I give us $100.00 each month to eat out. We did really well during September but I blew it in October. $229.63! It was like once we hit the $100.00 mark (which we did early in the month) I pretty much figured what did it matter. Bad attitude, I know.

So now it is November and a new month! Let's hope we can do better!

And hey we made it through day one without eating out!

lol, oh well...a new day.
good luck, and good night.

I am the cheapest person that I know (lol) but I have a HUGE weakness for eating out. So I feel your pain!

Something that has helped me is making my eating out budget a cash only system. I keep an envelope in my purse marked "Eating Out" At the beginning of the month I put the allowed amount in the envelope. Once it is gone, it is GONE. This has helped me tremendously to stick with it.

you can try doing what my hubby and i are doing...only going out once every 2 weeks. We have done really really well --- i did not think we would

__________________
Danielle

I have months like that to. What works for up is only using cash $40 a week like previous poster said once its gone its gone.

October has been a bad eating out month for us too.

__________________
Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006

The cash in an envelop is a really good idea. But I also like the every two week thing. It reminds me of when I was dating my husband. We didn't really have money issues but the temptation was to just go out all the time. So in my head, I thought ok five days. It's been five days, lets go to dinner! The anticipation for that indulgence was great.

Maybe a combination of the two would work for you. Have a envelope for your cash, free to use for whatever. That will allow you to grab the burger when a day goes bad if you give up the spending cash for a day or two. Then plan the every two week meal out for the family that stays in your budget.

Cathleen