Beyond the Coupon

Smart Saving is More Saving

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Saving money is a good habit to adapt for anyone regardless of their financial state. Many of the nations wealthiest people became financially secure by saving more and spending less. If you are smart saving then you wont even notice where you are getting the extra cash.

Smart saving

Pay Your Bills Online

Using online services saves you money in postage and paying for checks. Not only will you be saving money but you will save time and trees!

Shop with Cash Only

Studies show that shoppers spend at least 30% more money if they are shopping with a credit card. When you shop with cash you are less likely to impulse shop and more considerate on how you are spending your hard earned money.

Plan a budget and track your spending

Seeing where you are spending your money will help you to realize what is unnecessary spending, then you can make changes accordingly.

Shop with a list

Shopping with a list will help to eliminate being persuaded by product marketing to purchase more expensive products. Go to the store with a purpose, browsing will lead to spending more money on products that you don’t need.

Pay more each month

Set aside a little extra cash each month to put towards significant debt. Paying an extra $50 a month on your car or house loan will save you thousands of dollars.

Go to the library

Skip spending money on movie tickets and check out what your local library has to offer in the movie section. Renting books and magazines is also much more efficient than paying for monthly subscriptions.

Buy discounted gift cards

If you plan your shopping outings going to websites such as giftcardrescue.com and purchasing a discounted gift card for your favorite stores could save you a lot of money!

Avoid bank fees

Make sure you use your own banks ATM, or just take out a certain amount of cash at the beginning of the week.

Photo Credit: Weheartit

7 Ways To Get Rich By Being Frugal

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Learning to live frugally is a difficult but fruitful lesson. Many of the millionaires in today’s society get rich by being frugal. There seven Frugal Habits will give you financial freedom. Simple techniques like only purchasing items on sale, using coupons, and buying discounted gift cards before you shop can make huge strides in attaining your long term goals.

Financial freedom

Habit One: Be Proactive

The first habit to develop is to take responsibility; if you fail, you have no one to blame but yourself. Regardless of how you were raised or how you were treated at school, you can choose your behavior now. Being proactive means understanding that YOU are in control of your day-to-day interactions, and thereby, the direction your life takes. This is in stark comparison to a reactive person, who is often affected by their environment and will find external sources to blame for their behavior. For example, if the weather is good, they’re in a good mood, but if the weather is bad, it affects them and they blame the weather for their bad mood.

What most people forget is that though you can’t control the stimulus, you can control your response. One of your most important choices is your words; the language you use is an effective indication of how you see yourself. If you use proactive language, such as “I can” or “I will,” you’re starting with a more positive attitude than someone who uses language like “I can’t” or “I have to” or “If only.”

How to be proactive for effective frugality:

  • Take the first step. You cannot take control of your finances until you make the commitment to do so; the more you ignore the situation, the worse it will get. Instead, take a long hard look at your finances — your budget, debts, income, and expenses, and try to understand where your money is going and where you can budget better. (To help you out, here are 25 ways to pay off your debt more easily.)
  • Tell people. Using proactive language to vocalize your hope of being more financially responsible not only helps you crystallize your goal, but it can also help you avoid the peer pressure that makes budgeting and frugality hard. If you explain to your friends and family that you’re trying to live a more frugal lifestyle, they’ll be less likely to pressure you into one more round of drinks or another dinner out.
  • Listen. Listen to yourself and to the reasons you give each time you make a purchase outside of your budget or decide not to put spare money into your savings account. Taking the time to stop and listen to the reasons you give yourself for spending more than you earn will give you the opportunity to hear just how shallow many of those reasons are. This can stop you from making purchases that impede your goal of effective frugality.

Finish the article on Moneyning

5 Ways To Be a Financially Secure Woman

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Being financially secure means different things to different people but we can all agree that saving money and smart money spending decisions can lead to financial freedom. By taking advantage of options that are available to you such as websites like giftcardrescue.com, that allows you to buy and sell gift cards at a discounted price, you can purchase your everyday necessities for less!

Mary Beth Storjohann, a certified financial planner, from DailyFinance explains ways to be a financially secure woman in todays world. 

