How to Save 80% on Your Restaurant Bill: Restaurant.com

Restaurant.com offers restaurant gift certificates for a fraction of the actual value. For example, you can buy a $25  gift certificates for $10 at any time through their website. What’s even better though, is that Restaurant.com often offers promo codes for up to 80% off their gift certificates. That means you can buy a $25 gift certificate for your favorite restaurant for just $2! The 80% off offer is currently available — enter SUMMER as the promo code.

Oh, and another BONUS! If you access restaurant.com through the ebates website, you can earn a 15% rebate, which means that $25 gift certificate costs you just $1.70! You can’t beat that deal…

I have been using their gift certificates for years and have never had a problem. Once in a while, a restaurant will go out of business after I buy a gift certificate. I just call Customer Service and they immediately offer me a site credit so that I can exchange it for a certificate for a different restaurant.

The certificates never expire, so I always stock up when they offer 80% off promo code.  Many are usable only for dinner, so be sure to read the information about each certificate before you make a purchase.

Restaurant.com is great for your favorite go-to restaurants or for trying a new restaurant with very little investment.

Costco Special Offer – 50% Off Local Restaurant Gift Cards

Just received an email from Costco: they are offering 50% discounts off selected restaurant gift cards when you purchase them in their warehouse. That’s a great deal, because generally they offer 20-25% discounts. They mentioned a few of the offers in my closest location (Vallejo, CA) and they are worthwhile deals. Check it out! But be quick about it, the deal is only good TWO DAYS ONLY: May 6-7, 2011.

Get Gift Cards at Great Discounts

Thanks to my wise neighbor, I have discovered Plastic Jungle, a clearinghouse for gift cards. You can sell any gift card that you don’t want to Plastic Jungle, or better yet, you can purchase gift cards that others have sold to the site at a discount. You can save up to 35% per gift card and just about any gift card you can think of is offered on the site (except Amazon). Shipping is FREE and there are no fees to purchase the cards.

I have purchased several gift cards from Plastic Jungle with no problems at all. They usually arrive within a few days of your order (depending on where you live).

I think it’s a no-brainer. For example, I do a lot of my general household shopping at Target and buy clothing at Kohl’s. So I purchase the gift cards ahead of time and use them as needed, knowing I’m making my purchases at a discount. You really can’t lose!

The only downside I can see is that when the gift cards arrive, the card itself does not look brand new. That’s no problem for me because I generally purchase them for my own shopping needs, but I may not want to give one as a gift to someone.

Restaurant Gift Cards — Save Big at Costco

If you have a Costco membership, you need to check out the discounted gift cards that Costco sells in their stores and on their online website. I recently purchased $150 worth of gift cards for a local high-end restaurant, Hurley’s in Yountville, CA (http://www.hurleysrestaurant.com/), for just $99! That means I saved 33% or that I received a $50 gift card for free! Discounts vary by area, but it pays to check it out.

For national restaurant chain savings, visit here. They also offer other gift cards for local golf courses, spas, attractions, etc.