Dining with Dave

Dining with Dave

Tough times mean new rules for "non-essentials"

By DAVID THEUS

I’m going to combine my love of dining out this week with my love for a great cigar, I feel the need to get on my soap box and make a point. If you haven’t heard, times are a little tough on the old pocket book or wallet right now, I know it and so do you. All of us, I hope have begun to look seriously at what we are spending every dollar and cent on. Yes, it makes great sense, but what I’m about to say, flies right in the face of what some of the experts are talking about.

When times get tight like they are now, it’s always the so-called non-essentials that get the cut first. You start to hear comments like it’s time to tighten the belt and start cutting out those things that are non-essentials. Fine cigars, nice meals out at a special restaurant, or maybe a special vacation trip. Yes, I say these are some of the things that fall into that dreaded category of non-essentials, but here’s my take on the matter.

I would like to offer an alternative to just never going back to any of your favorite establishments now that things are tight. I like to call it the buddy system - instead of going alone on those special nights, bring a friend. If you and your wife have been planning a special night out at a special restaurant, keep your plans, but invite another couple to join you.

This allows the establishment to see fewer visits from you, but now you have doubled up and potentially introduced a new customer to their ranks that will do the same. The same goes with your favorite tobacco shop where you get your cigars and supplies. Take a friend next time you go to the shop and introduce him to the cool hobby you have been enjoying for some time now by yourself.

These fine people that took the time and money to invest in these things you and I enjoy so much, deserve to stay in business, even when things are tight. Who knows, you may have a business as well that could benefit from this "buddy" system too.