Same here! And we almost ALWAYS get water! I think charging $2 for an ice tea is ridiculous!!

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I always look at the appetizers to see if there is one that I could order as a meal. And, if the kid's meals are for all ages, I order one. Cracker Barrel has a shrimp kids meal that I always order. I also order water and no dessert-or sometimes we go and just order dessert. I would love to stop eating out entirely. When I am clipping coupons etc., it makes me feel sick to spend for Red Lobster or its equivilant. However, with my dh, it's baby steps. He loves to eat out...so, I just try to cut corners every where that I can.

Better yet, order the meal to go...then you save on drinks, desserts and a tip!
We got in the habit of whenever we want to eat out we'd order take out, because we hated dealing w/ the kids in a restaurant when they were little...so that's what we,ve gotten used to...although we very rarelt even do that any more unless we have a GC or something.

Unfortunately, the water here is absolutely horrible. So not ordering a drink usually isn't an option. I will ask if the water is filtered and if it is, then we will order water but if not, then we definitely order a drink. Dh loves appetizers so we usually order one of those too. But since with an appetizer, a salad and a meal, I usually have at least half my meal left , someone gets a lunch the next day out of it. Even though my kids are 11 and 14, they almost always order off the kids menu. We dont' take the 14 yr old out often because she is still a picky eater. I want to take my 11 yr old to a seafood buffet near Disney but since it is almost $25 for adults, I won't take my 14 yr old because all she will eat is mac & cheese, mashed potatoes and chicken strips off of a buffet. We will stop and get her Arby's on the way home. But that won't be happening any time soon unless the job fairy shows up.

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"He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money."
Benjamin Franklin

We rarely order dessert at the restaurant. Even when we go for a birthday, we will come back home to have a birthday cake and coffee.

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Marie - SAHM of DS Benjamin (april 2004) and DD Rose (march 2006).

We will not eat out and pay full price for kids meals. There are too many places in my area that offer kids eat free (almost free) and some even include the drink and dessert.

We always just get water at resturaunts. That saves our family $5 or so.

My 6 yr. old never eats more than half of his meal, so when we order, I immediately ask for a take-home box so I can get some of the food out of his way before it gets mushed together or coated with ketchup. The cost doesn't seem so bad if I remember I'm paying for 2 meals for him.

DH & DS order soda - it's the only time they ever get it, since I never buy the stuff.

And they always used to want dessert, too. Lately, I've been making something at home for dessert if I know we're going out later. If they know ahead of time there's cake at home, they can resist ordering it.