Dining is one way to bond with friends and family.  But what if you are on a tight budget and could not afford to eat out?  

You do not have to spend too much when dining out.  You can still enjoy the food as well as the company that you have been with your family.  Here are some helpful hints in general on how to save when dining out:

It is not a sin when you did not give some tips.  There are times that you can skip tipping which is usually applicable if you eat in a fine dining restaurant with a sit-down service.  If you do not have some extra bucks to give as tips, you can try dining out at places without the sit-down service.  Places like Chipotle Grille, McAllister's and other restaurants allow their customers to order their food at a counter and pick it up farther down the line. 

Share your food.  No one wants to look like a miser but would not work as well if you are just single.  If you are dining out with more than one person, it is better to share your food.  There are lots of nice restaurants out there with good food that offer combo meals.  You guys can talk what to order and what would be your share.

Don't buy drinks.  These goes for sodas and alcohol.  If you are planning to have some good time on a drinking spree, it is better to go to a bar.  Drink water instead of tea or soda which has high levels of sugar that will put your health at risk. 

Do not stuff yourself.  Do not eat too much if you do not want to add some pounds.  Control yourself and stop eating when you are already full.  Save some for tomorrow's lunch by taking home the excess food so you will not have to cook, just reheat the food.

Order seafood, beef or pork for better value.  If you decided to eat at a fine dining restaurant, do not order chicken and pasta as these are the cheapest items making restaurants mark them up more than other dishes.  And when you're ready to leave, examine the bill closely as there are some restaurants that add gratuity before the total is tallied, which goes unnoticed by diners.