Being on a budget doesn’t mean that you can’t it out. It just means that you have to be a bit creative. We usually like to eat out for lunch or dinner on Saturdays. It’s not a “must do” and I usually try to plan something to make just in case, but it’s nice to have a break from cooking every now and then.

Here’s a few ideas of how we make it work:

This weekend, we decide to eat at Friday’s. We had a BOGO free entree coupon (see below) and a $25 gift card I had gotten through MyPoints (if you haven’t signed up yet, e-mail me if you’d like a referral!). Our total out of pocket for two adult entrees, two kids meals, and tip was $11.

Click here to access the BOGO free entree coupon (it expires on 7/5/09) – thanks Couponing Craze!

Last weekend, we went to Firehouse Subs for lunch. I love their food and my kids love eating there because they get a free fire hat! They have a punch card for frequent diners (buy 6 combo meals, get your 7th free). I had a completed punch card. I also had signed up for their online newsletter and they sent me a coupon for a free kids meal with the purchase of medium (or larger) sub. So, we got two combos and two kids meals for $11.79 out of pocket. You can sign up for their online newsletter here.

For more tips on dining out on a budget, check out this article here.