As much as we find ways to make money online, I thought I would take a page from Benjamin Franklin’s book and share how we can save a few bucks on our meals on a recurring basis (just like your online passive income).

A penny saved is a penny earned.

1. Subscribe to your favorite restaurants e-newsletter.

Your favorite restaurant will most probably have a website, especially if its a franchise. These websites are used not just to show you their menu or their address, but its also an outlet for that establishment to send you promotional materials. If they have a website, chances are their marketing is handled by a restaurant solutions company like Fishbowl.com, whose sole purpose is to distribute and market the restaurant’s brand.

Let’s take my favorite restaurant for example: Texas de Brazil (TdB), a Brazillian Steakhouse where you can have unlimited portions of your favorite cut of meat. From the very first time we went there, I signed up for their e-newsletter online. Every year for my birthday I get a complimentary dinner valued at $48 (with a purchase of another dinner). Throughout the rest of the year I also get discounted dinners and lunches.

I decided to use the same strategy at Flattop Grill and had the same yummy result! Flattop Grill is the ultimate “create your own stir fry” place, and they send me a complimentary dinner for my birthday as well, a $15 dollar value with no purchase necessary. I also got a free $8 (value) Ice Cream Creation at Cold Stone Creamery this way.

2. Use Rewards Programs

You can use Opentable.com to make reservations at your favorite restaurant. For every reservation I honor, I receive 100 points. They also have restaurants that are categorized as 1,000 point reservations. When you accumulate 2,000 points you get a $20 gift certificate towards any Opentable.com restaurant. With 5,000 points you get $50 and for 10,000 points you get $100. The list of restaurants is pretty extensive, covering the USA, Canada and 11 other countries.

I also like the GiveMeMoreStripes reward card from TGI Friday’s. It’s free to sign up and you get $8 gift certificate for every $100 spent (before taxes). I use it when I have visitor’s from work. This way the bill is on the company and I get the points – it only seems fair don’t you think.

3. Follow your favorite restaurant’s Social Media efforts

As more and more businesses (inlcuding restaurants) use Social Media for promotions, you can win free meals that are only offered either through Twitter, Facebook or other social media platform. Just check out TGI Friday’s free burger promo: facebook.com/fanwoody, I know I got my free burger ($5 value).

I’m still waiting on @flattopgrill to give something away. =)

Add it up!

Here is a sample calculation of what you could get for free:

• $48 (value) Complimentary dinner from Texas de Brazil, with purchse of another dinner.
• $50 Gift Certificate to any OpenTable.com Restaurant.
• $15 (value) Complimentary dinner from Flattop Grill no purchase necessary.
• $10 Gift Certificate from Stonewood Alehouse with a $20 tab.
• $8 (value) Free Ice Cream Creation at Cold Stone Creamery.
• $8 Gift Certificate from TGI Friday’s, for every $100 spent.
• $5 (value) Burger from TGI Friday’s Facebook promo.

That’s $144 bucks that I won’t be pulling out of my pocket.

Kick it up a Notch!

If you want be evil/creative/resourceful, you can even get these free meals every month (or every week). All you would have to do is open 12 email accounts and subscribe to your favorite places with a different birthday (or anniversary) for every month (or week) of the year. This way, every month (or week) you will get all sorts of free meals and discounted promotions.

Your Turn.

These are my tips on how to get free meals online. I hope that some, if not all, will work for you. I am sure there are other ways to get free meals, if you know of any I would like to know how you do it and your experience. Please enlighten us in the comment section below.