How to Spend Less Money at Fast Food Restaurants

Most folks try to save money where they can, and that includes making an effort to spend less money in fast food restaurants. It can be done—even with kids bobbing up and down and begging for goodies. You just have to take a firm stand.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Decide what you're having before walking in the door. Let's face it—burger places, taco havens and chicken joints rarely change the menu. You already know what they're serving, so don't wait until your family is inside with growling stomachs before making a decision on what to eat. Write down your order ahead of time and stick to your list.
2. Opt for water instead of expensive sodas. If you must order drinks, ask if the restaurant has free refills. If so, get small drinks instead of large ones. Child-sized drinks are considerably less expensive than super-sized big slurps. Get little drinks for everyone and send the kids over to refill them on occasion.
3. Share large portions whenever you can. Do you want to giganticize that order of French fries? Why yes, you do…and the chicken nuggets/wings/tenders, too. One huge order is usually enough food for two people—three if they're children. It costs less than buying every person his own meal.
4. Look over the cheap "specials" menu before reading the regular one. Stay mindful of portions to determine best value, but order off the cheap menu whenever it makes sense to do so.
5. Make a "No Dessert" rule and stick to it. Most fast food places serve more than enough food for a meal. Most people don't need the extra calories or the expense. If you know you'll want dessert, keep chewing gum in your car. When you're finished eating, you can freshen your breath and forget about fast food desserts at the same time.