Hate spending money on overpriced drinks when you're at a restaurant? One couple found a unique way to save some money on beverages when eating out.
The hack was shared in a viral clip on TikTok posted by Hadassah Moore (@hadassahmoore99). The video has had over 541,000 views since it was shared two days ago.
A message overlaid on the video says: "Our money saving tactic is sharing one refillable drink when we go out to eat." The footage shows a couple sipping some drinks at a dining venue.
Moore told Newsweek that the video was shot at a restaurant called At Long Last in Auburn, a city in central New York State, on Saturday morning, explaining that the Tennessee location noted in the post was just a "random" place she'd originally entered and was unable to update it.
Moore said: "My husband and I shared a cup of coffee and got one free refill because it made more sense than getting two cups of coffee for double the price."
The latest post comes as the U.S. consumer price index, which measures the average change in prices paid by consumers for goods and services, for non-alcoholic beverages was reported to have increased by 3.4 percent over the last year between January 2023 and January 2024, according to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Over the same period, the index for "food away from home" was increased by 5.1 percent, while the index for limited-service and full-service meals rose by 5.8 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively, according to the BLS report.
A March 2022 survey of public opinion on menu pricing at U.S. restaurants found that the majority (35 percent) believe that menu pricing is "fair," while 20 percent say it is "poor," according to data compiled by Statista, the global data firm.
'How Smart'
The footage in the viral clip shows Moore and her husband sitting across from each other at a table at the New York restaurant. The couple are seen drinking from two separate mugs.
A caption shared with the post says: "Gotta save money somehow."
Moore, who works as server at a restaurant in Skaneateles, a town in central New York State, said: "We do this often at restaurants because we don't tend to drink very much and as a server myself, I could not care less if guests did this. The $3 on the bill makes no difference to me, and in this case we gave the $3 we saved to our server in her tip.
"I'm honestly not sure of the price for the coffee [at the venue in the video], it was mostly a joke, but at the restaurant I serve at, drinks are $2.99."
Users on TikTok praised the money-saving tip, with some saying they also do the same.
Trendy New You wrote: "Wait omg how SMART," and user @menopekiengle said: "Honestly the smartest thing. That getting a small drink when they offer refills instead of a large cup."
ANE+CNE noted: "oh wow. I can't believe I never thought of that," while lex also said: "why have I never thought to do this omg."
Brittany wanderlust said: "Lolll we started doing this too!"
Normy Cabraly wrote: "I actually do that!" and 28280404 said: "Same here, not with this economy."
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Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in travel and health.
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