Eating a meal out can be a really expensive event, but it really does not have to be. Ideally, we would all eat our meals at home and save ourselves the expense of having someone else prepare a meal for us, but I admit that there are just those nights where I do not feel like cooking. When you find yourself having one of these nights, keep in mind these tips for saving money on your dinner bill.

1) Lunches are always cheaper than dinners. If you have a choice between a Saturday lunch or a Saturday dinner, choose the lunch option. If lunch is not an option that day, ask if you can order a lunch portion of the meal. The portion will be smaller, but more waist-friendly as well as budget- friendly. Keep in mind that on Sundays many restaurants will not offer a lunch portion let alone a lunch during that day.

2) You can save a lot of money by simply not ordering any beverages. If you have a toddler that uses a sippy cup, fill this before going to the restaurant. Water is better for you, and a soda fountain drink can be $1.50 or more compared to a free glass of ice water. I usually order water when we eat out and then if I am still craving a soda, I just have one when I get home.

3) Many restaurants offer carry-out and this is definitely something to take advantage of. The reason you should take advantage of this is that you don t have to tip a waitress and you can have your beverage of choice at home. Outback Steakhouse, for example, offers curbside dining. You can call ahead and order from their menu (which you can find on their website) and they will tell you the time to come pick your meal up. They bring the meal out to your car and will even include your silverware. We had this nice dinner with a bottle of wine we got from Aldi's Supermarket, which cost less than one glass of wine at their restaurant, had the great food, and missed the hour wait, and the fifteen percent tip.

4) Buying an Entertainment Book is a great idea if you eat out a lot. Right now they are selling Entertainment Books for only ten dollars! By using just one coupon you will have paid for the book. You can order these through http://www.entertainment.com. We used this book for our
Outback dinner and we paid $12.49 for two steak dinners- you really can t beat that price, even if I had made all of that food at home. A good place to put this book is in your car because you will have it every time you need it. The main complaint that people have with coupons is that they forget to bring them with them when they go places. By storing an envelope with all of your coupons to restaurants and your Entertainment Book in the car, you will hopefully run into that problem a lot less frequently.

5) Sharing a meal with a loved one is also a great way to save on your bills. Some restaurants offer large or smalls on thei...

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