DH and I have had an eating out habit for years. It started in college (who wants to eat dorm food) and was reinforced by our kitchen remodel (Who wants to do dishes in there bath tub). We have had months where we have been over $700 on food. The problem is we enjoy eating out and would like to do so 3-4 times a week. It gives us time away from the home and stresses of the week. So I have been trying something new this year. Getting cash back with the groceries $40 a week. We have then set the rule to only spend cash on dining out and thus we limit ourselves. So far its working ok. We do have occasional set back like being invited out after we have already spent our budget.

Does any one else have anyways to spend less on eating out without cutting it our entirely
TIA

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006

Our first best way to avoid eating out is to plan the meals in advance so it's not 5:00 and we're saying "what's for dinner" Plus, then we have all of the ingredients for the meal when we know what we're making.

As for saving money when you do go out:

don't order drinks, pop/soda included. Pop adds a good $4 (or more) onto the total. Use the Entertainment book coupons (buy one, get one). Finally, get take out and eat at home. Saves you on drinks, tip, taxes and temptation.

I'm with you though. My dh and I are horrible about eating out. We're working on it though.

Also, when you do plan your meals, set aside some time to do some pre-prepping. If you know you are going to need chopped onion for one or more meals, do it ahead of time and put it in a baggie in the freezer. Chop your veggies ahead of time, if you need to cube your meat, do it ahead of time, instead of right when you are hungry and trying to make a meal. Try some crock pot recipes. When you get home, your food is waiting for you, already cooked. Prep the food the night before, so all you have to do is throw it in the crock pot in the morning and turn it on.

These are things that I have had to learn and am still working on. DH and I were restaurant junkies, especially before kids, but even after. Now with three young kids, it is getting easier to NOT go out, because you never know which kid is going to have a bad mood at the restaurant.

Oh, I wanted to add that Kraft Foods - Great Recipes and Food Ideas has meals that are ready in 30 minutes or less. Even spaghetti only takes 20-30 minutes, tops to make from scratch. Pair it with a quick frozen veggie and salad, with some french bread...yum!

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Frugal is being wise with your money and resources and cheap is forcing everyone else to.

One thing that I like to do is make double in order to freeze one or freeze leftovers. When I know that life is going to be getting really crazy busy I will take an afternoon and prepare some main dishes to freeze so that on crazy days that I don't feel like cooking, I can pull something out to eat well without the work when I am already exhausted.

DH and I like to eat out too, we have cut back from 3-4 times a week down to 1-2. I don't have any kids at home to cook for, my youngest is 17, a vegetarian who likes to cook his own meals. We started using Restaurant.com certificates to save money. I get them when they are 60-75% off so a $25 certificate costs as little as $1.50.

I also get meat out the night before which will encourage me to cook - otherwise it goes to waste.

I try to make different things to make it more interesting to eat at home.

We invite friends or family over for pot lucks, we love to entertain and try new dishes.

I also like to double the meal and freeze the second for a later date - that way all I have to do is pull it out of the freezer on days I do not have time or energy to cook.

You could get online and read the health department reports on different restaurants, it's sure to gross you out and you won't go to some places

Schwans is expensive but it's cheaper than eating out. I buy a few of their meals every once in awhile. They are quick meals to microwave for the most part.

Check into the different places where you assemble different meals and take them home to freeze.

This has been another one of our goals this year - it was getting out of control. One thing we do is mystery shop dinners. Aside from a once a month sushi fix, this is pretty much the only way we've been going out to eat. My goal is to schedule one a week - that's not too much extra work for me, and it's a "free" dinner out each week. We had dinner last night on a mystery shop and as we were eating I mentioned to my husband that it's going to be a shock to the system to eat out a lot next month when we go on vacation! It's going to seem so expensive when we are paying for it!!!!

Pam

I bought a computer program that allows me to input new and use existing recipies. Then, I choose a meal plan for the week and the program will create a list of things I need at the grocery store that week. It is amazing what a help it has been!!!! I finally have all the ingrediants ahead of time for each meal!

We usually went out to eat when we did not think there was anything in the house to make for dinner. Now we don't have that excuse.

I agree with the poster who said make a menu and stick to it.

I make a menu and a grocery list. Most winter days I do something in the crock pot. No one wants to eat out with all the yummy smells in the house and a dinner ready to eat.

We almost never eat out but it's not something I enjoy unless it's Indian or Thai. I just learned to make that myself and pick up a few samosas / spring rolls from an ethnic grocery store, and we're set.

I do like going to the movies though! Especially alternative / foreign films. I'd rather save the money by eating in and then go to another movie.

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Thanks for all the tips so far. I really like the idea of freezing the left overs and taking the time to use recipies. I typically wing it on my cooking it would be fun to start figuring out differest ways to prepare the same old same old. I have started using a menu but it really is general. Like Mondays are ethnic food, tuesdays seafood, wednesday breakfast for dinner, thursdays pasta and salad, fridays are fast and easy, Saturday is go out night and sunday is chicken and rice. I am only on my 2nd week of trying this.

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006