When money is tight, choosing the cheapest item on a fast-food menu can seem like the obvious way to save. A $2 or $3 sandwich certainly costs less than a $7 meal, but the lower price does not always mean you are getting the better value. Sometimes spending a few dollars more can provide a drink, fries, another side, or even an additional entrée. Restaurant chains have also become more creative with value menus, giving customers several ways to build an inexpensive meal. Before automatically choosing the lowest-priced item, it helps to look at what you are actually getting for the money.