1. Knowing Where Your Money Is Going — and Coming From

Whether you’re a full-time employee or self-employed, it’s impossible to create or build a plan around your finances if you don’t know what’s happening with your money first. Use a website like Mint, You Need a Budget, or Manilla as a starting point for tracking your money and build a spending plan. If you’re on a variable income, it’s even more important for you to get a handle on things. Once you’re synced up, you’re going to see the areas in which you’re over- (or under-) spending and where you need to make adjustments. Take note on what’s going towards saving for your future self and how much is going towards debt pay down.

2. Saving Routinely –- Set it and Forget it

Since women are known to live longer than men on an average basis – it’s even more important to build up an adequate cushion for those extra years. Saving on an ongoing, automatic basis sets you on a direct path to a healthy financial future. And not only are you training yourself to treat your savings like a bill payment, but you’re also taking advantage of compound growth along the way. If you’re using your savings account to fund your lifestyle when your checking account balance gets low, or throwing money aside “if” you have some left over, break those habits. Start saving routinely for emergency funds, retirement, and future goals.

3. Using Credit Wisely

Knowledge is power when it comes to the difference between good debt and bad debt. Student loans and mortgages are typically on the good end, while credit card and other consumer debt are on the bad end. Saving money into a “splurge” account to use instead of whipping out the plastic for impulse purchases is a great way to curb credit card use. Get into the habit of checking your credit score annually and being responsible by paying balances off in full each month or more than the minimum due to save interest build-up and reduce stress.

4. Knowing When to Say Yes and No

Saying no to items that can derail your financial plan, like last-minute vacations, dining out and impulse purchases. I’m not saying you can’t do these things. Savvy ladies just have a plan for these expenses. Say yes to career and educational experiences that add to your value and ability to earn an income. Women still earn less than men, on average. Your most valuable asset as a young professional is your ability to earn an income (human capital). Taking continuing education classes, reading personal development books, seeking out a mentor and staying current on trends and developments within your industry will enhance your earning power and ability to save.

5. Having Protection

As a powerhouse young woman, having the right kinds of protection in place will guard you against potential future income loss. Check on your disability, life, health, auto and home or renters insurance annually or when there are changes to your situation. Ensure you understand coverages, premiums and deductibles. Disability insurance is a big one. If something happened to you, taking you out of the workforce for an extended period, what would you live off of? Is your income protected? Also, having an estate plan in place if you’re over the age of 18 is just plain smart. Get a will and powers of attorney in case something happened to you. Communicate with those you designate powers to and make sure your wishes are documented. This habit makes it easier for you –- and your family and friends as well.

Top 11 Ways to Update Your Living Room For Less

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Sprucing up for the spring doesn’t have to be hard on your wallet. Giftcardrescue.com is bringing you these top 12 ways to update your living room for less. For more awesome ways to update your living room for less check out HGTV. To save even more, purchase discounted gift cards from your favorite stores to get the materials or new furniture you need.

1. Paint a feature wall 

Paint a feature wall

 

Creating a feature wall is a simple way to give a room a dramatic focal point. It doesn’t  matter what your style and vision for your feature wall entails, just make it you!

2. Reupholster an old chair 

Reupholster a chair

Make something old look and feel new! Reupholstering old furniture is a great way to spruce up any room without spending a lot of money.

3. Use  baskets to declutter

Clutter Baskets

 

Everyone has nick-knacks lying around the house. Instead of the useless battle of having a designated spot for them, why not create “things” baskets that can hold all the extra clutter but also look nice.

4. Buy a houseplant or two

Houseplants

 

Nothing says Spring like bringing life into your house.

5. Hang up a few terrarium-style vases

Hanging glass terrarium

 

Building your own little eco-sphere isn’t only lively for your new remodel but it is also a fun craft you can pick up.

6. Mount a map on canvas and use it as art

Canvas Map

Track all the places you have been, or all the places you want to go on your new canvas art.

7. Update an inexpensive mirror with rope

roped mirror

Using different types of rope will give different “feels” to the mirror. Go beachy, western, or classic depending on the color and size of your rope.

