Six Tips for Saving Money When Dining Out

Dining out can be expensive when it’s a regular habit. Sometimes we have no choice but to go out for breakfast or lunch. It might be to celebrate a friend’s birthday, farewell a colleague or meet with a supplier or client.

So what to do if your budget is tight but you still have to dine out? Here are six tips for doing so without burning a big hole in your pocket, compliments of Box Diner, a Canberra café in the heart of Fyshwick, an industrial, retail and office area in the ACT.

First, be the one to suggest where to dine. Selecting a place like Box Diner will help because the menu is designed around various price points. While this Fyshwick cafe dishes up a Big Box Breakfast for $22.50, which has ‘the lot’, it also offers tasty options to start your day for as low as $6, such as spiced Turkish raisin toast with espresso creamed butter.

Second, plan ahead. A bit of planning can help you save. Bring something light from home to munch on before heading out to a café, like crackers and cheese or fruit. Then you can more reasonably priced item from the café’s menu. Box Diner, for example, has a 9” baguette for only $9 and a champagne poached pear salad with blue cheese, walnuts and baby spinach for $12.

Third, select a café that offers daily specials. Box Diner has $10 cheese burgers on Tuesdays, $10 pasta on Wednesdays, and $10 bacon and eggs at breakfast on Thursdays. And the Fyshwick café has 2 for 1 coffee Monday mornings.

Fourth, select a café that offers BYO, but be careful since some corkage charges are expensive and almost defeat the purpose. Box Diner’s BYO charge is only $2.50 per person.

Fifth, check out loyalty programs. With Box Diner’s coffee loyalty cards you will earn yourself a free hot drink. Buy seven and get one free. And this Canberra café also has a loyalty card for ‘food to go’.

Sixth, opt for something small. Box Diner offers small slices and pastries which means you can enjoy a sweet without spending a fortune - starting at $2.50 for something small but tasty.

In this day and age, eating out is hugely popular and at times we end up having to go to a café when we’d prefer not to for budget reasons. The good news is that applying these tips will help ease the pain and ensure you still have a great time while eating at a café

Box Diner, Canberra café in Fyshwick, ACT. Open Monday to Friday, 7am to 3pm. 65 Tennant Street, Fyshwick, ACT. (02) 6202 5555. Dine in or take-away. Take-home dishes available. Corporate catering and party catering available. BYO.