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With my household budget getting tighter, I have recently returned to a habit I left behind long ago - using coupons for grocery purchases (and more!).  My primary source for coupons in the past was the "supplement" section of the Sunday paper, a plastic-wrapped collection of sale and discount flyers, including one or several booklets of coupons good at all the major grocery stores.  Now, I've added online coupon "clipping," finding great offers at the web sites of those brands I still feel loyal to (examples: kraftfoods(dot)com, quakeroats(dot)com).  I also go to more general web sites, grocery list in hand, to find coupons I can apply to my list:- where else but coupons(dot)com?

But I shop for more than food necessities, and I like to find the lowest prices and best deals on practically everything I buy.  So, I've begun to search online for promotion codes and online offers for most everything.  There are many sites that cover the landscape of product deals.  A few examples (just add the dot-com ending):  couponcabin, retailmenot, fatwallet, and promotionalcodes.

Sometimes I feel hurried to get the shopping done, but I've found that by taking a few minutes to find some coupons or promotion codes, I can save big bucks!

Even when money is tight, it's still possible to treat yourself and your family to a meal out that won't break the bank. All it takes is a little time online to find a good deal.

Each of the sites below offers quick-and-easy links to restaurants in your local area - from cheap eats to fine dining:

At WalletPop, you can find links to meal deals in a variety of broad categories like Breakfast Deals, Steakhouse Deals, Best Date Places, and Family Establishments, among others. Then visit the blog to find out what diners are saying about their restaurant choices.

Search on your city, state, or zip code at DineOutCheap, or click on Featured Restaurant, Latest Blog Posts, or Latest Coupons/Deals for leads to a local deal.

The ValPak envelope you may receive in the mail also has a presence online. Enter your zip code or city and state to find local restaurants offering specials.

The tagline at Restaurant.com is "Eat. Drink. Save Money." Need I say more?

And, from Woman's Day, some great tips for saving money once you've arrived at the restaurant:

 Order appetizers as a meal. They're often much less expensive than an entree, and you can make a complete meal by adding a small salad.

 Keep an eye out for early bird specials. If you don't mind eating a bit early, the money you save can be significant.

 Look for discounts online. Use the links above, or find the web site of your favorite restaurant.

 Cut your entree in half. Enjoy half in the restaurant, and take the other half to work as lunch, or save for dinner in a day or two.

 Enjoy a late lunch. Many restaurants serve lunch until 3 or 4 p.m., and lunch menus are typically similar to dinner menus, with slightly smaller portions and 10-20% lower prices.

 Choose one: drinks or appetizer or dessert. Soft drinks, cocktails, and other beverages can add a significant cost to your meal. If you skip the drinks, you can save your money or spend it on an appetizer or dessert. Or, if you prefer a glass of wine or cocktail with your meal, skip the appetizer or dessert to cut costs.

 Tip based on service. If you're in the habit of tipping 20% or more, begin tipping based on the quality of your service: 10% for disappointing service, 15% for average service, and 20% for exceptional service.

Post your dining out tips here.