Since coronavirus began, the restaurant industry has suffered. Numerous local restaurants and hot spots have closed for safety measures, but many are permanently shutting down. Many anticipated start-ups aren’t able to open their businesses right now, either. Local businesses have created some of the best dishes in recent memory, and as someone who values them I’ve been looking for ways to show my support. However, due to these uncertain times that also means I need to be mindful of my expenses and budget when doing so. We’d all love to spend endless amounts of money to support our favorite local restaurants! Right now, we need to ask ourselves: How can we support them when that’s not a plausible option? I’ve thought up some ways to help my favorite local restaurants without breaking the bank during this pandemic, which I encourage you to check out too.
- Set Budgets
Not breaking your budget is key when supporting businesses during times like these, and that starts with actually setting one. Determine how much you can spare right now with the income you’ve got, and when to spend it. Unless there’s no other option (i.e., you’re still too busy to cook, or don’t have a stove that works), I recommend only eating out once a week or a couple times each month. Before determining where your money’s going to, make sure you’re setting the right expectations for yourself.
- Charity
Now that dining out isn’t an option, takeout is all the rage. Along with a surge in takeout orders come restaurant tie-ins with charities, too. For example, Clyde’s, one of my favorite restaurants, is creating face masks with all proceeds going towards their Employee Assistance Fund. Support comes in many forms, which is important to remember. If you can’t spend a full amount on a meal, you can still donate a smaller amount to a restaurant’s organization to show support. Everything helps! Even if it’s not through dining, you can still uplift local restaurants that are giving back to their community in other ways.
- Look for Deals
Tons of restaurants are individually doing their own promotions during this time. Local businesses want to still make profits and stay in business, but their owners also understand that customers need more ‘bang for their buck’ right now, too; due to the circumstances, more than ever, they want to make sure you feel as good as possible about where your money is going. Mexicue, for example, has a deal where you get a free round of drinks with your delivery order if you spend $40 or more. When ordering from restaurant sites directly, or even on apps like Grubhub or Uber Eats, make sure you look for promotions to maximize your order.4) Show Support – Regardless of how much you spend, local businesses are grateful for your support. If you aren’t in the best financial place to spend money on food from restaurants, send messages or show support on social media! If you love a local restaurant, e-mail or DM them and let them know why. Show support with a post on Instagram about why you love a specific place. If you do order from a favorite restaurant, post about where you ordered from and why! They’ll appreciate support in any form. This is a great way to support local businesses that fits within everyone’s budget; kindness, after all, doesn’t cost a cent!
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