Do you think you spend too much on dining out?

[Peter Dunn]

If so, are you trying to address this challenge.

[roy g. Jones]

I used to spend too much on dining out. Even before this recession craziness began we really cut back. I have found it is nice to get together socially with friends at my dinning room table. We don't have to deal with long wait lines, yelling at each other in loud restaurants, and we spend much less.

The response I always get is that it is cheaper to dine out as compared to cooking. That is not true. I can feed six people for the price of 1 and 1/2 to eat out.

Now when we dine out, it is appreciated much more. It becomes an event. Our social gatherings have become much less focused on food at a restaurant.

Alternatives. Pot luck pitch-ins, soup night gatherings, meet for drinks at a bar and then go to some one's home for dinner, or better yet have drinks at home. Meet friends for coffee, or dessert.

Having been born in the early 60's into a family with comfortable resources but not lots of money to throw around, we only ate out occasionally. It was usually a special celebration. I am glad to get back to that.

[Clay Mabbitt]

I wish I spent too much on dining out. I cut back a few months ago, and I miss it.

[Raquel Richardson]

yeah, I miss it too... I'm not the best cook by any means!! Cereal makes a great dinner.

[Raquel Richardson]

Yes, we cut back around the holidays. I wasn't really paying attention to how much I was spending on eating out. I cut it back by more than $100 a month just by being more aware.... and I'm healthier too.

[Mandy Cooley]

We did and we are making very concentrated efforts to cut back. In the past three months we have cut back to just $40 or $50 a month (for a family of four). We were motivated by participation in Financial Peace University (a Dave Ramsey course). Like Raquel, we have found ourselves a bit healthier. Double bonus - more $$ and fewer pounds!