How to Have a Guilt Free Dinner and a Movie Night during a Recession

Are you tired of telling your kids, spouse or friends that you can't afford to buy that, go see this or eat there because of your lack of cash? Or when you do give in and spend a bit on entertainment, are you constantly thinking, "Geesh, this is costing me so much money!" when you're supposed to be enjoying yourself?

Don't be fooled, a recession is the time to tighten your belt but it's not a reason to stop living. You can still have a dinner and a movie night with some financially friendly twists that will leave you feeling better about what you've spent. Here are some excellent ideas:

Dinner: Frugal Fine Dining

Let's face it, the way to get the best tasting, and most luxurious foods for the lowest price is to buy the ingredients at your local grocer and cook it yourself. You're no chef? Then invite a family member or friend over and have them teach some of their favorite recipes. Seriously, they'll probably be happy to share their expertise with you. Be sure to create a restaurant like ambiance by cleaning up your dining area and even lighting candles or putting fresh flowers on the table.

However, if you can't give up the restaurant quite yet, or if you're dining out as part of a first date, then you'll want to do the following:

 - Become a member: lots of restaurants have discounts for their frequent patrons. See if you're favorite restaurant has one, and eat there often to save a significant amount of cash.

 - Don't order drinks: wait until you get home to have that glass of wine, you'll get a lot more bang for your buck this way. Stick with water with lemon at the restaurant.

 - Do lunch: not dinner because it costs twice as much! Going out for lunch at most fine dining establishments will really save you money since they typically charge twice as much for the same dinner entrée.

Movie: Forget about the theater for a while

Movie tickets are expensive, and if you buy any of those astronomically priced snacks since the theaters ban you from bringing in any of your own goodies, your budget is surely busted. The best course of action is to just be patient and rent the movie when it's released on DVD.

However, make a big deal out of your at home movie night. Gather your family and friends and whip up some really tasty treats, that you can't get in the movie theater like fresh baked cookies straight from the oven! Then create a relaxing environment – wear your most comfy pajamas, start a fire in the fireplace if you have one and it's winter and pull out your nicest pillows and blankets. Cozy up with your loved ones for the show. These are all advantages you don't get in a loud, crowded theater with sticky floors and rambunctious teenagers.

But you LOVE the movies…

If you're a huge movie buff, consider subscribing to NetFlix instead of making your way to the theater. This company sends you DVDs in the mail and you can get an unlimited plan for about $25 dollars a month. They have a gigantic selection of DVDs and even an instant watch section that allows you immediately watch a good number of movies on your computer. If you still must go to the theater, at least try and make the matinee to save yourself about one third of the price.

When it comes down to it, it's really not about where you go and what you do for fun, but rather about the memories you make with those you enjoy spending time with. Honestly, attitude and perception have a lot to do with this. Keep in mind that after all someone very smart once said "the best things in life are free..."