Thai curry is ridiculously simple to make, whether red, green, or panang. These days, you can buy the cans of paste at just about any good grocery store (and definitely at Whole Foods). Just add whatever veggies and/or meat you like, and it's fantastic. For added flavor and richness, add a few squirts of fish sauce, soy sauce and rice wine vinegar.
For eating out, subscribe to Groupon/Gilt City/Amazon Local, etc., and take advantage of the restaurant deals offered there. You can often get 50% discounts for many restaurants in your area (e.g., $15 Groupon for $30 worth of food).