we don't go out very often at all but when we do we try to get the most for our money! where are some places you can take your family for a good frugal meal out?

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SILENCE IS GOLDEN BUT DUCK TAPE IS SILVER.

For us, I would have to say Golden Corral. I know most people are not into buffet places ( I am not a huge fan either, mainly because I eat too much when I go), but everyone gets to eat what they like. If you sign up your kids for the bday club, they get to eat for free for their bday. Plus I think it is like Tuesday nights kids eat for like a buck--I am not sure what night it is. So for roughly $30 every gets to eat stuff like steak, pasta, fried chicken, dessert, etc. Any where else, it would cost us probably $50 and up to feed two adults and three kids.

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Zio Johno's

Sweet Tomatoes.

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And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil:4:7

Ooh-I like the Golden Coral idea! We have a local independent Italian restaurant that has like $5 dishes and their good sized portions plus free garlic bread. Can't beat it!

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Old Country Buffet

If you go between 3 and 4PM, then they have the supper foods available, but you pay the lunch price, so you are getting a fairly good deal.

Kids eat free on Tuesdays and they have a bee mascot/costume there giving out balloons.

Like PP said, everybody gets to eat what they want for a decent price.

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Our back yard

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Sarah

We have Ryan's which is like Golden Corral with the buffet. We also have a Japanese restaurant that has a full meal for less than $6. I can split one plate between 2 kids so the 6 of us eat for around $25.

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"When people can walk away from you, let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anyone that left." Jakes

I hate McDonald's, but since my kids love it and we can do it cheap- we do succumb once in awhile. Happy Meals are super duper rare, though. It is a true treat if they get one of those. My kids don't think this is mean- they just accept it and are happy they get to go to McDo.
If it is me and my 2 kids, we buy: a 10 piece chicken mcnugget meal, and a cheeseburger. My daughter loves the cheeseburger, and my son (age 3) and I split the 10 nuggets. We all share the fry and the drink. Since there is little to no nutritional value in the fries, I don't feel badly doing this. I can feed all 3 of us, on the road, for $6. (Bonus- if I do this on a Monday, they are giving away free samples of their new coffee.) I can drink the coffee, nad hte kids can split a Sprite.

Subway right now is advertising their 12'' subs for only $5 each! My husband will eat a 12'', but I am happy w/ a 6''. For now, my kids are happy to split a 6'' as well, so we can get sandwiches for $10. Granted, I get what the kids like, and I always supplement the meal w/ fruit and milk at home, so it does cost a little more. But if we're in a pinch it works for us.

Take advantage of kids' prizes/awards! Our library does a kids club in the summer. When kids read certain amounts of books, they get to choose certificates for a free kids' meal from Chili's, McDonald's, free bowling, a free ice cream cone, etc. My daughter's PTA does the same thing for keeping track of the books they have read. Pizza Hut does the same for personal pan pizzas with Book-It. It adds up! My kids and husband will ask, "Where do we have coupons for?" if we are looking for a place to eat.

We also only patronize places that will give us great kids' meal deals on a certain day of the week. If I plan my menu out and Tuesday looks super busy, then I know a list of places that does free or reduced priced kids meals on Tuesdays. There are a few on Mondays, but most I know of are on Tuesday. The rest of the nights, I am sure to have a meal ready!

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Darcilew

We go to Wendy's and our family of five can usually eat for about $20. We don't do kids meals; our three kids and I get stuff off the super value menu my DH and I share a large drink from his extra large combo meal.

We do pretty well at Sweet Tomatoes. There are always coupons, I never go there without one and if you bring back the kids cup at each visit, kids' drinks are free. Since my 22 month old eats for free, we can usually have a really good meal for about $30 or less.

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it's all good...