Tips for Dining Out on a Budget

When people first start tracking their spending habits so that they can develop a budget, they often find that the biggest "leak" in their finances is spent on dining out. It is still possible to enjoy eating out when you are on a budget, but it does take some careful and creative planning.

Timing is everything

The time of day that you choose to dine can help to greatly reduce expenses. For example, most restaurants offer a "lunch menu" and you can typically order from that menu until 4 p.m. If you go to eat just a little bit earlier, you can beat the crowds and still take advantage of less expensive dining options. On that same note, some restaurants offer "happy hour" specials (these are typically served between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.). Happy hour specials often include half price menu items.

Many restaurants offer "kids eat free" nights. Typically, "kids eat free" nights are on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and choosing to take advantage of this offer can save you $4 to $6 per child. If you plan to dine out as a family, find out what restaurants in your area offer free meals for children and plan to dine out accordingly.

Use coupons or other discounts

If you enjoy dining out, the Entertainment Book is an excellent resource. It provides savings for area attractions and for fine, casual, and fast food dining at local restaurants. Most of the dining coupons are "Buy one meal, get one free" or "Buy one meal, get one 50% off." The book usually retails for $25 and it quickly pays for itself. When you register your book online, you have access to additional printable coupons.

Be sure to check the coupon packets that you receive in the mail. Some come in an envelope from companies such as ValPak and others come in magazine format. These often contain "Buy one, get one free" or "$5 off a $20 purchase" meal offers that are specific to local merchants. In addition, there are sometimes coupons for restaurants such as Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and Joe's Crab Shack in the Sunday paper.