8. Re-cover old pillows

Resurfaced Pillows

New pillows can make a room look brand new. Match the material with the season and add little accents for extra pizzazz.

9. Change your curtains

DIY curtains

Let more sunlight into your living room and put up some new curtains to match your recovered pillows.

10. Rearrange your furniture

Rearrange your living room

 

Rearrange your furniture to make the room more spacious. Instead of putting your couch in front of the TV, try facing it toward the window.

11. Add candles

Candles

With all the new visual changes time to appeal to another sense. Fill the room with a new scent for the ultimate redecorating experience.

10 Best Online Outlet Stores

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Online shopping can save time and money, but there are even more online shopping secrets that will have you staying home to buy your favorite items. With help from DailyFinance, here is a list of the ten best online outlet stores that will save you money.

Online shopping

6pm.com

6pm.com is easily one of the best shoe stores online. Many people don’t know that 6pm.com is actually the Zappos.com outlet store, which means that you can frequently find this season’s most popular footwear styles for less. Like Zappos.com, 6pm.com offers free shipping on all orders and you will also find some clothing on the site as well. Keep an eye out for special promotions because they occasionally offer coupons for an extra 10 to 20 percent off all purchases.

Tommy Hilfiger Company Store Outlet

I don’t normally shop at Tommy Hilfiger, so it took me awhile to check out the Tommy Hilfiger Company Store Outlet. Now I am a devoted shopper of this site because not only are the prices amazingly low, but they frequently have coupons available that will take an additional 40 to 50 percent off all purchases. My recommendation is to start in the Outlet Clearance Section, where prices are even cheaper.

GiftCardRescue .com 

What if you could get extra discounts on your favorite stores, including outlet stores, all the time? GiftCardRescue.com is a website that enables its customers to buy and sell gift cards for cash.

The Outnet

If high-end designer fashions for less are what you seek, then The Outnet is your store. The Outnet is the outlet for Net-a-Porter, and you will find more than 250 designer brands on the site.

J. Crew Factory

It used to be that the J. Crew Factory was the first store I would visit anytime I found myself at an outlet mall, and I love that I can now shop this store online. At this point, most of the items that are sold at J. Crew Factory are made specifically for J. Crew Factory, but you will still find very similar styles to what are available in regular J. Crew stores and you get the benefit of saving a little bit of money.

REI Outlet

The REI Outlet offers amazing discounts on some of the best outdoor brands, including The North Face, Patagonia, Marmot and more. In addition to prices that are generally lower than those available anywhere else, the REI Outlet offers frequent coupons and a deal of the day where one specific item is marked down even lower.

Last Call by Neiman Marcus 

Last Call by Neiman Marcus contains a great mix of mid-to-high end designer labels at prices that are well below retail. You can often find the same items at Last Call for less that are being sold for full price at regular Neiman Marcus stores. You will definitely want to register for their email list because they frequently send out coupons that can reduce the cost of your order by as much as 50 percent.

Saks Off Fifth

Saks Off Fifth is the Saks Fifth Avenue outlet and it is another great place to find designer fashions for less, in both plus and traditional sizes. Recently, Saks Off Fifth had a buy one get two free sale, which is easily one of the best sales I have ever seen online. Be sure to check out the Saks Off Fifth clearance section where you will find prices up to 90 percent below retail.

Reebok Outlet

If fitness apparel is on your shopping list, the Reebok Outlet is definitely worth checking out. They have athletic apparel and footwear for men, women, and children at prices up to 50 percent below retail. Like many of these other online outlet stores, it is worth registering for Reebok Outlet emails so that you can find out about special sales and discounts ahead of everyone else.

Amazon Outlet

I only recently learned about the Amazon Outlet, and let me tell you, it is a great way to save. The Amazon Outlet is where you will find markdowns, closeouts and overstock deals on everything from clothing for the whole family to housewares to electronics and jewelry.

Online outlet stores are becoming increasingly popular, which is great news for online shoppers since online outlet stores offer a fantastic way to get the best brands for prices well below retail.

