Save Money

This is probably the most useful thing I’ll ever blog about. It’s Restaurant.com, which, next to Netflix, is my favorite thing on the web. You can save lots of money at restaurants across the country.

First, go to their website and register - it’s necessary to give your email address. Then pick the city that you’re interested in. A long list of participating restaurants will show up. There’s a photo of each, and a sample menu. Select the restaurant you want.You have the option of purchasing a $10, $25 or $50 gift certificate. At the beginning of the month the $10 certificate sells for $4, the $25 certificate for $10, and the $50 certificate for $20. The catch is that you have to run up a bill of at least $20, $35, and $100 respectively in order to use the certificate. For example, with a $25 certificate you’d end up paying $10 (on a $35 bill), plus the $10 you’ve paid to Restaurant.com. A savings of $15 over all. OK, but not really impressive. The thing to do is to wait a few weeks and you’ll receive an email announcing a sale, and a promotional code to use at checkout. If you hold out long enough you’ll get more emails with better and better sale prices. We usually end up paying $2 for a $25 certificate. That way a $35 meal costs $12. There was a special sale a few weeks ago and I got $260 in certificates for $10.60!!!

Sometimes there are restrictions, for example, a certificate might be good for dinner only. These are clearly spelled out before you make your purchase. Each person registered at Restaurant.com can use a specific restaurant’s certificate only once per month (certificates are good for a year from purchase); however, if your significant other has a separate email and is registered, you can go back with theirs. You can use only one certificate per table. Occasionally a restaurant will be out of business or no longer participating in the program, Restaurant.com will give you a credit, and sometimes even a bonus certificate. Payment is made with a credit card or through Pay Pal.

I used Restaurant.com before we went to San Diego and bought two certificates. Both were for places that had not otherwise turned up in my research. One meal was delightful, and the other was certainly interesting. And if you don’t like the looks of a place and deicde to go elsewhere, it’s only the loss of a dollar or two.

So check it out - you’ve got nothing to lose, and lots to save.