Like most people, chances are you’re trying to spend less money these days. This probably means you’ve cut back on things you enjoy, such as eating out. But as one local restaurant owner told me “If you don’t come in to eat, we’ll both starve.” In my case this is true, since I am known to burn water. Everyone has days when it’s more convenient to go out for a meal, and sometimes it’s just nice to have someone else do the dishes. Your dining out also ensures that restaurants can stay in business and provide jobs.

So how can you stay within your budget while supporting local restaurants? Here are some tips to stretch your eating out dollars a little further.

Drink water. This is good for your health and your pocket book. At $2 per drink on average, beverage costs can quickly add up. Add a slice of lemon and pretend it’s a fancy drink.

Use coupons. Don’t be ashamed to use coupons. If you haven’t heard, frugal is “in.” Keep your eyes peeled for offers from your favorite restaurants, or use a coupon as an excuse to try some place new. Good sources to find coupons include your local newspaper, home mailers, inside phone books and on the backsides of grocery store receipts. The internet is another great resource. Find out if your favorite restaurant has a Web site, since many have coupons you can print out. Also see if they have a birthday or email club you can join to receive offers via email.

Consider purchasing an Entertainment Book which offers coupons for several area restaurants. These are often sold by local fundraising groups or you can purchase them online. These books typically cost around $20 but can often be found discounted as it gets later in the year.

Some local restaurants that I’ve recently seen coupons for include Boondockers Cafe, JR’s Steakhouse and Cafe Neo in Marysville. In Arlington, Paraiso Mexican Restaurant frequently advertises with coupons.

A useful tip is to keep restaurant coupons in your car. This way you’ll be more likely to have them when you need them.

Another way to save money is to eat earlier. Breakfast and lunch are almost always cheaper than dinner. Buffets are a great money saving option for lunch since the price is lower, but the food is nearly identical to the dinner menu. Often local pizza places offer discounts during their slow daytime hours. It is not unusual to find pizzas for half price or less. Even if you don’t want to eat this during the day, you can take it home and have it for dinner.

Look for restaurants that serve large portions. You can save money by splitting your meals with someone else. Cristiano’s in Marysville has a pizza and salad combo for $8.95 that can easily feed two people. The Local Scoop and Brooster’s in Arlington will split any item on their menu and both offer several items large enough to be shared. Another idea would be to take half your entrée home and save it for another meal.

If you have kids, look for restaurants that offer “kids eat free” nights. These offers usually require an adult meal to be purchased.

Check with your favorite restaurants to see what they offer. Here are some deals I found:

Dennys in Arlington currently has a Depression Fighters menu which consists of 4-5 daily specials. Kids eat free on Tuesday and Saturday nights and seniors can enjoy a buy-one-get-one free entree with the purchase of two beverages on Monday and Wednesday nights. Everyone can enjoy a free entrée on their birthday by showing their ID.

Golden Coral Buffet in Marysville has prices for kids based on their age. They offer free meals for kids 3 and under and seniors 90 and over. With a large variety of food, you choose what to eat. Whether you want five servings of your favorite item, 10 desserts or just the salad bar, it’s up to you and it’s all included in the price of the buffet.

Both Fanny’s Restaurant and Bob’s Burger and Brew in Marysville don’t charge a plate fee for shared entrees and neither have raised their prices for over a year to help keep dining affordable for their customers.

There are many other restaurants that offer ways to save money as well. So take a look at what restaurants are offering, do a little planning, clip some coupons and you might find you can still enjoy dining out while on a budget.

Cindy Grayson is a lifelong resident of Washington state and currently resides in Marysville. She is the former owner of two small businesses and offers money saving advice and frugal tips on her blog www.cheapcindy.blogspotcom.