I think that's a great idea. My parents took my sister and me to restaurants only about three times a year when we were young because of budget issues and we didn't miss it.

This is such a good one, though it's hard. My downfall is take-out, sometimes I haven't planned well, and I'm hungry and just don't have much in the house.

This is a great resolution. I think having some "backup" meals stored in the freezer for busy nights when you don't feel like cooking will really help!

My husband and I went one further- now we only eat out at local, non chain spots. I haven't yet achieved the only once a month goal because I travel for my job. But by maintaining a strict non chain goal, I feel better about not achieving the other goal. The economy in my area has been really bad and I feel a little more virtuous if I'm eating at family owned and operated places. Plus by doing that, I can also manipulate the menu somewhat- a local restaurant in my area recently began purchasing their meats locally after several of us made comments to the owner about how we had so many processing plants in our area and local farmers but he was buying his meats from out of state processors. And he didn't have to raise prices because the processor he chose was so happy to have him put on the menu where he purchased the meat from, they were able to negotiate a discount.

This is really encouraging. My boyfriend and I have been trying to save money and we typically spend way too much money eating out.

That's what we do! We started for financial reasons. It actually makes it a special event for our kids, but we also have no idea where to go... Since I've been cooking so much I've gotten really good at it and find we're disappointed at the quality (and super saltiness) since everything from scratch tastes so much better. There are worse problems to have! That's why we usually choose sushi since we rarely have the time to make that.

Make the freezer your friend by storing leftovers and extra batches of soups, stews, chilis and other easy to defrost and reheat meals.

Also, if you ARE going to go out, make it at a restaurant for food that you can't or don't easily replicate at home. For us, that is sushi, thai food and other asian foods. I can easily prepare a pasta dish or hamburgers on a busy night. That discourages us from wasting money on food for just the sake of convenience.

Love this idea, and also love rntravelgnome's "avoid chain restaurants" policy! We banned all fast food chains (except for on long road trips where it's that or a gas station sandwich) and we only go to places like Chili's or Olive Garden if we receive a gift card. I also try to choose places that have stuff I can't easily make at home. Sushi, thai food, really good pizza, etc.

Yup, we decided that if we only go out once a month we can go somewhere more adventurous and a little more expensive than the local places. We live in a rural area and have to travel an hour or so to get to something beyond the local tex-mex place.

As another reader commented, my family also only ate out a few times a year growing up, my parents came from families of the same...every once in awhile my dad took us to McDonald's if my mom was working late and I grew up really not eating a lot of fast food. These days my fiance and I make most of our meals, a lot of freezer meals, and going out to dinner or ordering take out happens maybe once a month.

If it's not in your budget or dietary lifestyle to begin with, it's easier to ignore those fast food/restaurant/starbucks type places. That's a good goal to have, good luck with it!!

My husband and I are not eating out at all this month to save money unless we use gift money. This would be easy if we didn't live in Brooklyn and every other storefront is an amazing little place with amazing food. Perhaps once per month would be more sustainable so we don't binge in February. I say just plan ahead and it will be easier. Make big pots of food and eat it for days. I am starting to use a crockpot so it isn't as much work. And if your husband cooks, excellent! He can help, and if your son can help too, Yahtzee! He'll learn and it will be more valuable time and money spent together than at a restaurant.

Might I also suggest, if you want to pretend you are going out, it could be a fun night. Set the table a little fancy, dress up a little, and splurge a bit on ingredients for a nicer home-cooked meal, make dessert. Even try to find a copy-cat recipe for your favorite restaurant. Getting a nicer cut of meat and some cheese and a decent bottle of wine is still loads cheaper than going to a restaurant where they pay overhead and you have to tip.

Thank you everyone for your great ideas! I especially like the ones about eating in locally owned restaurants and having a "night out" at home. I really do need to get better about planning ahead and freezing things for later use. Just as a side note-the little fella in the picture is my son, who was about 4 at the time, he's now 13! We had just finished eating at Buddy's Italian Restaurant in Pocatello, Idaho. If Buddy's was local, this would be an even harder resolution to make!

I LOVE this idea. Thank you for sharing the resolution. This would be an excellent challenge because I LOVE going out to eat and it's such an ingrained habit for me.