"Follow Me Monday" Date Night!

Hip2Save may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you via trusted partners and affiliate links in this post. Prices and availability are accurate as of time posted. Read our full disclosure policy here.

Today’s Follow Me Monday Video is titled “Date Night”! I’ll be showing you all quite a few ways to save when dining out and going to the movies. Lots of you asked for me to do a video on this topic, so here it is! After watching the video, look below and you’ll see lots of links to score great savings at various restaurants!

Enjoy!

**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it!

Alright, so as I stated in the video, here’s a list of some of my favorite restaurant email clubs to sign up for. Most of these restaurants offer freebies on your Birthday and even freebies just for joining! This is a great way to save a ton of money when dining out!

  • Red Robin– Join the Red Robin E-Club and receive a gift just for signing up, a FREE burger on your Birthday and all the latest Red Robin news!
  • T.G.I. Friday’s-Sign up for the Give Me More Stripes recognition program and every time you eat at participating Friday’s locations, you’ll earn stripes! You will also get a one time skip to the front of the line pass, as well as, a coupon for a FREE appetizer or dessert! There are quite a few other program perks too!
  • Black Angus Steakhouse– Sign up for the Black Angus Prime Club and receive a complimentary dessert for joining and a free steak dinner on your birthday! You will also be the first to receive all the latest Black Angus Steakhouse news and special offers straight to your inbox!
  • Mimi’s Cafe– Join Mimi’s Eclub and receive a FREE breakfast for joining! You will also get members only access to special offers and more. You will receive a welcome message in your inbox with your free breakfast entree coupon.
  • Benihana restaurant– Go here to sign up for their email offers. During the month of your Birthday, they’ll send you a complimentary Benihana Birthday Dinner certificate, maximum value of $30! Wow! What a great way to celebrate your Birthday! You can check Benihana locations here.
  • The Melting Pot–  Just simply register to be a Club Fondue member and they will send you a FREE chocolate Fondue coupon just for signing up!

***You can also go here to sign up for even more restaurant freebies and coupons!

Another way to save money, as I mentioned in the video, is by using the Entertainment book! This is a great book that will really help stretch those dollars! The Entertainment Book has lots of great money saving coupons available! From restaurant coupons to entertainment coupons, shopping and more! Currently, if you go through ShopAtHome.com to snag the Entertainment book, you’ll score $7 cash back. The Entertainment book is priced around $22.75 (this will vary a little depending on your location). After cash back, you’ll pay as little as $15.75! Not bad for a book that will pay for itself with the first one to two coupons used!

…And finally, I just want to mention Restaurant.com again! If you like dining out at restaurants that are usually on the pricey side, then you’ll definitely want to take advantage of Restaurant.com! Thru 1/19, you can use promo code INDULGE to take 80% off $25 gift certificates (they are usually $10)–bringing your final cost down to just $2! I always stock up on certificates when they are 80% off. They don’t expire for a year after purchasing, so you’ll definitely have lots of time to make use of them. If your unfamiliar with how Restaurant.com works, then be sure to check out this post! You may also want to read through the comments on this post if you still have questions.

I hope this video makes you realize that you can still enjoy dining out and even the occasional movie on a budget! If you have other ideas for how to save in this area, then please feel free to let us know in the comment section!

Join The Discussion

Comments 499

  1. Sheila

    I look forward to watching all your videos!!!!!!They are always so funny!!!!!!Just keep doing what you do best!!!You are hilarious!!!!!!You are the greastest coupon queen out there!!(DO NOT LISTEN TO NEGATIVE PEOPLE]

  2. Mary

    Collin you are the best! I loved this video!!!!

