Published on http://www.aggietownsquare.com on September 22, 2009.
Mmm. Eating out. Who doesn't love a juicy, savory burger after a rough morning of classes or a fancy Friday night dinner after a long week. Unfortunately for me, the guilt starts kicking in as soon as I hand my credit card over to the cashier or server. Eating out is expensive! Even eating at a fast food restaurant can take a big bite out of a college student's food budget. My frugal upbringing starts kicking in as soon as I realize how cheap I could make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead of buying a taco or burger at The Hub on campus. It's just the way I was raised. We rarely stopped at a fast-food restaurant on the way home from doing something as a family. We'd keep driving all the way home to have spaghetti or a box of macaroni and cheese. My parents just saw it as an easy way to save money. It's outrageous how much the average American family spends eating out. According to www.ehow.com, it's $2,211. That's as much as a semester on tuition, more than twice as much as my car payment every year, 74 pairs of $30 shoes, 15 iPod touches or about as much as a non-stop flight to Venice, Italy. Bottom line, it's a lot of money. Think of what you could be buying by not eating out.
But let's be realistic here. I mean, even I give in every once and a while to the Club Pita at Pita Pit or a Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich at Firehouse – a couple of my guilty favorites. But, with a little preparation and awareness, people, especially students, can easily save money on their dining ticket in establishments throughout Logan. After calling a list of more than 40 restaurants around Logan I've identified a few of the best deals and discounts for students. Here they are:
1. Angie's takes the cake – or rather, the sink – with student discounts: 20 percent off entire purchase anytime with a USU student card. Plus, there is a coupon in the Campus Cash book for buy one get one half off.
2. Firehouse is quite kind to students as well: 10 percent off entire purchase everyday and 20-percent off on Thursdays by showing a USU student card. Also, in the Campus Cash coupon book there is a coupon for 20 percent your entire meal anytime and a coupon for a free FH'zzookie with the purchase of a meal – and who doesn't love a FH'zzookie? So good.
3. Wednesday is College Night at Cafe Sabor. Student's get a burrito, drink and chips and salsa for $5.95. Typically, a burrito is $9, so this is a great deal for students.
4. For a classier meal, Thursday night is USU/Date Night at Hamilton's Steak and Grill. For $25 you get two entrees, drinks and desserts. Don't got a date? The same meal for one person is only $14.
5. Thursdays are Pita Pit's student discount night. A turkey, ham or chicken pita with chips and a drink for $6. If you're a member of HURD you also get $1 off or a free drink and chips with the purchase of a pita.
6. USU students receive 15 percent off at the Beehive Grill, Sunday through Thursday after 5 p.m.
7. Rancherito's offers students 10 percent off their entire purchase.
8. Starting in October, Pupeseria, Rancherito's and Village Inn will offer 10-percent off students' entire purchase.
9. Center Street Grill offers students $1 off their entire purchase.
Besides these restaurants, there are dozens of discounts and coupons in the Campus Cash booklets and in The Utah Statesman's Fall '09 Dining Guide – see the insert in the newspaper. Take a look, find your favorites and save a few bucks on your next meal or treat. Additionally, don't be afraid to ask whether a restaurant offers a discount to USU students. There may be some I've missed.
But then there's the dilemma of discounts and dates. So a restaurant offers a discount or has a coupon but would you use it on a date? As that I am incredibly cheap and will do anything to save a dollar, I would find a boy who uses coupons or asks for student discounts slightly endearing. But what do most USU students think? I surveyed 15 male and 15 female USU students Tuesday and found 34 percent of the girls and 40 percent of the boys thought using a coupon or asking for a discount on a date was tacky or cheap. Overall, 63 percent of students surveyed thought using a coupon wasn't tacky. So, somewhat mixed reviews. A few students commented on how a determining factor would be how serious the couple is. Other students said it's always tacky. That if a boy is taking a girl out he should have the money to pay for it. What do you think? Comment below on your opinion of "coupon-dating etiquette" and of other food discounts around town for students.
Tip of the Week: I dare you to use a coupon- anywhere- and then tell me about it.
Each week I'll be sharing a tip or bargain of the week – ways to save money or make the most out of it. Got an idea or heard about a discount? Please comment below or send me an e-mail.
Karlie Brand is a junior in public relations. "Watching Your Wallet" will appear online each Wednesday. Questions or comments can be sent to her at karlie.brand@aggiemail.usu.edu
5. Thursdays are Pita Pit's student discount night. A turkey, ham or chicken pita with chips and a drink for $6. If you're a member of HURD you also get $1 off or a free drink and chips with the purchase of a pita.
6. USU students receive 15 percent off at the Beehive Grill, Sunday through Thursday after 5 p.m.
7. Rancherito's offers students 10 percent off their entire purchase.
8. Starting in October, Pupeseria, Rancherito's and Village Inn will offer 10-percent off students' entire purchase.
9. Center Street Grill offers students $1 off their entire purchase.
Besides these restaurants, there are dozens of discounts and coupons in the Campus Cash booklets and in The Utah Statesman's Fall '09 Dining Guide – see the insert in the newspaper. Take a look, find your favorites and save a few bucks on your next meal or treat. Additionally, don't be afraid to ask whether a restaurant offers a discount to USU students. There may be some I've missed.
But then there's the dilemma of discounts and dates. So a restaurant offers a discount or has a coupon but would you use it on a date? As that I am incredibly cheap and will do anything to save a dollar, I would find a boy who uses coupons or asks for student discounts slightly endearing. But what do most USU students think? I surveyed 15 male and 15 female USU students Tuesday and found 34 percent of the girls and 40 percent of the boys thought using a coupon or asking for a discount on a date was tacky or cheap. Overall, 63 percent of students surveyed thought using a coupon wasn't tacky. So, somewhat mixed reviews. A few students commented on how a determining factor would be how serious the couple is. Other students said it's always tacky. That if a boy is taking a girl out he should have the money to pay for it. What do you think? Comment below on your opinion of "coupon-dating etiquette" and of other food discounts around town for students.
Tip of the Week: I dare you to use a coupon- anywhere- and then tell me about it.
Each week I'll be sharing a tip or bargain of the week – ways to save money or make the most out of it. Got an idea or heard about a discount? Please comment below or send me an e-mail.
Karlie Brand is a junior in public relations. "Watching Your Wallet" will appear online each Wednesday. Questions or comments can be sent to her at karlie.brand@aggiemail.usu.edu
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