How to have your own pub night at home

On Friday, Josh and I decided to avoid the cold, stay inside and save money. But that that didn’t mean we didn’t feel like going to the pub.  So we re-created the scene at home!  Our menu:  veggies with blue cheese dip, chicken fingers, crispy bread chips with two dips - guacamole & hummus.  (And beer. but we didn’t make that ourselves.)

Here is a step-by-step guide to how to have your delicious pub-food that is far healthier, tastier, and cheaper than the real thing!

1. Veggies with Blue Cheese Dressing

Chop up a variety of veggies - we used the old pub standby, carrots & celery.  No further instruction required.  I used Martha’s dip recipe - it was unbelievably good!

Ingredients

Fast food coupon alert

Three more ways to get fast food on the cheap:

Go to Arby’s  for a Beef n Cheddar coupon.  Unfortunately this one is not available in Canada but since I have so many American readers I thought I’d let y’all know.

If you haven’t already done so, sign up with Wendy’s by doing a short survey (this one is for Canadians - if you’re American, head here).  I just got *another* coupon in my inbox today - this time for a double cheeseburger! Sweet deal.  Actually, it’s not a sweet deal, it’s a beefy deal. 

Next, if you’re Canadian, head to Shoppers Drugmart on Saturday or Sunday.  If you spend $50 you get a $10 free Subway gift card.  Of course $50 is quite a lot to spend, but if you want to stock up and missed out on last weeks 15x the points, head out this weekend.

TANSTAAFL (but coupons make it cheaper)

That’s right, there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch. But I’ve narrowed it down to $5 or less. Plus, there are lots of strategies you can use to lower your costs of eating out.

So, you’ve heard me preach about the importance of taking your lunch to work or school. But let’s be honest, we can’t always be prepared. There are those days when you forget your lunch or leave it on the streetcar (I have done both of these things) or days when you just feel like having a break. So here are some tips of where to eat when you just want a quick, cheap lunch.

1. Subway. Your best buy: A 6” cold cut sub for $2.09

Subway just lowered their prices, which means that their subs are even more affordable now! Their footlong cold cut sub now comes to – including taxes in Ontario – to $5.18. If you split this with a friend and eat just a footlong, your entire lunch comes to $2.09, including tax. Simply fill up your reusable water bottle at the water cooler. My suggestion is to bring some pop and snacks, like fruit, and keep it at your desk. These drinks and snacks mean you can avoid buying the over-priced chips and fountain drinks.

If you live in the States, go to Subway’s website and you can get updates on promotions sent straight to your cell phone.

2. Wendy’s. Your best buy: Chicken nugget meal for $4.14

At Wendy’s you can get a chicken nugget meal, that comes with 5 nuggets, a side (I suggest the chili as it is one of your more filling and healthy options) and a drink. Plus, if you sign up for Wendy’s survey, you get a coupon! I just got a coupon in my email today for $1 off flavour dipped chicken sandwiches.

3. Pizza Pizza. Your best buy: Use a coupon for a 2-for-1 pepperoni slice! This coupon is only available to “members” but it only takes a second to sign up and you can print the coupon instantly. And lately, Pizza Pizza has been selling slices for $1 for the United Way in Toronto subway stations.

4. Quiznos. Not necessarily your cheapest option but they are currently offering a coupon for free chips and a fountain drink when you buy a footlong sub. Just sign up and they will email you a printable coupon.

5. Any Vietnamese Pho place will offer a delicious, steaming hot bowl of Pho for about $4.50 including tax. Prices will depend on where you go, but you most typically fall under the $5 range.

Other tips:

6. Sit at the bar: If you go to a restaurant during a busy hour, save by sitting at the bar. Some restaurants, such as New Generation Sushi, offer you 15% off for sitting at the bar during peak hours.

7. Go early in the week: Many pubs will have deals on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Seek out these deals and you can treat yourself to beer and wings at half the normal cost.

8. Eat Family Style. If you eat at a Chinese restaurant, for example, order fewer dishes and split them with your colleagues. You waste less, enjoy more variety, and pay less.

9. Order simple items. For example, you can order toast or a bagel at an all-day-breakfast place, with peanut butter and jam. It might not be a very filling lunch, but if you bring your own snacks to supplement your hunger, it just might get you through the day on under $1.