by Michael Tasic

Created on: November 11, 2007

In Australia there are many ways to save money on fast food ... I'm hoping that the same thing happens in the States! Everyone needs to shop for groceries. Have a look on the back of your receipt next time you shop, there should be lots of different special offers for fast food, restaurants, weekends away, etc.

Some of the special offers that I have used from the back of the grocery receipt include:

Subway - buy a Footlong and a medium drink and get a footlong free (if you can't eat a footlong or there is only one of you eating then save the other one for lunch the next day ... I would recommend that you get cold meat and no sauces for this option)

Domino's Pizza - $5.95 unlimited normal pizzas for pickup only (great for if you're having a pizza meal for a work group. By allowing half a pizza each person then it only costs $3 per person - excellent value as a motivational tool)

Restaurants - Buy one main meal get one free up to the same value (makes for a cheap but entertaining night out)

Check to see if your local cinema has special offers on the back of the tickets. Birch, Carroll and Coyle normally have a Hungry Jack's voucher (Burger King in the States). This voucher offers a buy one whopper, get one free deal.

School newsletters, local papers, junk mail flyers, local area savings books ... they all have offers available:

My sons school newsletter has a McDonald's offer of buy any burger or muffin and get another to the same value for free.

Quite often the junk mail contains special offers for Kentucky Duck, Pizza Hut, Eagle Boys etc. These range from discounts on normal pricing to buy one get one free offers. If you can't eat two pizzas then freeze one for a handy meal on another day!

Living on the Gold Coast in Queensland (Australia) we have access to tourist booklets (the Gold Coast is a huge tourism destination). These booklets have discount offers for theme parks, mini golf, restaurants and fast food outlets. Next time you go past the information counter at your local shopping centre see what discount books they have on offer. They are usually free and have plenty of offers for you.

Fast food should not become a regular way of eating though as the high levels of saturated fat can contribute to weight gain. A treat every now and again is OK, just don't make a habit of it!

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