Cheapskating: Depression-friendly dining out
Downsize your spending without going hungry
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Potential layoffs, lackluster consumer spending, dark economic news: It all adds up to money-tightening tactics, even among those with a fat bank account. Some people have resorted to actually cooking their meals, but don’t give into that kind of panic just yet. There are still plenty of ways to get other people to cook for you without draining your savings.
Skip The Entrée
Sure, you want to dine on nuanced dishes drizzled with aromatic sauces that lean toward saffron, truffle oil, and out-of-season herbs. Yet you also want to pay the rent. One happy compromise is to eat only appetizers, particularly at restaurants that tend to have generously sized portions. Look for the phrase “family style” if you’re really starving; otherwise, find an eatery that’s willing to keep filling your bread basket or chips-and-salsa tray without charge. Another solid strategy is to go with carb-loaded selections, like pasta, rather than skimpy salads or anything that has fish or fancy meat (i.e. not beef or chicken). Best bets: Both Mesa Ranch and Threadgill’s are notoriously generous with their cornbread, and when it comes to Tex-Mex, nobody is more abundante than Evita’s Botanitas, whose legendary Salsa Tower gives you six bowls of its award-winning salsas to sample.
Sure, you want to dine on nuanced dishes drizzled with aromatic sauces that lean toward saffron, truffle oil, and out-of-season herbs. Yet you also want to pay the rent. One happy compromise is to eat only appetizers, particularly at restaurants that tend to have generously sized portions. Look for the phrase “family style” if you’re really starving; otherwise, find an eatery that’s willing to keep filling your bread basket or chips-and-salsa tray without charge. Another solid strategy is to go with carb-loaded selections, like pasta, rather than skimpy salads or anything that has fish or fancy meat (i.e. not beef or chicken). Best bets: Both Mesa Ranch and Threadgill’s are notoriously generous with their cornbread, and when it comes to Tex-Mex, nobody is more abundante than Evita’s Botanitas, whose legendary Salsa Tower gives you six bowls of its award-winning salsas to sample.
Legion Love
Some bars have happy-hour food specials, but beware: Restaurants are struggling too, so these dishes may turn out to be true appetizers—as in, they’ll pique your appetite, but not satisfy it. A better idea is to scope out the dinners offered at American Legion clubs, churches, fundraisers, and Elks lodges. For a measly sum, usually under $15, you can get more fried chicken and mashed potatoes than you could eat in a week. Plus, sometimes there’s bingo. Best bets: Austin’s American Legion Knebel Post 83 (4401 E. St. Elmo Rd., 442-2896) hosts an open-to-the-public bingo game Sunday and Thursday evenings that includes burgers and nachos, an early-bird game on Wednesday mornings accompanied by breakfast tacos, and occasionally fires up one of its many barbecue pits or throws an impromptu fish-fry out on its spacious deck.
Some bars have happy-hour food specials, but beware: Restaurants are struggling too, so these dishes may turn out to be true appetizers—as in, they’ll pique your appetite, but not satisfy it. A better idea is to scope out the dinners offered at American Legion clubs, churches, fundraisers, and Elks lodges. For a measly sum, usually under $15, you can get more fried chicken and mashed potatoes than you could eat in a week. Plus, sometimes there’s bingo. Best bets: Austin’s American Legion Knebel Post 83 (4401 E. St. Elmo Rd., 442-2896) hosts an open-to-the-public bingo game Sunday and Thursday evenings that includes burgers and nachos, an early-bird game on Wednesday mornings accompanied by breakfast tacos, and occasionally fires up one of its many barbecue pits or throws an impromptu fish-fry out on its spacious deck.
Buffet Pyramid
Another good economic tactic is to shift your thinking about the biggest meal of the day. Most people opt for an evening feast, but if you make lunch into your heaping helping o’ nutrition, you’ll see the benefits in better budgeting, and even a slimmer waistline and sounder sleep, according to some studies. If you make lunch into the main meal, there are plenty of tasty buffet opportunities, particularly for those who love Indian food. The amount of rice alone is enough to help you coast through most of the day, and you’ll be too sleepy at work later to care about a dragging afternoon. Best bets: The daily lunch buffet at Taj Palace is one of the best deals in town, with tons of vegetarian-friendly options, endless supplies of naan and flaky samosa, and an overall quality that puts most “all-you-care-to-eat” places to shame.
Another good economic tactic is to shift your thinking about the biggest meal of the day. Most people opt for an evening feast, but if you make lunch into your heaping helping o’ nutrition, you’ll see the benefits in better budgeting, and even a slimmer waistline and sounder sleep, according to some studies. If you make lunch into the main meal, there are plenty of tasty buffet opportunities, particularly for those who love Indian food. The amount of rice alone is enough to help you coast through most of the day, and you’ll be too sleepy at work later to care about a dragging afternoon. Best bets: The daily lunch buffet at Taj Palace is one of the best deals in town, with tons of vegetarian-friendly options, endless supplies of naan and flaky samosa, and an overall quality that puts most “all-you-care-to-eat” places to shame.
Become a Receptionist
To be truly intrepid about a food budget, there has to be a large percentage of completely free food in the mix. Although this often includes mooching off friends and family, the time will come when those dinner invites dwindle. That’s when it’s time for receptions. The art opening is classic for the cheese-and-crackers option, but a cheapskate sleuth should be open to any event that mentions “refreshments” on its flyer. Frat parties, store openings, club meetings, supermarket samples, and thesis-defense sessions (how else do you think they draw grad students?) are all acceptable free chow opportunities.
To be truly intrepid about a food budget, there has to be a large percentage of completely free food in the mix. Although this often includes mooching off friends and family, the time will come when those dinner invites dwindle. That’s when it’s time for receptions. The art opening is classic for the cheese-and-crackers option, but a cheapskate sleuth should be open to any event that mentions “refreshments” on its flyer. Frat parties, store openings, club meetings, supermarket samples, and thesis-defense sessions (how else do you think they draw grad students?) are all acceptable free chow opportunities.
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