  3. hip2save_fan

    I never comment but since you said your feelings had gotten involved–I subscribe to a dozen “coupon” blogs and I often get so behind on reading the updates, clipping coupons, printing coupons, registering for coupons and then actually grocery shopping that I just have to draw the line somewhere. I NEVER delete one of your updates without reading it. You always have breaking news on the best deals and best of all, your updates aren’t just copied from someone else’s blog because you continually alert me to deals that no one else mentions. So you’ve saved me a lot of money, time and your spirit is so chirpy that I enjoy reading your updates. As everyone else has said, don’t listen to whoever is so starved for attention they have to come here to get it. Weird all by itself.

  4. Bethany

    Holy Moly…lots of comments. Anyway, I saw on a different post about the whole lemon thing…whatever. I LOVED this video, I thought you had a lot of great tips. Thanks for doing this.
    I had one question, the movie coupon book, I was a little confused on how to get that, that sounds like fun. Do all theaters have them? Also, the entertainment book almost ALWAYS has cheaper movie prices–that is the main reason I buy that thing.
    Also, one way to save money on babysitting to have these date nights is to do a swap, you watch my kids then I’ll watch yours next week for your date night…are there some other ideas out there on saving on childcare that other people have used?

  5. hilary

    collin, i never ever comment on your blog but i read every single post. EVERY single one. not only because you cover every single deal. but because i find you so hilariously relatable. you are adorable and silly and so much fun. thank you for all that you do for us readers. we love you!

  6. janaki

    i love you and your camera women. I love to see her.

  7. Greta

    Collin:

    You’re doing a great job! Keep doing your thing…..I know it’s saved my family $$$. I can’t wait until the Christmas season again…you hooked us up (helped us out…in saving)…in my little opinion!

  8. Rain

    Thanks for the lemon aid tip. I never even thought about it. And if anyone thinks that Olive Garden is losing money then they haven’t ordered a bottle of wine or a mixed drink there. When you know they price that they buy the wine and liquor for you would be shocked, most of the wine that they serve pretty much they make it back on the first glass they serve. Most bottles only cost them about $4 or so. So they are totally making a killing on the drinks let alone the price of pasta and how much they charge for that. I know that they have an overhead but the coupon thing companies do works, since alot of people go there and end up drinking or bringing more people which is what they wanted to happen. Thanks for your videos I love watching them. Some of the things that you have put on your blog I would have never known about. I have saved up to $97 on one trip to the store, so I know that you have saved me about $1000 bucks by now LOL Keep up the good work!!! Thanks again!

  9. Erin

    Here is another “date night” tip for the adults:

    A lot of local restaurants reserve one day of the week that they offer “free corkage”. This means that you can bring your own bottle of wine in for free to enjoy with your meal. It is not such a spectacular deal, but it can really save you some money if the alternative is buying an overpriced bottle at the restaurant!

    Another tip is that in _SOME_ states, it is legal to take leftover wine home with you after a meal. The bottle must be resealed, put in a bag, have the receipt with it, and placed in the trunk of your car during the drive home. (Be sure to check your own state law first though!) This way, no one will feel the need to finish the bottle at the table, people are less likely to overindulge, and you can enjoy some later 🙂

  10. Kristie

    I love saving money, and I love being entertained by you Collin! I live very close to Jacksonville. I figured out you did too when I recognized the parking lot of the Goodwill in Jacksonville! Also, has the entertainment book helped you any in Jacksonville? You and your camera person are doing a great job.

  11. Michele

    I know this is the last post that needs another comment, but I just want to chime in and say you’re doing a great job. I love the videos!! I’ve only been couponing for a month, but your videos are helping me understand some things that were confusing me before (p.s. your organization videos were fantastic). I’m a producer at a TV station and give props to anyone willing to go in front of the camera. I’ve done my share of talking to irate viewers, upset about the silliest things like an anchor getting her hair cut short or a reporter that used too much blush. How I would love to just tell the viewers to get over it!

    And I happily admit that I’ve done the make-your-own-lemonade trick at restaurants many times. Truthfully, the lemonade at restaurants is too sweet and syrupy … I much prefer my two wedge and one sugar packet recipe 🙂

  12. Megan K

    I tried the lemonade thing today and got charged $1.50 for my lemons…. I was so sad…
    I love this site though Its saved me a ton of money!!!!

