Our family is saving on gas costs by driving less. There are the unavoidable excursions -- trips to school, work, the grocery store -- but when we can manage it, we stay home. We just can't afford to drive all over town. I know you can relate.

I must say the best slim-down we've made on the driving front has been cutting down on eating out. Once an almost twice-weekly habit, we rarely dine out anymore. It all started when we realized the following:

• The four of us can never agree on a place to eat.

• Two kids with short attention spans rarely make for a relaxing restaurant experience.

• Our seven-year-old who begs to eat out typically complains of a belly ache once his tummy is full.
  

• We hardly ever exit a restaurant without spending $50 on food and drinks.

• Eating out can be a terribly unhealthy endeavor and we aren't even sure opting for the healthiest fare guarantees a nutritious meal.
  

And then came the realization that we were spending hoards of money on gas getting to and from our not-so-enjoyable evenings out. And so our restaurant stops went by the wayside. We're thrilled about it. So are the kids. The other day, Joey said: "Isn't it great we ate at home tonight? The food was healthy and we didn't spend a lot of money." Right on.

Long live at-home dining -- where the food is healthy, the tummies are happy, and the gas tank stays full.