Invite friends over for dinner instead of going out.

Invite friends over for dinner instead of going out. If you're creative and open minded, you can have fun, enjoy friends, and save money!

If you are blessed enough to have friends in your life, it is a wonderful thing to be able to spend time with them. A restaurant can be an easy atmosphere for enjoying the company of friends but it can be VERY expensive, too. Consider hosting dinner at your place instead. You can easily create a dinner for six for less than you would have paid for dinner for two at the restaurant. Then consider the cost of drinks, dessert, and tip!

Consider a theme party with some fun music and maybe a matching movie from Netflix or Redbox, dinner-and-a-movie style like they run on TBS. Take turns hosting or just rotate bringing food if one home is more suited than others.

Consider this menu: Crock-Pot Hickory Brisket that cooks itself, baked sweet potato, store-bought coleslaw or canned green beans, bagged salad, double chocolate cheesecake, 2 liters of soda, bottle of wine or filtered water from your fridge, and coffee from your coffee pot.

You've got dinner with drinks, dessert, and coffee to chat over afterwards for everyone for what one couple likely would have spent. And you're at home so you can easily pick your own entertainment AND put the kids to bed when they need to be going to bed!