Stretching Your Dollar: Dining out for cheap

Restaurant coupons and deals make dining out affordable

Sharon George saves money every time she takes her husband and two hungry children out to dinner. She uses restaurant.com to feed her Tiffin family.

The online site lets her buy $25 restaurant coupons for $10 or sometimes less when the website holds a sale. Sharon's family often uses a coupon to eat at X-Caret in the Tiffin Mall.

The coupons last a year but come with restrictions, usually requiring a minimum bill. Even still, Sharon says she's paid as little as $15 at the restaurant to feed five people, including two hungry, growing children.

It's nice to use a coupon for an inexpensive meal - but what if - kids eat free? It happens every Tuesday night at Lone Star Steakhouse.

Denny's, Frickers, and Buffalo Wild Wings all have a day or days when kids 12 and under eat free. There are more restaurants listed at mykidseatfree.com and coupondivas.com. We do suggest you call ahead because some of the listed restaurants either changed their free day or they no longer exist.

And then there is that one day we all need a present. Jim and Tami Smith celebrated her fiftieth at the Real Seafood Company for fifty percent off the bill. General manager Kelly Becker said, "We offer a discount and give the guest a free dessert." The website free birthdaytreats.com lists dozens of restaurants that give you a free meal on your birthday. Many do require you sign up online.

With discount coupon websites, it's sometimes cheaper to dine out, than eat in. It would be impossible to mention every sale and special available right now, but they certainly are out there. We firmly believe after all we found out that dining out does not have to be expensive if you do not want it to be.

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