6 Items To Purchase In April

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With a little help from Dailyfinance, here are a few items to purchase in April that will help save you money in the future.
Hello April

Small Kitchen Appliances

Need a new coffee grinder? What about a blender? Or maybe you’ve been eyeing one of those fancy-schmancy Kitchen-Aid mixers? April is the best time to buy small kitchen appliances, including all of the above. “Graduation and wedding season is right around the corner, so retailers begin putting small kitchen appliances on sale during April,” explained Konrad. Additional items to look out for include toasters, coffee makers, hand mixers, toaster ovens, slow cookers,food processors and more.

Discounted Gift Cards

Every month is a good month to purchase discounted gift cards online, but with vacations drawing near, April is a great time to save money. Companies such as GiftCardRescue.com, allow you to buy your everyday products at a discount. With gift cards up to 35% off of face value, pairing a gift card with a coupon and/or sale can save you hundreds.

Earth-Friendly, Green Goods

What better month to purchase eco-friendly goods than April? Earth Day happens on April 22, but retailers use the entire month to promote green goodies. Throughout April, keep your eyes out for specials on organic foods, natural beauty and skincare items and other products that are particularly kind to our home planet. You’ll probably notice many retailers offer discounts, launch products and provide coupons.

Summer Air Travel

“Airlines start to offer great deals for summer vacations in April,” noted Konrad. “By booking several months ahead, you’ll have access to awesome prices if you hit up sites like Expedia.” She says you can save even more moolah if you use coupon codes during checkout. Sign up for newsletters from travel websites such as Expedia, TravelZoo,Southwest and Priceline. You can also find travel package deals on websites such as Groupon and LivingSocial, which may have discount codes. “It’s always better to book during the week rather than on weekends when prices go up,” she said. “Most say Tuesday afternoons are the best bet.”

Winter Gear

“Since colder weather is on its way out, many retailers mark down their winter gear, such as snowboards, ski boots, and outerwear,” said Konrad. “Sites like Backcountry.com and Dogfunk.com offer amazing winter clearance sales with items marked down as much as 50 percent off.” While you won’t need these items in April — nature willing — assess your supplies and determine what you may need for when the snow hits next year.

Vacuums and Cleaning Supplies

“Since spring cleaning is on many people’s to-do list, vacuums are often sold for lower prices,” said Konrad. “New models usually hit stores in June, so retailers are eager to get rid of the older models in April. That means you can find a great deal at places.” Additionally, cleaning supplies in general remain a great buy in April. Look for specials and coupons in your newspaper and online.

6 Ways To Save More Outlet Shopping

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If you are looking to quench your shopping addiction without spending an arm and a leg, outlet shopping is a great option. Not only are prices less than in the retail store, there are additional ways to save more outlet shopping. DailyFinance brings some great tips on ways you can save more.
Outlet shopping

Purchase discounted gift cards. By using discounted gift card sites you can save up to 35% on the additional savings that you find at the outlet stores. Websites such as GiftCardRescue.com offer gift cards to over 450 popular merchants, so finding the discounted gift cards you are looking for is easy.

Figure out the outlet ‘brand.’ There are a couple of management companies that own quite a few outlet malls in the United States, including Premium Outlets and Tanger Factory Outlet Centers. Before heading out, be sure to check the website for the entire outlet mall for any possible deals or coupons. Premium and Tanger Outlets also have Facebook pages where they will occasionally post coupons that you can print from home.

Look for an outlet discount card or VIP program. Many outlet malls have VIP savings programs that can save you big bucks throughout the year and also give you special access to new promotions and sales.

The Fashion Outlets of Chicago opened last year and offer a Green Savings Card that costs $5 for a yearly membership. Those with a Green Savings Card receive extra discounts at a huge number of stores and restaurants in the mall, which is on top of the already low prices.

‘Like’ the outlet store on Facebook.If there is an outlet store that you frequent, go ahead and like its Facebook page so that you will be one of the first to know about sales and promotions. The Kate Spade Outlet will frequently post promotions to Facebook before emailing subscribers. The J. Crew Factory Store has offered special promotions that are valid only to their Facebook fans.

