Eat out for less!

Noticed you’re spending more at restaurants? Here are the sneaky reasons your bill is climbing higher—and how to avoid paying more while still enjoying dining out:

●1 Dodge the new surcharges!

Before you visit a restaurant, check the website or call the eatery and ask if they add surcharges to their bills. There’s a new trend among restaurants to tack on an additional 2% to 4% in miscellaneous charges, which can be called anything on your check, such as “labor,” “fuel” or “healthcare.” Restaurants use these surcharges because you’re less likely to notice them than rising menu costs, resulting in higher profits!

●2 Use a tip calculator!

Tip calculations at the bottom of a restaurant bill are supposed to be a convenient way to help you figure out how much to leave your server. Unfortunately, some of these calculations are larger than they’re supposed to be—either because the restaurant is incorrectly including tax in the calculated amount or their math is wrong. To ensure you’re leaving the correct amount, use your smartphone to log on to Calculator. net/tip-calculator.html or download the free Tip Calculator app.

●3 Watch out for large wine glasses!

When ordering wine, keep this fact in mind: Research shows you tend to purchase more servings of wine when they’re served in a large wine glass than an average-sized or small one! What’s going on? Even though you’re being served the same amount of wine you’d get in a smaller glass, large glasses makes you feel like you’re actually drinking less, so you think you need to order more!

●4 Be careful when ordering electronically!

More restaurants are giving you the option to order your meal online ahead of time or place orders from your table using an app or electronic tablet. One reason is to make it more convenient for you. Another? To boost sales! Research shows that ordering electronically leads you to purchase more than you would via a waiter. That’s because not having to tell another person what you’re ordering makes you less self-conscious about going overboard on toppings, side dishes and other unplanned extras.