Eat out at your favorite restaurant without breaking the bank

A night out at your favorite bar or restaurant is a great way to spend time with family or friends. But, this can be costly, especially if you're on a strict budget. For this reason, we've compiled some tips you can use to save money when you're eating out:

• Pass on alcohol and dessert - Items at restaurants are often marked up, which makes them much more expensive as opposed to if you enjoyed them at home. According to U.S. News & World Report, drinks and dessert often cost as much as your meal. So, if you want a beer, or slice of cake, you'd probably be better off waiting until you leave to keep your bill reasonable. In fact, you could probably bake a whole cake at home for the same price as a slice would cost at a restaurant. 
• Go for lunch, not dinner - No matter what restaurant you go to, dinner is generally always more expensive than lunch. That said, Daily Finance recommended going out for lunch as opposed to dinner if you want to save a buck. You can often get the same - or similar - dishes at a cheaper price. The portions may not be as big but you can still enjoy a nice meal and time with your family or friends. 
• Look for happy hour deals - If lunch isn't your cup of tea, you can always watch out for happy hour deals. If you're okay with dining out earlier than normal, you could find a restaurant that offers discounts on meals and drinks during happy hour. Another benefit of dining out early is that you probably won't have to wait long to find a table. 
• Eat special foods - If you're going to take the time to eat out at your favorite restaurant, it may be a good idea to choose a meal you can't have at home. For example, Daily Finance said that burgers are often one of the highest mark ups at restaurants, so ordering one could be costly. However, other high-quality items often provide you with more bang for your buck. 

Eating out at your favorite restaurant is something many people enjoy. If you're one of them, consider the above tips to prevent your bill from getting out of control.