Frugal Friends Podcast - Episode: How to Save Money on Food: Takeout, Restaurants, & More!

Hosted by Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni | Released on May 2, 2025

Overview

In Episode 507 of the Frugal Friends Podcast, hosts Jen Smith and Jill Sirianni explore practical strategies to help listeners save money on food, specifically focusing on takeout, restaurants, and related expenses. This episode is part of their ongoing 2025 series aimed at empowering listeners to gain better control over their finances through frugality, minimalism, and informed spending.

1. Introduction

Jen and Jill kick off the episode by expressing their enthusiasm for the topic, emphasizing their love for food prepared by others and recognizing the challenges of managing expenses in this area.

• Jen: "Today, we are continuing our 2025 series on how to save money on food in different categories... one of our favorite things to spend money on is food made by other people for us." [02:58]

2. Getting Takeout for Free: Mystery Shopping

The hosts delve into mystery shopping as a method to enjoy takeout without the financial burden. They explain that while you may initially pay for the meal, reimbursement makes it effectively free.

• Jill: "Mystery shopping... is a way to go out to eat for free." [08:40]

Jen adds that mystery shopping requires effort and organization but can be rewarding for frequent diners.

• Jen: "Stay organized. You will need to remember details like employee names, cleanliness, timing." [10:03]

Recommended Platforms:

• Market Force
• Bestmark
• Coyle Hospitality
• Secretshopper.com
• Brandt Group

They emphasize the importance of never paying to join and staying diligent with reporting to ensure reimbursement.

3. Saving on Takeout Costs: Leveraging Apps and Pre-prepared Meals

Jen and Jill discuss various apps and services that help reduce takeout expenses:

a. Too Good To Go

• Jill: "Too Good To Go... local eateries will give away food at super low cost that they weren't able to sell that day." [13:07]

They share personal experiences of purchasing discounted food bags that typically retail for much higher prices.

• Jen: "I went on the app last week and there was a bag full of food from a local Jamaican restaurant for $5.99... typically retail for $20." [14:19]

b. Flash Food

• An app offering 50% off pre-made meals at grocery stores.

Jen highlights the convenience and substantial savings, especially when planning pickups within given timeframes.

c. Foodhero.com

• Another app similar to Flash Food, providing additional options for discounted pre-prepared meals.

d. Wholesale Clubs (Costco, Sam's Club)

• Purchasing discounted gift cards or pre-prepared meals can further reduce costs.

• Jen: "If you're like me and prefer a spreadsheet, but you know that there's ways to elevate that spreadsheet and you just don't want to do it. Get ours." [07:14]

4. Securing Deals and Discounts: Utilizing Discount Platforms

The hosts explore various platforms and strategies to obtain discounted gift cards and deals at restaurants:

a. Seated and Offline Apps

• Seated: Book a table, dine, upload receipts, and earn up to 30% back in gift cards.

• Offline: A subscription-based dining club offering credits for discounts ranging from $10 to $30 per meal.

  • Jen: "Seated... you can get 30% back in gift cards... Offline... $15 a month and you will get up to two credits for restaurants." [21:37]

b. Groupon and Living Social

• Offer a variety of deals on activities, restaurants, and more.

• Jill: "Whenever we have guests in town... there's deals for breweries and activities, but also local restaurants." [23:31]

c. Yelp and Restaurant.com

• Provide deals and discounted gift cards for various restaurants.

• Jen: "Yelp will have deals on different places that you might be going... buy a $15 gift card, get a $30 gift card." [24:40]

d. Wholesale Club Gift Cards

• Purchasing gift cards at a discount (e.g., $50 for $45 at Costco) allows additional savings when dining out.

5. Guilt-Free Spending: Making Value-Driven Decisions

Jen and Jill emphasize the importance of spending wisely without feeling guilty, focusing on ethical and sustainable dining choices.

• Jen: "Supporting your local restaurants... local produces are sustainable... hit two birds with one stone." [28:09]

Strategies for Guilt-Free Spending:

• Choose Breakfast and Lunch Over Dinner: These meals are typically less expensive and often have special deals.

• Early or Late Night Specials: Take advantage of happy hour deals to enjoy meals at reduced prices.

• Split Meals: Sharing appetizers or main courses can significantly cut costs while still enjoying quality food.

• Opt for Local and Sustainable Options: Supporting local businesses often means better quality and ethical sourcing.

6. Bill of the Week: Negotiating Savings

In their signature segment, Jen shares a personal story about saving money on eyeglasses by negotiating with the provider.

• Jen: "I ended up getting two pairs of glasses for $225 instead of $283 by asking them to run the numbers with any promotions they were offering." [30:38]

They encourage listeners to always inquire about self-pay discounts, especially in optometry and dental services.

• Jen: "Always ask if you can get this for low cost... Especially with optometry and dental." [33:10]

7. Lightning Round: Hosts' Personal Takeout Habits

Jen and Jill share their own spending habits related to dining out and takeout, providing real-life context to the discussed strategies.

• Jill: "We spend about $500 to $600 a month on food that is not groceries." [40:17]

• Jen: "We spend about $300 to $400 a month, mainly on pizza and Torchy's tacos." [41:26]

They discuss their preferences, such as preferring pizza and specific local restaurants, and how they manage their budgets to accommodate these habits.

8. Personal Stories: Adopting a Puppy and Budgeting

Towards the end of the episode, Jen and Jill share a personal story about adopting a puppy, linking it to budgeting and unexpected expenses.

• Jen: "We needed to repair our fence from the hurricanes and my mom offered to pay half if we took in her dog." [54:42]

This segment highlights the importance of being prepared for unforeseen costs and making budget adjustments accordingly.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Jen: "Stay organized. You will need to remember details like employee names, cleanliness, timing." [10:03]

• Jill: "Too Good To Go... local eateries will give away food at super low cost that they weren't able to sell that day." [13:07]

• Jen: "Always ask if you can get this for low cost... Especially with optometry and dental." [33:10]

• Jill: "We're not getting rid of it. Despite minimal compliance, they don't even charge." [30:14]

Conclusion

Episode 507 of the Frugal Friends Podcast offers a comprehensive guide to saving money on food through various innovative and practical methods. From mystery shopping and leveraging discount apps to making informed dining choices and negotiating savings on necessary expenses, Jen and Jill provide listeners with actionable insights to enjoy their meals out without the accompanying guilt or financial strain. Their blend of personal anecdotes, expert tips, and relatable conversations makes this episode a valuable resource for anyone looking to optimize their food-related spending.

Additional Resources Mentioned:

• Mystery Shopping Platforms: Market Force, Bestmark, Coyle Hospitality, Secretshopper.com, Brandt Group
• Discount Apps: Too Good To Go, Flash Food, Foodhero.com, Seated, Offline, Groupon, Living Social, Yelp, Restaurant.com
• Wholesale Clubs: Costco, Sam's Club

Listeners are encouraged to check the show notes for direct links to these resources and to implement the discussed strategies for effective money-saving on food.