Fast Food Smarts

So, life has been rough lately, and you haven't heard from me in a while. Anyway, along with the rough life, I've been relying on fast food, and I've decided to compile a list of tips I have, um, compiled in my brain.

1. Do not buy the "value meal." It's not a value. And it's more food than you need. Included in this list are some substitutions.

2. Look at the dollar menu or the value menu. This usually has great options. For example, last time I went to Jack-in-the-box, I thought about getting the cheeseburger meal for around $6. Instead, I looked to the value menu, where I got a Jr. Cheeseburger for $1, a side salad (instead of fries) for $1, and a large tea for $1. With the meal, I would have gotten a cheeseburger, small fries, and a small drink for twice the price.

3. Check for specials, but beware! Whataburger has a survey you can complete on their receipts. AFter completing it, you get a code to use for a free burger on your next visit. However, when you go to use it, you have to buy a large drink and large fries to use the coupon. Also, cheese is $0.50 extra. So, you wind up paying about $6 or $7 anyway. Instead, go for the dollar menu--small fries, jr. whataburger with cheese, and a small drink for $3! On the other hand, some places have pretty good deals. McDonald's often has coupons in fliers for a buy one get one sandwich. This is a good deal! Especially for breakfast! Ashley and I can both eat breakfast for under $5 with these coupons.

4. Watch the drink. Almost all the fast food places now have special drink deals. McDonald's has any drink for $1. Some other place has any size drink for $1. Also, if you're just picking up food to take home, consider stopping by the gas station for a drink. Places like 7-11, Sheetz, and QT have cups you can refill for less than $1. QT also has a huge selection of drinks!

5. Drink refills. If you're eating in the restaurant, check the refill policy. If it's free refills, get a small drink, and refill it as much as you'd like! If you think you'd like to have some drink for later, empty the ice out of your cup, and get your last refill to go, with no ice. That way, you can put it in the fridge when you get home, and it won't get all watered down. A couple of precautions if you do this, though: a)be careful of the papery cups. They tend to leak after a while. b)Don't leave your drink in the car. Strange things happen. c)The drink doesn't last more than a few days. After the carbonation fizzles all out, you're left with a cup of thick syrup that does not taste too good.

6. Healthier options. As I mentioned earlier, salads are an easy choice. Watch the salad dressing, though. A McDonald's side salad with the whole packet of ranch dressing has more fat and more calories than a hamburger. Most places now have apple slices that you can substitute for fries. You can also sometimes get yogurt (if you like that kind of thing.)

7. Best buys. Here are some examples of the best savings I've had:
-McDonalds-I could have gotten a two cheeseburger meal that includes two cheeseburgers, small fries, and a small drink for about $5. Instead, I got two double cheeseburgers, small fries, and a large drink for $4. Since I ate in the store, I refilled the drink once while I was there, then I emptied the ice and filled up the cup for a drink later in the day. I also saved one of the cheeseburgers and had that for dinner. That way, I actually got two meals out of the deal instead of just one!
-Arby's-Today, I went by Arby's. Instead of the regular roast beef sandwich "value meal" for $6, I got two Jr. Roast beef sandwiches, small fries, and a small drink for $4. That way, I had a sandwich for lunch and a sandwich for later.
-Subway-This could have been my best one. I got four meals for $7. I had a coupon for a "buy one footlong, get one free." So, I got two $5 footlongs for $5. To add chips and a drink, it cost $2 extra. For that meal, I ate half of one footlong, the chips, and the drink. I refilled the drink and put everything in the fridge for later. Then, I had three more meals of six inch subs!
-Papa John's-If you order online, you get Papa points. Sometimes, they have double point times. Once you get 25 points, you can use this for a free pizza! You can use deals and coupons and still earn Papa points. They also had a "million pizza giveaway" where they awarded 25 papa points to a million users. I had banked 25 points, and I won 25 points, so I got two large two topping pizzas for freeeeee!