5 Tips for How to Brunch on a Budget
It’s no question that brunching is NOT cheap. Anyone else feel like what used to be a weekend ritual, mindlessly swiping your card at the spot everyone’s talking about is no longer? Maybe you’d even hop around a bit to a few other spots for bottomless mimosas afterwards?
Nowadays, since brunch has seriously blown up in the last few years restaurants have majorly banked on people in the 22-35 year age bracket and amped up the prices because they know that we just can’t get enough of: a good ambiance, insta-worthy food, endless mimosas and a solid excuse to start drinking in the morning with friends.
I may consider myself the brunching guru, but that’s not to say that some weekends I just have to skip brunch because I know it might burn a hole in my wallet. However, I’ve had a ton of experience with how to make sure you stay within your limits, yet still allow a little "treat yourself” moment! Here are…
5 Tips for How to Brunch on a Budget
Do your research before you head to the brunch spot your friends chose for this weekend. Look at their menu. Does their awesome specialty cocktail that’s $17 look totally up your alley and it’s one that you can’t leave without trying? Does the food kind of look like you can get the Belgian waffle or the omelet anywhere? Then pick a filling side order for your meal. You can always snack on something later, but at least you’ll be prepared and try what’s really worth spending the money on.
Drink a lot of water before and have a quick, but protein-packed snack prior. I like to sometimes eat a Larabar before - they’re dairy-free with real ingredients and are light enough that you’ll have an appetite for a real meal, but you won’t overeat or over-order.
Use cash when you can, and take out cash prior especially if you’re brunching with a big group. If you only ordered the pancake dish with a mimosa for a total of $20, why split the entire meal with your 6 friends who ordered 3 more drinks than you and got a million sides? If you use card, it’s easy to throw down and say “split it” but you’ll wind up spending at least another $15-$20 plus tip. If you have the cash ready, no one can say anything and you stay within your limits.
Does the restaurant you’re going to offer a punch bowl? Get it! Sure, $60 might sound like a lot but if you’re splitting it with a few people it actually ends up being cheaper than buying 3 drinks individually.
Choose a brunch spot that’s on the middle of the $$$ spectrum. Save the super expensive spot and plan it out for when you know you’ll have a good pay week. It can be made into a special occasion. There are plenty of brunch spots that are super chic and have good food and drinks that are not weird dive bar hole in the walls with mediocre menu items that you’ll be disappointed with. I always like to give myself a range of $30-40 spending MAX at brunch. $20-25 is ideal but sometimes it varies depending on the place. Budget yourself prior, set it in stone, and stick to it!
Photography by: Kiera Wood
