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For those who are on a tight budget or are simply looking to maximise cost savings, eating out can be viewed as a luxury. However, we all need a few luxuries in our lives so rather than cutting out this pleasure, it can be beneficial to look at ways of minimising the costs associated with eating out.

Here are some options that can help you to reduce your monthly dining expense:

1. Choose a local restaurant:
The first expense that we incur when eating out is the cost of getting to the restaurant. If I want to go to my nearest city for a meal, then I either have to take my car or a train. Both are fairly expensive, especially given the current high fuel prices.

Choosing a restaurant that is closer to home may mean that you can even walk or cycle to the venue, which will mean that you can both minimise your travel cost and help save the environment.

2. Choose a Bring your own booze' restaurant:
Often it's the drinks bill that really inflates the cost of your restaurant experience. You can buy a nice bottle of wine in your local supermarket for a fraction of the price that most restaurants charge.

3. Drink water rather than fizzy drinks:
Soft drinks also tend to be extortionate for the non alcohol drinkers in your party. Ordering a jug of tap water will usually be free and is also healthier than fizzy drinks. It will also help clear your palate so that you can appreciate the good food!

4. Choose two courses rather than the full three:
I usually find that I have no appetite left to enjoy my pudding if I've had both a starter and a main course. I therefore usually opt for just a main course and a pudding. This has nothing to do with cost saving but it is a nice additional benefit that it reduces the end bill slightly.

5. Compare prices before selecting your restaurant:
Price is just one component when choosing a restaurant. You will also want to consider the type of food they serve, their reputation, child friendliness and location. However, price is an important factor and there are some restaurants that offer better value for money than others.

6. Look out for special offers:
My bank account entitles me to discounts on selected national restaurants, so when choosing a restaurant it's worth my while to see if they are included on that deal that the bank organised.

That's quite a specific example of taking advantage of special deals but there are plenty of other examples. There might be particular meals on the specials board that are good value or the restaurant may be offering discounts on future meals if you dine with them.

Some restaurants have also started to offer innovative schemes whereby the price that you pay depends on the time that you eat. For example 7pm and 8pm may well be their most popular dining slots but they may struggle to fill their tables on either side of this peak period. By offering cheaper prices at off-peak times, they maximise their returns and you can get a reduced bill very much a win-win situation!

7. Don't opt for the steak or lobster!
There can be quite a discrepancy on the menu between the prices of certain dishes. If everyone in your party opts for lobster then you are going to be hit with a pretty hefty bill, whereas there may well be other equally nice dishes on the menu that will be easier on your wallet.

8. Payment method:
If you're eating abroad, then be aware that there can be additional charges if you choose to pay by debit card or credit card. Paying in cash may therefore save you a little money.

The extent to which you follow these tips may depend on how important a consideration you feel cost is but all of us can probably benefit from at least some of these suggestions and still have a great dining experience.

Learn more about this author, Simon Wright.
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