Eating out

[disneysteve]

We often have only an appetizer. There are appetizer choices on many menus that are virtually a meal for 2. They are typically priced much cheaper than the 'Entree's. As for drinks, I usually get water with lemon. You can even sweeten it with the sugar packs on most tables(ok, it's cheapskate lemonade, bad habit from college years.). If I want an alcoholic drink I almost always get a draught beer. I only get wine or hard liquor if it's a special occasion. This has to be one of the biggest ripoffs around.

We have gone out and gotten 2 appetizers to share as our meal.

As for liquor, always ask prices. Many restaurants that have a bar will have happy hour specials that can be much cheaper even if you are in the dining room and not at the bar. It could be the difference between a $2 beer and a $7 beer.

[savinggirl]

have dinner out, but follow it with dessert and coffee at home (saves about $10 - $20 every time!)

[Frugal]

Two words: coupons and specials. Try not just to look in the paper you get on Sunday, but also in unexpected places, like on the back of your grocery or Walmart receipts. I found some last week for Mexican food right near our house. They are easy to miss and most people throw them away.

I also have gone to PF Chang's for their half-price appetizers...think this is Monday-Thurs., but not positive. Some other restaurants have half-price drinks (like Sonic Fast Food) and appetizers between, say, the off-hours of 2-4 pm. I have saved a lot of money this way.

[LuckyRobin]

My husband and I will often get one appetizer and then split an entree. We go to places that do not charge a fee for an extra plate when doing this. Entrees are generally so big that this is enough to fill us up. We also only get water to drink.