Trying to eat out on a budget? there are thrifty spending tips out there called meal deals. KTEN's Deeda Payton has the dish on these daily bargains.

Many families are tightening their budget belt, but that doesn't mean they have to stop eating out. It does, however, mean that they need to choose their restaurants wisely.

A majority of restaurants, sit down or fast food, offer a variety of daily specials that you can save your family money. IHOP's Natalie Hernandez explains that her restaurant caters to senior citizens seven days a week with their buy a meal get one free special. "When the economy has a downturn people choose the breakfast more often than they do other meals so we try to keep our prices so we can accommodate that for them." "We come to ihop and places like that that have senior special...really helps on your budget."

MG's Restaurant in Sherman offers all you can eat specials on the weekends and kids specials on Monday nights. Owner Gina Adams says they also post coupons in the local newspapers to help out local families. "We do try to keep in mind when we're making specials of what would be family-oriented that they can be...out & about." "Yes it does...it's a very reasonable place" "Well we kinda know the local specials."

Here is a list of local restaurants offering daily kid and entree specials:

Mondays: MG's Restaurant in Sherman kids eat free and Logan's Roadhouse $2 kids meals (Monday through Wednesday)

Tuesdays: Buffalo Wild Wings all you eat boneless wings and McDonald's $1 Happy Meals

Wednesdays: KFC Chicken Fried Steak Dinner for $2.49

Thursdays: El Chico 99 cent kids meals

Saturdays: MG's Restaurant in Sherman all you can eat burgers

Sundays: MG's Restaurant in Sherman all you can eat chicken fried steak and Dickey's BBQ Pit kids eat free

At IHOP, seven days a week senior citizens buy one meal get one free

For a complete list of restaurants in your area that offer daily specials www.coupondivas.com is a great resource.

Keep in mind that most kids specials are served only to kids ages 12 and under and are many times offered only when they are accompanied by an adult who's ordering a regular-priced meal.