During college, your dining out experiences may have been limited to Papa John’s and Burger King, and who can blame you? Dinging out is hella ‘spensive. Sure, we all splurged occasionally for a nice dinner with a significant other, but in general, a college budget doesn’t allow five-star dining often. Of course, your budget probably hasn’t changed all that much, but your tastes probably have. You don’t have a cafeteria anymore for “slightly-better-than-fast-food” meals. Your girlfriend or boyfriend is probably asking for more serious dates. Your work colleagues may want to have dinner together. So, how do you deal with dining out when you’re living on a shoestring?

• Budget for it. As strange as it may seem, writing down a concrete budget can help you stay on track so that you actually have enough money for rent this month. List all of your bills and subtract that from your monthly income. The money you have left over is the money you have to play. Of course, you should put at least some of that into a savings account, but at the very least, don’t overspend and have to put your tab on your credit card.

• Get to know your local restaurants. It is a good idea to gather menus if possible or to at least call and get an idea of what different restaurants in your area cost. That way, when you have to go out with someone, you can make a good suggestion for a place that is a bit less pricey. It is better than showing up and finding out that your meal will cost $70.

• Check out websites for coupons. Many of your local restaurants will have printable coupons on their website for money off your total bill. Check it out! You might have to spend over a certain amount, but if you are going out with others, that should not be a problem.

• Have dessert at home. Those slices of pie and chocolate fudge sundaes may look good right now, but they’ll add at least $5 to your bill. Stop by the grocery store on the way home. You can buy two pints of ice cream or a whole pie for less than that and it tastes just as yummy.

• Lay off the drinks. When you go out, get a water instead of a soft drink and forget about the beer and mixed drinks. It may not seem like a big deal, but by the end of the month, all of those drinks can really add up. If you must get alcohol, ask what drinks are on special and stick to just that. Remember to ask about prices, as they usually won’t be printed in the menu.

There are alternatives to eating out. Instead of treating your significant other to a fancy dinner, make dinner at home and eat by candlelight. Instead of going out to eat with friends or co-workers, plan a small party at your house where everyone brings a dish. If you must have dinner out, remember to stick to your budget. Go for the low-ticket items and you should be able to afford eating out more often.

Picture via sxc.hu.