Register for store emails. Not all outlet stores have their own web page, but if they do, be sure to register for emails. The Gap Outlet is one of my favorite stores because the prices are usually low and they frequently email out coupons for additional savings. Late last year I received a coupon for an extra 50 percent off my entire Gap Outlet purchase. The Banana Republic Factory Store and Coach Factory Store also frequently send out high value coupons over email.

Use in-store coupons. Sometimes one of the easiest ways to save is to look for in-store coupons right when you walk into a store. Almost every time I walk into a Last Call by Neiman Marcus outlet store I am handed a coupon that will save me an extra 10 to 20 percent off my entire purchase. These coupons aren’t always available, but it is great when they are, especially when they can be combined with other in-store promotions.

7 Ways To Manage Money In Your 30s

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It happens to us all at one point or another, you look at your tax refund and think: Where did all that money go? Saving money is the end result of a multitude of other actions that can be classified as money managing. The way you manage money in your 30s will be a good indicator of how you will handle your life long finances. Don’t wait to start managing your money more intelligently. Dailyfinance explains the best way to manage money in your 30s.

Manage money in your 30s

  1. Save when you can. “If you’ve gotten your salary up to the point where student loan debt is not wreaking havoc in your life anymore, but before you have a lot of responsibilities, that’s a great opportunity to super-charge your savings,” says Jean Chatzky, financial editor of the Today Show and author of “Money Rules: The Simple Path to Lifelong Security.” When parenting responsibilities and mortgage costs take off, for example, it can be hard to save more. “You want to take advantage of the opportunities you have to sock away some money so when the leaner years come around, you don’t beat yourself up,” she adds.
  2. Create solid habits. It’s also time to establish financial habits that will serve you well for the rest of your life. Kerry Hannon, personal finance expert and author of “Great Jobs for Everyone 50+,” says in her 30s, she maxed out her retirement savings accounts and even set aside a portion of her extra freelance income for retirement. “Those funds have served me well over the years as mad money to help pay for vacations and more. I still save outside of retirement accounts religiously in my 50s, too. It’s a habit I started back in my 30s,” she says.
  3. Plan out your goals and priorities. “Hopefully you’re starting to become established in your career and can begin to contribute, if you’re not already, to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, and begin to think about other savings goals, too, like a home purchase or college savings,” says Suzanna de Baca, vice president of wealth strategies at Ameriprise Financial.
  4. Talk about money with your partner. If you have a spouse or partner, then getting on track together and working out any disputes can prevent conflicts later. “People often comingle finances with their partner, and open communication is key. Make sure you talk about your finances and life goals with your partner, and align on how you will get there together,” de Baca urges.
  5. Get comfortable with negotiation. Nancy L. Anderson, 52, a certified financial planner in Park City, Utah, says while she did a lot of things right in her 30s, including investing 20 percent of her income, buying a home, investing in rental property and saving for her child’s college education, she also wished she had negotiated her salary more assertively. “If I’d negotiated a higher salary each time I changed companies in my career, I’d be wealthier today,” she says. Since most people change jobs about 11 times in their careers, negotiating those transitions can end up making you more than $600,000 richer over your career, she adds.
  6. Be a good role model. For those 30-somethings who are already parents, Beth Kobliner, author of “Get a Financial Life” and member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans, says it’s important to model smart financial choices for the little eyes watching you. “You lose all credibility lecturing your little kids about not needing every new toy or tech gadget if you, behind closed doors, have loud arguments with your spouse about not being able to keep up with your credit card bills,” she says. You don’t have to be a money genius, she adds, but it’s important to talk about money – making financial discussions as commonplace as soccer practice or Sunday dinner.
  7. Shore up your cash reserves. While many experts emphasize long-term investing and retirement savings, Tim Maurer, director of personal finance for the BAM Alliance of independent advisers, says he wishes he had kept more money in pure cash savings to give himself a better buffer for unexpected needs and expenses. “Much, maybe too much, financial planning is focused exclusively on the long, long-term,” he says, “and while it’s true that real estate can be a great way to build wealth and one should start saving as early as possible for retirement, it’s the unexpected changes in life that often derail 30-something households. Our financial plans should address the short-term, too.”

