Eating out still an option for single moms on college scholarships
November 14, 2012
Cutting expenses is one of the biggest goals that college scholarship recipients trying to balance home, kids, work and school have to deal with. As such, a lot of the time fun activities get pushed off the table because absorbing the expense is just out of the question. Eating out at restaurants is one of those activities, but it can be a fun trip for kids and a night off from cooking for mom. The issue becomes how to afford such an excursion while trying to balance a budget.
For single moms with college scholarships, there are ways of going out to dinner without breaking the bank. Finding opportunities to do so is the trick.
Kids eat free
This is a common restaurant incentive designed to bring parents in and spend more money, but when executed properly, it can save a lot of money on the final bill. This policy usually applies to the meal itself, so avoid appetizers or special beverage options. Sodas and water have free refills, and sometimes coffee as well.
It may not be fine dining, but establishments like Denny's may offer this option, though it may not be every day of the week. South University wrote that the average cost of a childrens' meal is about $7, so more than one child on the tab can drive the final price much higher. Looking online at local restaurants can give single moms with college scholarships a much better idea of what establishments offer the best deals.
Shop online
If getting a freebie isn't an available option, there are ways of reviewing costs before going out to eat to ensure prices will be reasonable for single moms with college scholarships. MenuPages, Grubhub and other online resources show what kinds of food restaurants offer and what they charge for it, allowing single moms to plan their trips before they head out.
Usually, appetizers are much too expensive to add to a bill, and dessert is also unnecessarily expensive. If kids are still hungry after eating out, going home for store-bought ice cream is a better alternative than spending twice as much at the restaurant.
