Typically, if you are an earning member of the family, and assuming that basics have been taken care of, then your outlay will range over expenses to do with food, entertainment, and shopping.

EATING OUT

Eating out, whether an outcome of necessity, laziness, a sense of adventure or habit, has become a trend that has resulted in a booming restaurant industry. When you eat out, you expect high standards in terms of quality, ambience and service. So how best do you continue to eat out in these difficult times, and make the most of it?

Try eating out at lunch instead of dinner. There are some great deals and great value to be had at lunch time set menus and buffets.

Ask your friends and relatives if they’ve eaten anywhere good recently. The best bargains are usually discovered by word of mouth.

Enjoy a drink at home before you head out to the restaurant. This is a good option if you want to cut your bill by half. Or, you could get there in time for Happy Hours, which most restaurants offer these days.

Cash in your vouchers. Many places offer deals on meals - scope local magazines for the latest on what’s hot, when.

Eat out in a group. At first glance, this may seem a little underhanded, but think of the great company, and the amount you will save when the bill arrives.

Avoid the weekends. This is when there’s an entrance and/or cover charge if the restaurant has a bar attached, or is newly opened. And the service is also likely to suffer when things get hectic.

Don’t delete those irritating text messages. Many restaurants offer discounts to prospective customers via SMS. Read your message carefully before discarding it.

Order an appetizer as a main, or split a main course with a friend. Ditch dessert.

Skip the fancy places and check out the neighbourhood dhaba. You will be surprised at the quality and quantity, as well as how reasonable the food is.

Consider leftovers. Be sure to ask for a doggy bag for anything you can’t finish. Leftover restaurant meals make great lunches for the following day.

Fill up on the extras. Snacking on the complimentary peanut masala or bread sticks means more of your meal will go home with you.

And to complete the experience, drop by earlier to identify the best table, reserve in advance and don’t forget to tip well, so they remember you the next time. Or you could just forget dining out and order in!