Get with a program. Costco members can get the American Express True Earnings credit card, which returns 3 percent cash back on all restaurant bills. New York Times subscribers can link their own credit cards to the TimesPoints program ( timespoints.nytimes.com ) for 10 percent rebates on restaurant meals nationally.
Skip the quick bite out. Bring snacks to work, and stock your fridge or freezer with easy-to-heat and -eat dinners for when you’re in a rush.
Get a doggy bag. Restaurant portions tend to be large, and you can save on lunch the next day.
Hunt for deals. Start with an Entertainment book ( entertainment.com ) and Restaurant.com , where you can buy $25 restaurant coupons for $10. Then, enjoy. Just remember that you’re supposed to bank all those savings–not use them to eat more.
