Sometimes you just don’t want to follow a golden rules of saving and eat at home. You just want to have fun and socialize with friends or family over tapas or sushi or pasta. What to do? Here are a few tips on how to apply savvy saving techniques and make more efficient decisions while dining out.  

Drink Water: Not only is it healthy, it’s totally free. But make sure to get TAP water. The bottled stuff is expensive and waiters tend to overpour. 

Refill with Caution: If you order a beverage, be sure to check the refill policy. Fountain refills are not always free. 

Load up on Freebies: Garlic bread, tortilla chips, olives and pickles are plentiful at some restaurants.

Skip Appetizers: They’re usually priced so much higher in proportion to an entrée that it would be well worth forgoing them. 

Skip or Share Dessert: Desserts are fun and decadent and even more fun when you share one with the table. If you can skip desert, stop by a local bakery afterwards to satisfy your sweet tooth for less.  

Ask for a Separate Check: If you’re going to a birthday dinner at a restaurant, be sure you ask for a separate check. You don’t want to end up paying more because a friend of a friend was being cheap.  

Share: Sometimes, you’re just not that hungry. Split your entrée or just order a side dish.

Make it 2-for-1: The great thing about restaurant meals is that they can be pretty easy to split with yourself. Even if you’re not that hungry, it may be better to order an entrée and take the rest home for another meal. It’s also good to frequent places that are known for generous portions so you’ll be sure to get the 2-for-1 deal.

BYOB: If you drink, there are many BYOBs out there which can save you a ton of money. Bring your own wine or beer and you can essentially drink for free (after buying the bottle of course).  You can search easily for BYOBs in your area via yelp or citysearch. Just make sure to pay attention to any corkage fees.

Go for Lunch: Many restaurants will offer specials earlier during the day and/or offer a discounted lunch menu for similar items on the dinner menu.

Go Online and Save: Restaurant.com offers gift certificates to certain restaurants, saving you a ton of money. Typically, you can get a $25 gift certificate for $10, automatically cutting $15 off your bill - not bad at all. You can also find deals through airline frequent flier programs or even your credit card.

Clip or Download Coupons: The Entertainment Book offers a lot of coupons for dining out by city. Be sure to always check the local Sunday paper and weekly mailings for any promotional coupons as well.