Do Restaurant BOGO Coupons Work

BOGO Restaurant Deals

Restaurant coupons are often harder to come by than grocery coupons. Yet it is still possible to find these deals. In addition to using coupons for BOGO restaurant savings, you can also check your favorite eatery’s happy hour, lunch and daily specials for BOGO deals.

Find BOGO Coupons

BOGO coupons for chain restaurants like On the Border can often be found in mass coupon mailers or your newspaper coupon inserts. Local diners and pubs might print coupons in their ads in the newspaper or phone book. Check your favorite deal seeking website, like Coupon Surfer or Savings Mania, to find reliable printable online coupons to the restaurant of your choice. But just because it is posted on a reliable website does not mean it is always valid.

Signing up for e-mail newsletters and birthday clubs is another way to get restaurant coupons. Special coupons might also come out for military members, parents (Mother’s Day, for example), holidays and other occasions, so be sure to check your favorite coupon source.

Travel and entertainment savings books are another way to find great restaurant savings. BOGO coupons, percent-off coupons and dollar amount coupons for local and chain restaurants are often included. And these books are not just for vacationers—contact your local chamber of commerce or travel center to get one for your city. Updated yearly, they often offer plenty of money saving coupons, even if you have to pay a nominal fee.

BOGO Pros and Cons

BOGO restaurant coupons have both positive and negative factors. On the one hand, you are getting something for free, whether it is an appetizer, entrée, kid’s meal, non-alcoholic drink or dessert. This can cut down on your total bill significantly while allowing you a night out.

Yet there is a downfall to BOGO coupons. Many have restrictions on when and how they can be used. Check the fine print to find out if any of these terms apply to your coupon:

• It is valid only on weekdays (or weekends).
• You can only use it during the lunch hour.
• The total bill must be xx dollars or greater before applying the coupon.
• The free item must be a new menu item, sandwich or other category of items, which restricts your options.

Expiration dates on BOGO coupons are often very near to the date the coupon was issued. One to two weeks is typical for these kinds of coupons, so plan your evenings out to coincide with your coupon’s expiration.

Learn: Do Restaurant BOGO Coupons Work

Getting your coupons from reliable sources is the best way to be assured about the question “Do restaurant BOGO coupons work?” Coupons that have extremely long expiration dates, suspiciously good deals or poorly-printed graphics might not work.

To find out if the BOGO coupon you received is legitimate, check the company website. A listing of ongoing and current specials and deals might be listed. Or if you were e-mailed a coupon, look at the sender’s address. If it is from a third party or unidentifiable address, it may not be legit.

Finally, if you are unsure about a coupon’s validity, call the restaurant before arrival to find out if they will honor the coupon. Most have a coupon code that you can relay to the restaurant somewhere on the face, which can be punched into the restaurant’s computer in order to check.

Save Money with Restaurant Coupons

Restaurant coupons, especially BOGO ones, can often save you anywhere from $5 to $15 on a dinner out. In order to make the most of these coupons, try combining them with other specials if possible, and avoid buying expensive alcoholic drinks. Splitting an adult entrée between two children can be cheaper than buying two kids’ meals.

Also, no BOGO coupon is a good deal if you do not like the restaurant to begin with or simply do not have the money to go out. Coupons save money off a total bill—not eliminate the bill entirely. If you do not have the money without the coupon, then stay home and make a frugal dinner so you can save up for the next dining out opportunity.