Save Money By Going Green: Dining Out

Going green doesn’t just save the outside world; it also can save the hard-earned money in your bank account. This week, we’re dispensing advice about one of the more self-interested aspects of being green: keeping your cash.

Tip #1: Save Leftovers

Dining out can become an expensive proposition. To get your money’s worth, and since portions come so large nowadays, eat only half of what you’re served, then take the leftovers home in a reusable container that you had the foresight to bring along. Voila! A “free,” restaurant-made meal for later.

Wasted food comprises 12 percent of the U.S. waste stream (30 million tons per year!), 98 percent of which lands in landfills where it stinks up the atmosphere with methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases.

Tip #2: Flip the Switch

Tip #3: Tax Deductions

Tip #4: Drive Less

Tell us: How do you save money or go green while eating out?