There’s all kinds of tips and tricks for eating out at restaurants on a budget:

• If you dine out frequently, you’re a good candidate for those Entertainment coupon books.
• If you have a AAA card, look up on your membership site which restaurants accept that card as a discount.
• If you are a senior citizen, pay attention to senior discounts.
• If you are a parent with kids, look for the “kids eat free” specials.
• Bag a bunch of “dollar menu” items for the family to share.
• Check your coupon stash. The Sunday coupon fliers often have national restaurant offers, and the Saving Sense flier often has locally-owned restaurant offers.
• Choose an appetizer or dessert, but not both, with your dinner.
• Get a take-home box or split a dinner with a friend.

So what did I do last night in Ohio when I went out to eat with my friend and the cast and crew from her current theater show after the production?

I ordered one rum and coke followed by an iced tea and one appetizer plate. It was plenty enough to eat, and certainly cheaper than ordering a full-course meal.

Nobody thought anything of it when I ordered just one adult drink.

I also noticed several in the theater crowd were sharing appetizer plates with their friends.

(By the way, my friend didn’t expect me to follow up on her invitation to see her theater show because gas prices are so high. She was pleased that I made the effort! I stayed overnight at my parents’ home and scheduled other errands in Ohio this morning to get as much accomplished as possible during one out-of-town trip.)