Comments on: 15 Ways to Eat Out More and Spend Less http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/save-money-eat-out/ The blog of the free, simple personal finance solution. Track all your spending automatically, find the best deals, save more money. And save the world. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:07:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: kye http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/save-money-eat-out/comment-page-1/#comment-44114 kye Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:25:41 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=4953#comment-44114 Tipping: I don't give an automatic 20% for all service. I give 20% for excellent service ONLY. 15% for ordinary. 10% for fair and I don't pay for poor service. AND if you tip on the whole bill you are tipping on tax. How awful. Tipping: I don’t give an automatic 20% for all service. I give 20% for excellent service ONLY. 15% for ordinary. 10% for fair and I don’t pay for poor service.

AND if you tip on the whole bill you are tipping on tax. How awful.

]]> By: nike http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/save-money-eat-out/comment-page-1/#comment-38177 nike Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:21:05 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=4953#comment-38177 www.saving-money.net http://www.saving-money.net ]]> By: Jeffrey http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/save-money-eat-out/comment-page-1/#comment-36149 Jeffrey Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:08:48 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=4953#comment-36149 Well, I tip 20% (pre-tax) in Washington State, where wait staff is paid WA state minimum wage ($8.55) + their tips. Yet, I get flack at times for not tipping 20% on the full amount. I'm amazed (and wish I lived elsewhere, perhaps, outside of Seattle) that folks can get away with less than 20% in places where for some reason the waitstaff is not even paid minimum wage... Well, I tip 20% (pre-tax) in Washington State, where wait staff is paid WA state minimum wage ($8.55) + their tips. Yet, I get flack at times for not tipping 20% on the full amount.

I’m amazed (and wish I lived elsewhere, perhaps, outside of Seattle) that folks can get away with less than 20% in places where for some reason the waitstaff is not even paid minimum wage…

]]> By: chemgal http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/save-money-eat-out/comment-page-1/#comment-35097 chemgal Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:51:41 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=4953#comment-35097 Derek, I hope you are using the pretax figure to calculate the tip. And, quite frankly, unless you are a relic of the pre-implosion Wall Street era, 20% as a general rule is way overdone. Depending on the area, level of restaurant, and service, it should be within a range of 10-20%, with the upper range restricted entirely to five star places that actually earn it. Derek,

I hope you are using the pretax figure to calculate the tip. And, quite frankly, unless you are a relic of the pre-implosion Wall Street era, 20% as a general rule is way overdone. Depending on the area, level of restaurant, and service, it should be within a range of 10-20%, with the upper range restricted entirely to five star places that actually earn it.

]]> By: chemgal http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/save-money-eat-out/comment-page-1/#comment-35094 chemgal Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:44:23 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=4953#comment-35094 A far better recommendation is to avoid eating out at all. You pay for that service, at least triply, before tax and tips. There is an upcharge for overhead (which includes rent, insurance, payroll, payroll, income, and business taxes, furnishings, maintenance, advertising, etc.). Add to that upcharges for food and drink. (yeah, they actually have to try to achieve a profit.) So, something that might cost you $20 to provide at home--dinner for 2 at a sushi bar, including beer, for example--will wind up costing $60 BEFORE tax & tips. EAT AT HOME, and paper-bag it to work. Period. And learn how to cook. A far better recommendation is to avoid eating out at all. You pay for that service, at least triply, before tax and tips. There is an upcharge for overhead (which includes rent, insurance, payroll, payroll, income, and business taxes, furnishings, maintenance, advertising, etc.). Add to that upcharges for food and drink. (yeah, they actually have to try to achieve a profit.) So, something that might cost you $20 to provide at home–dinner for 2 at a sushi bar, including beer, for example–will wind up costing $60 BEFORE tax & tips.

EAT AT HOME, and paper-bag it to work. Period. And learn how to cook.

]]> By: Sean http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/save-money-eat-out/comment-page-1/#comment-34738 Sean Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:20:04 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=4953#comment-34738 Bruce, While I agree that you should tip your server, that is just how it works in the U.S. I must say that some of the best service I have ever received in a restaurant was in France where the waiters are paid well and it is customary to only tip the coin change you get back from paying your bill. Bruce,
While I agree that you should tip your server, that is just how it works in the U.S. I must say that some of the best service I have ever received in a restaurant was in France where the waiters are paid well and it is customary to only tip the coin change you get back from paying your bill. ]]> By: personal finance blog http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/save-money-eat-out/comment-page-1/#comment-33884 personal finance blog Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:16:26 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=4953#comment-33884 very useful post,I am going to completely follow your tips,but they do very interesting,thank you. very useful post,I am going to completely follow your tips,but they do very interesting,thank you. ]]> By: Bruce http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/save-money-eat-out/comment-page-1/#comment-33825 Bruce Sat, 01 Aug 2009 13:12:52 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=4953#comment-33825 In response to "Why perpetuate that nonsense"... Tipping seems to be a fair way of paying for the service that you receive, if the server cops an attitude or the performs inadequately, they can expect to earn less. Tipping keeps the service levels up, don't believe me? Look into places that don't rely on tips for services like automotive repair, home repair, doctors and dentist, they make money regardless and sadly, often times that shows. In response to “Why perpetuate that nonsense”… Tipping seems to be a fair way of paying for the service that you receive, if the server cops an attitude or the performs inadequately, they can expect to earn less. Tipping keeps the service levels up, don’t believe me? Look into places that don’t rely on tips for services like automotive repair, home repair, doctors and dentist, they make money regardless and sadly, often times that shows. ]]> By: randy http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/save-money-eat-out/comment-page-1/#comment-33785 randy Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:27:22 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=4953#comment-33785 wow, is it just me or is tip #12 and #15 the same tip? in a follow up to this article, the author lists 15 tips on writing lists. tip #3, 7, 9, and 14 in that article? reuse one tip at least once. wow, is it just me or is tip #12 and #15 the same tip? in a follow up to this article, the author lists 15 tips on writing lists. tip #3, 7, 9, and 14 in that article? reuse one tip at least once. ]]> By: Frugal Bon Vivant http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/save-money-eat-out/comment-page-1/#comment-33783 Frugal Bon Vivant Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:36:05 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/?p=4953#comment-33783 Ordering vegetarian usually saves about 20-50% at most restaurants. I guess it helps that I'm a vegetarian... even if you're not a vegetarian it's a great way to save some money -- maybe try once a week? :) Ordering vegetarian usually saves about 20-50% at most restaurants. I guess it helps that I’m a vegetarian… even if you’re not a vegetarian it’s a great way to save some money — maybe try once a week? :) ]]>