11 Tips For A Frugal Easter

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Holidays are always a stressful time without the added stress of money. If you are looking to save a little money and have a frugal Easter, here are some tips from bargainbabe that will make this Easter holiday full of spending time together instead of money.

frugal easter

Discounted Gift Cards – Purchase discounted gift cards from websites such as giftcardrescue.com to hundreds of popular merchants, that you can in turn use to purchase the things you need to make this Easter’s handmade candies.

Homemade Candies – I’m a total foodie so I love to bake and create my own candies. I really find this fun AND it’s a great way to save. You can purchase a mold to make your own Chocolate Bunny! There’s one for only $2.06 onAmazon. This mold will last years and this one time purchase will end up being worth it. I’ve bought chocolate bunnies for $5 or more! You can also buy a mold to make many different types of chocolate Easter candies, like eggs, bunnies, ducks, and more! These are usually around $5 but if you score a deal at Michael’s or JoAnn’s fabric you may find one cheaper. I use Pinterest to find recipes and I found a great list of 50 homemade Easter candy recipes. I’m sure that for many of them you already have the ingredients lying around at home. Score!

Homemade Goodies – Candy isn’t the only item you can make at home. You can also make items like sidewalk chalk, homemade puppets, homemade finger paint, and bubbles. Most of these are made with items that can be found around the house. For bubbles, all you need is laundry detergent, sugar, and water.  Also, if you have children who don’t believe in the Easter bunny you can make them together. My sisters and I are going to make some homemade treats for our four-year-old nephew.

Easter Egg Coupons – I love the idea of giving adults homemade coupons for Christmas and I also thinks it’s a great idea for Easter. You can find adorable coupons to print that your child will love. Some ideas for coupons are: Stay up late an extra 15 minutes, you get to choose dinner, free pass on chore of your choice, go somewhere with mom etc. You can use these printable Easter coupons or make your own. This is a great way to make the Easter eggs a little different…and avoid having to buy tons of candy!

Easter Basket Steals – My mom always used the same Easter baskets for us so she didn’t have to buy a new one every year. Spending the money on one Easter basket and reusing it can be a money-saver. If you really don’t want to buy a basket you can use milk containers or shoe boxes that you decorate. Another option is to make the basket a gift. You can use a pail and shovel as a basket that kids can use later at the beach. Fun!

 Movies – When I was younger I was absolutely obsessed with Disney movies so every Easter my Mom would put one in my basket. She would get the videos on sale either at Walmart or online. You can do the same! Pick one movie (or other “big” toy) you know your child would love and look for a bargain. If your child is a movie lover, I already found some deals for you. Currently, I found All Dogs Go to Heaven for only $3.00 on Amazon and The Land Before Time for $5.00. This would be a fun addition to a candy filled Easter basket. You’ve got a movie night ready to go, complete with snacks.

Give Items They Need – My parents would always put staples like socks, clothing items, and as a special treat, an electric toothbrush in our baskets. These were things that they needed to buy for us anyway but turned into presents. You can find cheap socks at Target (sometimes in the $1 bin) and shop sales to find cheaper clothing items. You’d be surprised how much my nephew loves his electric toothbrush. He acts like it’s a toy! I found a cuteDisney themed toothbrush for girls for $5.91 on Ebay and free shipping!

Non-Candy Snacks – If you’re going to do an Easter egg hunt you can easily, and frugally, vary the types of treats in the eggs. You can buy items in bulk such as goldfish or trails mix that you give your kids year round. Then, you can put these items into the eggs. Not only is this cheaper but it will keep your children from having a sugar overload without feeling like they were cheated out of treats!

Stuffed Animals – You can snag small Easter Bunny stuffed animals for just $1 at the Dollar store. They usually have cute stuffed animals year round as well. Just be sure you go early in April if you’re looking for an Easter Bunny stuffed animal. If you’d like to find something even cheaper, you can check out garage sales. I’ve seen stuffed animals for as low as 25 cents.

