How do you guys keep your weekly fun money spending so low? I've looked at so many budgets on these forums, and I'm always surprised at how little most claim to spend on entertainment.
I'm pretty solid on each part of my budget otherwise. I have a low cost phone plan, a paid off car, I'm careful with picking up anything that might possibly lead to a monthly expense, etc. Likewise, I really don't buy things anymore (aside from an occassional book if the library/friends don't have what I'm looking for).
Even so, I find I am spending tons of money on a weekly basis. Some of this goes to unexpected expenses (medical, car, etc), but the rest goes to eating/drinking out. This is a place I have a lot of difficulty trimming up. If I spend too much time in the apartment, I start to feel crazy. If I have to cook every day/night, I start to get frustrated at the mess in the kitchen and the burden of being tied to the food that is in the fridge. So, my girlfriend and I end up going out at least once a week, just to be in a different environment and to benefit from someone else's culinary creativity. I also really like grabbing a beer out somewhere (even though drinking at home is cheaper) just because it is nice to be in a convivial atmosphere and not the same apartment all the time.
What are your thoughts on this? How do you convince yourself to limit restaurant spending, or do you?