Cooking and eating at home is always cheaper than dining out. So, during a time period when most Americans are trying to live cheaply, fast food chains have gotten particularly creative and aggressive at enticing budget-conscious eaters out of their kitchens and up to cashier.
There are three basic strategies, all aimed at getting customers into restaurants early and often—and likely to spend more than they'd think at first glance. The chains have been rolling out …
Menu Items to Get You in the Door Early
Restaurants that are only open for lunch and dinner are obviously missing out on breakfast—and revenues. That's why Subway started opening early and offering breakfast meals this year, including a combo of 16 oz. Seattle's Best coffee and egg muffin sandwich, and why Burger King just introduced a slew of new breakfast options, including a four-piece mini blueberries with vanilla icing dip for $1. And also why Wendy's is expanding its menu to include breakfast in certain test markets, and why Taco Bell will be selling breakfast nationwide in a year or so, most likely with a few items selling for under $1 apiece.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Time.