Books – You can often find small Dover books at your local bookstore for only $1. These are high quality books that have paper dolls, activities, coloring pages, etc. You can also find them online but they are a little pricier usually around $1.75 to $3.  Also, books could be a good idea for older children. If you know there’s a book they’ve been dying to read you can look on Amazon for deals or check out the books on sale at your local library. These tend to be much cheaper than buying in-store.

Dollar Store Toys – Another great Easter egg filler are dollar store toys and stickers. You can usually find bags of little toys such as dinosaurs or cars at your local Dollar Store. You can also find variety packs of stickers. For just a dollar or two you can fill up a ton of eggs.

Photo via weheartit.com

12 Tips to Save Money While Dining Out

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Dining out is a luxury that can add up when precautions aren’t taken. With these tips to save money while dining out, from DailyFinance, eating out can be less of a financial burden and more fun.

Save money eating out

1. Drink water — the free kind. Restaurant beverages, both soft drinks and alcohol, can significantly boost the cost of your meal. A soda can cost $3 at a fast-casual restaurant, adding $12 plus tax and tip for a family of four. A glass of wine may be $10 or $12.

Plus, these days restaurants often push bottled water, at a much higher price per bottle than you’d pay at Costco (COST). Tap water is a cheaper choice. If you enjoy wine or cocktails, consider having your first drink at home before you go out, or coming home for a nightcap.

2. Take advantage of daily specials.Many restaurants offer $1 taco nights or other specials, especially during the week. Find out when your favorite restaurants offer deals, and pick those nights to eat out.

3. Don’t leave home without searching for coupons. Before you go out, you can search for “name of restaurant” plus “coupon” online as well as check the restaurant’s website or Facebook (FB) page. You can also find restaurant coupons in the Sunday newspaper coupon inserts, in weekly neighborhood newspapers and in the Entertainment Book.

4. Join restaurant loyalty clubs. Many restaurants will send you coupons for free items or discounts in exchange for your email address. They may offer free meals or desserts for your birthday or send coupons throughout the year. Some restaurants will reward you for downloading or using their mobile app.

5. Look for happy hour food specials. Many restaurant offer special prices on food if you dine early or late. Others offer half-price appetizers along with drink specials. When you arrive, make sure you clarify with the staff whether you need to sit in the bar to take advantage of those deals.

6. Use online deal sites. Two sites that may save you money are restaurant.comand opentable.com. Restaurant.com sells discounted dining certificates: $10 for $25 of dining all the time. But there are lots of sales where you can get those certificates for $4 or $5. The restaurant selection is better in some cities than in others. Plus, each restaurant sets its own rules, so read the fine print before you buy.

GiftCardRescue.com offers discounted gift cards on many popular restaurants, offering up to 15% off. Pair these cards with a coupon or daily special to get an even bigger discount.

7. Buy daily deals — judiciously. New restaurants often offer deals throughgroupon.com, livingsocial.com and similar daily deal services. These come with restrictions, including minimum purchase requirements. Some deals are better than others, so before you buy, make sure the certificate will really save you money. Groupon (GRPN) also has a new service that gives you a discount for reserving through its site, with no voucher involved.

8. Share a meal. Most restaurant meals can easily serve two people, and you can always add an extra salad or side dish, if necessary. If the restaurant doesn’t make sharing easy, find one that does.

9. Order appetizers rather than entrees. Appetizer portions are cheaper, more reasonably sized and sometimes more interesting. If an appetizer will fill you up, skip the entree. Your wallet, and possibly health, will benefit.

10. Look for kids-eat-free deals. Lots of restaurants offer nights where kids eat free. Some require adults to purchase a meal or limit it to one free kid’s meal for each adult meal ordered.

11. Find senior discounts. Some restaurants offer a special loyalty club for seniors, some have a senior menu and others offer a standard senior discount. If you don’t see a senior discount on the menu, ask if there is one. AARP provides a list of restaurants that offer discounts, usually 10 percent off, to its members.

12. Go out for lunch rather than dinner. This is a good way to sample the fare at more expensive restaurants without spending as much money. You probably won’t want wine, either.