Dining at restaurants can really take up a large chunk of your budget. In fact, the cost of a dinner for two at a nice restaurant can be so expensive that you might think that being fiscally responsible requires that you give up eating out altogether. How else can you stay within the boundaries of your budget? Fortunately, there are a few ways to keep the costs of dining out of the house under control.

Check out your local “Entertainment Book”. There are a lot of coupons for restaurants in your area to lower the costs of restaurant dining in the “Entertainment Book”. These coupons can grant the diners things such as free appetizers or even a free second entrée, perfect for couples. Look for your area’s “Entertainment Book” in grocery stores, in school fundraisers, or online.

Consider eating lunch instead of dinner. Lunch menus often feature discounted pricing. As a bonus, since lunch portions are usually a little smaller than dinner portions, you won’t be tempted to over-eat at these meals.

Be sure to look for the specials listing at the restaurant. When new menu items are introduced they are often given a lower introductory price. Restaurants who receive a good price on something from their suppliers they often pass that savings on to their customers by featuring a related menu item. Look for these specials on message boards in the restaurant lobby, on tabletop displays, or on the front of the menus.

Skip the alcohol drinks. Restaurants charge notoriously high prices for alcoholic drinks. If you’re willing to forego these beverages in favor of soft drinks or water, you will see significant savings on your restaurant tab.

Eating at restaurants doesn’t have to be the budget breaking expense that you imagine it to be. By taking advantage of the available discounts and specials at restaurants you can enjoy the occasional restaurant outing and still manage to stay on top of your financial goals. Experienced in moderation, the occasional dining treat can even help you feel encouraged to stay on your budget. So, be on the lookout for specials and enjoy your favorite dining spot guilt-free.