Going Out to Eat

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Living on a budget doesn't mean eating every meal at home. Although cutting out restaurants altogether is financially the best option, there's no point in saving money if you don't reward yourself every once in a while. Doing so while still being financially responsible is the challenge.

When going out to eat the money you spend depends mainly on two things: where you go and what you get. Interestingly enough, I find that what I order impacts my bottom line more than where I go. For example, when I went to Olive Garden I got a nice pasta dish for $15 and decided to forgo a drink. At Applebee's I got Chicken Tenders and fries for $10 but got a $3 drink, making my tab only slightly less than when I went to Olive Garden. Smart ordering can save a few bucks every time you go out.

When I go out to eat I try to avoid ordering a soda. I figure I could spend $3 to enjoy a couple glasses of coke now, or buy a couple of 2 Liter bottles of coke at Safeway for the same price. Buying four drinks for your family will run you an extra $10-$15 a meal, so that's definitely something to keep in mind.

I also try to take advantage of deals, like 2 for $20 at Applebee's or I look for coupons for my local restaurants in the paper. If you can find dinner for two for around $20 you've found a pretty good deal. It's important that you don't blow the savings on an appetizer, drinks, or a dessert, because that's where the restaurants get the most money from you. If you really want a dessert Baskin Robins has $1 soft serve ice cream cones, or a decent size frozen yogurt from your local shop will only cost $2-$3, compared to the $6-$8 at a restaurant. Just because you got dinner there does not mean your dessert has to be there too.

Finally, pizza is a huge money saver when you get the right deal. I can get a $15 pizza for a few people at Skipolini's, or a similar pizza at Little Caesars for only $6. Also, Safeway pizzas tend to be around $5, and there are lower quality Totino's Party Pizza's that can feed two for about $1.50. I like the taste, although it isn't a great pizza.

The most important thing to remember is moderation. Unless you';re on a bare bones budget, going out to eat and spending $20 is not a big deal, just don't let it become a habit.