  13. Tina

    Collin, you have so many people supporting you and the work that you do that helps them support themselves. Keep up the awesomely good job that you do! Personally, I love checking my email because of your posts. They are always interesting and I have learned a great deal…(Literally!). I have recently given your website information to a bunch of hospital employees during a 2 week stay with my husband. They all seemed to be as excited as I am when I finished explaining to them the various ways they could learn to save money just by checking this out! Thank You!!
    P.S. My 68 year old Dad has been a lemonade maker for many years now!!

  14. krystal

    i guess you will always have a sour lemon! lol sorry had to… i love your site and i think people about eating lemons are sour pusses lmao ohh its killing me how far people take this!! here you are (collin and amy) being friendly and helping people save money but for some reason you ALWAYS have a hater… and i wish they would just stay off your blog if they dont like it plan and simple and you should delete their comments after all its YOUR website and YOU can do what YOU want! so for all the drama loving rude inconsiderate people out their GO EAT SOME LEMONS!! lol i <3 this site and i hope you dont allow them to get to you after all they dont take the timeto make a blog themselves so they would never understand…

  15. Another Grandma

    Collin, Because I can’t get over the dirty lemons (lol) I carry a couple packets of “instant” Crystal Light and make my own KoolAid. I know your site isn’t for grandma’s but I’m also a grandma of 3 1/2 kiddo’s and really need to save money so I can buy them stuff!!!!!!
    Several of my friends have started couponing and I’ve told them to come to your site and watch your follow me monday videos. It is so easy to see how to combine coupons and organize them from your videos. Thanks for all you do to help us save money and get awesome deals. My daughter in laws have now asked me about couponing because they want to get the great deals also

  16. Tami

    Very cute!

  17. Alicia

    Thank you so much for doing this site! You are so amazing…I love all your little tips and tricks. I’m a stay at home mom with 3 little kiddies so learning to save is a must for me. Thanks for the date night tips…I see a date night in my future thanks to your tips.

  18. Jordin

    Hi. I just wanted to tell you how much I love your site. I don’t see anyting wrong with the lemons. When I was pregnant (morning sickness), I would order water with lemon all the time. Resturant water taste awful because they get their water from the city. Now, I still order my drinks the same out of habit.

  19. r2d2

    HAHA, I am getting such a kick out of all the comments. Collin great job and thanks for the tips. Anyone who wants to make lemonade, feel free, anyone who wants to bring a sliced lemon from home (so they know it is clean) feel free, anyone who wants to buy a soda feel free but there is NO need to be putting one another down.

    If you like to MAKE lemonade thatÂ’s fine, I donÂ’t hear you arguing with people who WANT to WASTE money on soda.

    For those of you who do Waste money on soda, if it bothers you THAT much, then pay double for your soda to help make up for it, or SHUT up and let them be.

    Last time I checked we ALL have free agency and unless you commit an actual crime that has the statute and punishments/ fines, then it is not ANYONE elseÂ’s business what you do.
    We should all just leave one another alone, unless we ALL want to get together for lemonade 🙂 Some can buy premade, some can make their own but at the end of the day we would all be drinking lemonade right???

    I hope EVERYONE no matter what you THINK about the darn LEMON subject has a GREAT day/night whatever time it is for you.

    CAN WE PLEASE LEAVE THE SUBJECT ALONE NOW??

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

It's not your Grandma's coupon site!

Sign up for a Hip2Save account (it's free) to access all of the awesome features!

Forgot Password?

Don't have an account? Register

Forgot Password

Don't have an account? Register

Become a Hip2Save Insider

Don't Miss Out! Join our large community of insiders - it's totally free! Once you join, you'll be able to save & share your favorite deals, rate posts and recipes and add items to your HipList and Cookbook! What are ya waiting for?!



Already have an account? Login

Thank you for rating!

Would you also like to leave us a comment?