People in a saving-money mode often think they cannot treat themselves to a nice meal in a restaurant once in a while. Someone once told me that if you're on a diet, it's less stress on your body to eat, in moderation, something you're craving, rather than force yourself to resist. The same thing goes for budgets.
Don't stress yourself out. A little treat once in a while is a good idea and less stressful than the alternative. In fact, it's a great reward for having the discipline to save in the first place, and motivation to continue the practice.
In that regard, might I suggest Vietnamese cuisine? When I've queried culinarily adventurous friends in the past, they didn't know much about Vietnamese food. Of those who had tried it, most fell in love with it, although a few said they found it boring - which I find incredibly surprising, having worked at a Vietnamese restaurant and sampled many different dishes. Of course, many who like the cuisine also love the inexpensive meals.
While I'm sure that I'm oversimplifying, the North American experience of Vietnamese food splits into two main types. First, there is the restaurant fare, which includes the inexpensive noodle soups (pho, pronounced something like fuh) - with amazingly rich broth - plus combo plates and the dishes that are similar to Chinese or other Asian cuisines. This includes familiar appetizers like spring rolls, won ton dumplings, grilled meatballs, etc.
In more recent years, small, friendly cafes have appeared that serve mini-sub (hoagie, rocket, etc.) sandwiches at unbeliveable prices. In some cities, there are lineups for these sandwiches, made with mini-baguettes - a legacy of the pre-World War II French occupation in Vietnam.
Depending on the city you're in in Canada and the US, you might find these mini-subs for $1.50-2.50, in a variety flavours. Some Asian food markets also sell them, wrapped in sealed cellophane, and at a slight discount compared to the cafe prices. (They have a minimum shelf life, and many stores do not refrigerate them. Always ask when they were delivered or you may be wasting your money buying them.)
Imagine how much money you can save on lunch if there's a Vietnamese cafe nearby. In large cities I've worked in, not taking my lunch often meant spending $8-12 a day. You can even eat lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant regularly and stay on some sort of a budget. Sure, you could grab a street vendor's hotdog for $2.50 - $3.50, but when you want to treat yourself, a nice bowl of Vietnamese pho noodle soup is only a few dollars more.
If you have a curious palate, go ahead and visit a Vietnamese restaurant. Don't be afraid to ask for suggestions. I've visited many Asian restaurants in both Canada and the US, and I've found that practically all of them employ friendly people that are more than happy to help. (There have been a couple of exceptions, but that's not my point here.)
If you really don't know where to start, try a bowl of pho noodles with meatballs, rare beef, or poached chicken. These bowls come in three or four sizes, and range in price from $4.95-7.95, with the largest often being enough for two or three people, especially if you have an appetizer and drink. (Some Vietnamese restaurants also have Chinese soups such as won ton dumplings, if you want to adventure slowly.)
You can treat yourself, and family members, and save a lot of money, compared to other restaurants. One person can usually fill up on a small bowl of pho soup, with your choice of meat, for about $5 plus taxes and tip. These soups are served with a side plate of crisp bean sprouts, Asian basil leaves still on their twigs, wedges of lime, and sometimes the ultra-hot, tiny bird peppers. (Seriously; don't eat them unless you're a professional. You'll gravely regret it.)
There are also inexpensive dry noodle dishes with green onions slices, strips of carrot/ cucumber/ lettuce, aromatic sauces, and your choice of delicious grilled meats. And there are the fried rice or noodle dishes that resemble many familiar Chinese counterparts.
For variety, there's the tantalizing appetizers or combo dishes that are uniquely Vietnamese. Among the latter is a pork chop, fried egg, egg loaf and steamed rice dish, with "salad", or combinations thereof. There aren't many desserts, but there are a variety of fruit shakes and fruity "bubble" teas.
I've always found Vietnamese restaurants to to be very affordably priced in all the cities I've eaten Vietnamese food in. (Although some Vietnamese restaurants offer Thai dishes, which sometimes are a bit more expensive.) In fact, I've often treated myself and a friend to dinner, and my bill rarely exceeded $18-22, including tips and taxes - unless I had an alcoholic drink.
Back in my salad days, a group of friends and I, amazed at being able to eat well and save money, would have a weekly jaunt to a Vietnamese restaurant. For a few dollars more than the standard burger and fries combo, you can treat yourself and still save money.
Of course, this site being about online savings accounts, I'm going to end by suggesting that you consider stashing the money you save from eating in Vietnamese restaurants into such an account, possibly at either Ing Direct or Emigrant Direct - two of the most flexible online savings accounts in the US. Both Ing and Emigrant have been around for a while have a fair bit of stability.
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