10 Ways to eat out on the cheap.

You may not have to give up restaurants to stick with your budget -- a little planning and flexibility can make a big difference in your bill.

By Kyle James, U.S. News & World Report

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• The cost of dining out
  Dining out is still considered by many to be one of life's luxuries: no prep time, no dirty dishes and no menu planning. Unfortunately, it can also be a vacuum for your monthly food budget. While the restaurant industry continues to feel the effects of less disposable income among consumers, this puts you in the driver's seat as restaurants try to gain new customers via promotions. Here are 10 ways to use their promotional avenues to save money on your next meal out.

  
  

  Dine midweek

  Stay away from dining on weekends if possible. To entice customers to dine on slower nights, many restaurants offer midweek specials that can save you up to 50% off your entrée. Typically, these specials occur on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, considered the two slowest nights of the week for restaurants

  
  

  
  
Early-bird specials
Dine before 6 p.m. and take advantage of early-bird specials. While these specials are typically associated with the elderly, they are available to all customers and offered at many dining establishments. These specials are also a great way for families with young kids to save money and still be home for bedtime. 


Dine at the bar
A number of restaurants offer a special bar menu that is considerably cheaper than the regular menu. If you are dining alone or "with the guys," this is an especially useful money-saving tactic. Also, many restaurants offer a happy hour every afternoon, which includes drink specials and appetizer deals. 


Have a snack first
While this tip alone may not save you money, it will help prevent the condition of your eyes growing bigger than your stomach. Grabbing a light snack before you head out to dinner can curb the desire to order a huge meal.


Share an entree
Take advantage of big portions by splitting one with a dining companion. Additionally, many restaurants offer a "meal for two" special of, say, fajitas -- an order guaranteed to save you some money


Beware of expensive drinks
Be aware of the high costs of specialty beverages, as they can easily cancel out the savings you get from strategies like dining early, using coupons or sharing a plate. 


Dine out for lunch
On average, lunch menus are 25% cheaper than dinner menus. Oftentimes the lunch menu is similar, with the only difference being portion size. If you have the flexibility to dine at lunch it can save you some substantial money. 


• Discounted gift cards
  Midpriced restaurants are becoming more and more promotional in recent years in an attempt to get customers in the door. Some chain restaurants, for example, are directly discounting their gift cards as a backdoor way of lowering menu prices. Keep an eye out for offers like a $100 gift card discounted to $80.
Get social
Follow the Facebook page or Twitter feed of your favorite restaurants and eateries. Many post exclusive deals and coupons, so give these social media outlets a quick glance before heading out the door.


Use coupons
Your ability to find a discount or coupon directly depends on you taking the initiative to search the Internet or your local newspaper, so take a few minutes to search for a restaurant coupon before dining out. After all, there's no sense paying full price on your next meal when a coupon is available for the taking.