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.

Look into online resources, as well. Restaurant.com offers discounted dining certificates and you can search by zip code or location. For example, you can purchase a $25 dining certificate for $10 or a $10 dining certificate for $3. If you do take advantage of these offers, be sure that you read the fine print as there may be some exclusions. You can also print coupons from sites such as Valpak.com.

Order carefully

Consider ordering a larger meal portion and then splitting it with someone else. You can ask for an extra plate and you can typically add extra side items such as vegetables or a salad a la carte. If you order water instead of beverages you can also save an additional $2 per person. Skip dessert at the restaurant and grab ice cream on the way home instead. If you do opt to have dessert there, share it with someone else.