Saving on Fast Food - Just The Burger Please

Fast food restaurants are always trying to increase the average ticket price.  They want to sell more food to each customer and get more revenue.  But, you can subvert their efforts.  You can bring your own beverages and you can bring your own side item.  For example, if you bring your own chips and a soda or a bottle of water, then all you need is the burger.  That saves money. 


If you are on a diet, you can also save calories.  A couple that uses this strategy might spend $6 to $8 at a fast food window instead of $12 to $15.  If you stick to the value menu, you could save even more.
 

By Ildar Sagdejev (Specious) (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

If you want more than a burger, Steak-n-Shake has lots of meal deals that omit a drink and cost only $3.99.  That makes your fast food costs predictable and affordable!  Plus, you get fries!

Saving Money with Receipts!

Everyone knows that fast food restaurants provide the most food for your money outside of the grocery store.  You can eat pretty well as a McDonald's "Dollar Menu-aire."  You don't want to eat McDonald's every day, but in a pinch they will do.

I think the Quarter Pounder is called the Royale with Cheese in France

 

Lately, I've been noticing customer satisfaction surveys on the back of fast food sales receipts.  If you take the survey, McDonalds gives you a code to turn your receipt into a coupon.  Currently, McDonald's offers "buy one, get one free" on Quarter Pounders or Egg McMuffins.  If you bring your own bottle of water, you can eat really well or serve two people for the price of one.  It's just one more trick for eating cheap.




Photo by:  Fritz Saalfeld (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons