One way to get your budget under control and to help your money work for you, is to reduce the money you spend eating out. Eating at home is also usually much healthier. However, everyone needs a treat once in a while. If you apply some basic planning principals you can make eating out a cost-effective and guilt free experience. Here are some ways we have found to make the most of our dining-out experiences.

1) Plan Ahead
This is vital in order to stick to your budget. You must include a realistic amount of money in your budget for eating out. Trying to cut out too much too soon usually results in a blown budget and a discouraged heart.

2) Think Strategically
This is a fun one. For us, this means choosing sit-down resturants that offer free bread or chips before meals. That way, we usually end up taking at least one half meal, if not two, home with us. Usually we eat another day or two off of left overs. In relation to fast food, for us, this means find places where they are offering sales or buy one get one free deals.

3) Take Advantage of Specials and Rewards Programs
Sign up for email lists at your favorite restaurants. Often they will send you sale alerts and special coupons. It is amazing what deals they will offer! Also, at more casual restaurants, make sure to use any punch or loyatly cards. Businesses love to reward customer loyalty, and if you are going to be there anyway, you might as well reap the benefits.

4) Have an emergency plan :)
The reality is, there will be nights when you don’t feel like cooking, or when the day doesn’t go as planed and you need a quick last minute meal. Have a stash of coupons ready, or have a cheap standby emergency resturant you know is inexpensive and quick. It might even be a good idea to keep $5 or $10 in a special envelope in your car for what I like to call “sanity meals”. Much to my husbands delight, our emergency resturant is Taco Bell. Not the healthiest, but inexpensive. And we try to minimize our “emergency” trips to once or twice a month.

I will continue this post next week, with more money-saving tips :)