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My husband’s favorite complaint is, “all you ever want to do is eat.” As much as this annoys me, he’s absolutely right. Eating out is what I look forward to on the weekends – it’s my main form of recreation. And yes, it can get expensive and it’s probably cheaper to cook at home. But I’m a sensible person, and I know how to find deals and eat on the cheap. Following are just some of the ways you can eat out two or three times a week, and stay within your recreation budget.

Buy an entertainment book

I purchased my first Entertainment Book in 2005, and I have to say, it was a good investment. Whether I’m in the mood for fine dining, casual dining, or fast food, there’s more than a hundred two-for-one deals. My husband and I can each order our own entrée and save 50 per cent.

Share an entrée

Another couple introduced us to the whole concept of sharing an entrée. I don’t know why we never considered this before, but it makes sense – especially since we rarely finish our individual dishes, anyway. We order a dish, tell the waiter we’re going to share, and they split the entrée onto two separate plates. Maybe it’s in my head, but I’m convinced restaurants increase the portions when patrons share.

Sign Up for E-mail Alerts

One day I was bored and I went to several restaurant websites and signed up for their e-mail notifications. Typically they ask for personal information such as your birthday and anniversary date. In turn, I often receive coupons for free appetizers and entrées.

Skip the drinks and dessert

I used to go to a restaurant and really enjoy myself. I’m talking entrée, cocktail, and dessert. Multiply that by two, and you’ve added $20 to the dinner bill – plus tip. Now, alcoholic beverages are reserved for special occasions; and if a restaurant charges a ridiculous amount for a non-alcoholic beverage – I order water.

Get car-side service

Someone once phoned into the local radio station and said, “if you can’t afford to tip your waiter, you can’t afford to eat out.” That statement put some listeners on the defense. But I thought back to my restaurant days in high school. As a hostess I received tips for cleaning the tables, and there were times I’d work my butt off and receive next to nothing. So, I understand the sentiment. But I also realize that eating out is a stretch for some people, and they may not have an extra 15 or 20 percent for a tip. For these people, car-side service is available. Several restaurants allow customers to place their order by phone or Internet, pull into a parking space, and have their meal delivered to the car. And the best part…car-side customers don’t have to tip.

Photo by mhofstrand.