a beautiful thing!!
Enjoy!
Joe Michalski
Sherlock Homes Inspections
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