By now we've all heard the news … the economy is in the crapper, the cost of fuel is getting pricier by the day, wages are stagnant and the only thing that's certain when it comes to our money is that it's going to get worse before it gets better.

If any of us had any sense about us, we'd start hoarding away our pennies for the rainy day that's likely to come. But seriously, where's the fun in that?

Our national financial crisis is stressful, so we all need a little treat to make the pain go away. And the best way to make yourself feel better is to treat yourself to an evening out in a Richmond restaurant … at least in my opinion.

Luckily, there are plenty of Richmond restaurants that offer weekday-dining specials that make it easy to dine out during any sort of financial meltdown. From discounted wine to two-for-one deals and even a few not-so-subtle Cheap Date Nights, these restaurants make it possible to dine out and still have enough left over to save for a rainy day.

Avenue 805: Avenue 805 is home to the original "Cheap Date Night". In fact, its Cheap Date night inspired this column. The ownership may have changed in the last year, but not only did the new owners leave its signature special in place, they even added a new one. Just as it's been for years, every Monday and Tuesday is Cheap Date Night: a choice of a large house or Caesar salad to split, a large bowl of pasta, a dessert and a bottle of house wine all for only $35. Five bucks more and you can add chicken, shrimp or mussels to the pasta. And now Wednesdays are Wine Wednesday when select bottles are half-price. 805 N. Davis Ave., (804) 353-2505

The Boathouse: Wednesdays are wine nights at the Boathouse. That means selected bottles from its 147-bottle (and Wine Spectator award-winning) wine list are half-price on Wednesday nights. If that's not enough then stop in to this Brandermill restaurant on Fridays for its End of Work Week Celebration from 3 to 6 p.m. when all food is 30 percent off and oysters are two-for-one. 4602 Millridge Pkwy., (804) 744-2545

The Border: The Border in the Fan is Richmond.com's stomping ground. As a result, many of our staffers can be found there on Monday night for All-You-Can-Eat Crab Night. For just $22.95 you get all-you-can-eat crab legs and hush puppies all night long. 1501 W. Main St., (804) 355-2907

Bottoms Up Pizza: Richmonders may not think of our beloved pizza joint for seafood, but that doesn't change the fact that Bottom's Up's Innsbrook location has all-you-can-eat crab legs every Tuesday for only $15.99. There are even drink specials on that day too. And for the wine-lovers, Wednesdays are $2 glass of wine night. 11389 Nuckols Road, (804) 249-2000 -- Added 6/24

Café Gutenberg: This Shockoe Bottom fave celebrates Tuesdays with half-off Belgian beers and Wine Down Wednesdays with half-off glasses of wine. 1700 E. Main St., (804) 497-5000

Capital Ale House: There's simply no deal like it in town. Both the downtown and the Innsbrook Capital Ale locations celebrate Mondays by practically giving away food. From 5 p.m. till 1 a.m. the burgers cost $1. A buck! It's like Capital Ale wants to go out of business. And my bet is (if you get there early enough) you can see plenty of people try and drive them. (Dine-in only and beverage purchase required). The food deals continue into the week with two-for-one chicken wings on Wednesdays. 623 E. Main St. and 4024-A Cox Road, (804) 780-2537

Cha Cha's Cantina: Shockoe Slip's favorite cantina seems to always have a food special. On Mondays all five menu quesadillas are $2 off, Tuesdays its $2 off tacos, on Wednesdays burritos are $2 off and on Thursdays all entrees are $2 off … what more could you ask? 1419 E. Cary St., (804) 726-6296

Curbside Café: One of Robinson Street's favorite corner bar and grill has half-price burgers every Wednesday after 5 p.m. and, even better, they also offer drink specials to help wash down the burgers. 2525 Hanover Ave., (804) 355-7008 -- Added 6/24

Cous Cous: Richmond's favorite Mediterranean and Moroccan offers up its special on Mondays when its buy one meze get one free (up to three) from 5 to 7 p.m. 900 W. Franklin St., (804) 358-0868

Europa: If you're searching for delicious European flavors that won’t break the bank, head down to Europa. Every Monday it's Pasta Night when all pastas are just $9.95. Choose from Gorgonzola, carbonara and many more. Then it's Tapas Tuesday, all tapas are $2 off all night long. On Wednesday it's all about the wine, with half-off bottles (up to $40) with the purchase of two entrees. And on the third Wednesday of the month, Europa hosts wine dinners, which include four tapas and four wines for $35 to $40 a person. 1409 E. Cary St., (804) 643-0911

The Fondue Fanatic Restaurant: The Southside's answer to fondue makes dining out affordable every day of the week. This spot in the Shoppes at Bellgrade offers a "Light Fanatic's Tour" for diners watching their carbs and portions. The meal includes a salad, entrée (choose from seven meats and seafood) with a green vegetable and chocolate fondue with pineapple and strawberries for dessert … all for only $19 per a person. 11400 W. Hugenout Road, (804) 423-6783 -- Added 7/1

Gray Bear Grille: Gray Bear Grille is one of the few spots serving Goochland some much needed flavor. And on Monday nights, that flavor is a steal. Mondays are rib and wine night, meaning you can feast on the ribs for half-price: a half rack is only $6.50 and a full rack is $9.50. Top of it off with discounted house wine (just $10 a bottle) and you've got a party. On Wednesdays you can get half a pound of crab legs, with hush puppies and side, for $14.95, $19.95 for a full pound. And Saturdays you can get a whole 16 oz. prime rib dinner for only $21.95. 1390 Broad Street Road, (804) 784-4922

The Hard Shell: It's all about the shellfish at this Shockoe Slip classic. Sundays it's all-you-can-eat crab legs for just $26.95, plus discounts on other crab dishes. Then Monday nights are Lobster Night. Indulge with lobster and shrimp pasta, whole Maine lobster (1 ¼ lb.) or stuffed Maine lobster, stuffed with lump crab cake and topped with a sorrel remoulade and drawn butter, all at a discounted rate. 1411 E. Cary St., (804) 643-2333

Hondos: Every Sunday night every bottle of wine is half-price at this West End steakhouse. Every bottle. It's a fantastic deal, especially considering that this wine list won the 2002 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. 4024-C. Cox Road, (804) 968-4323

Michelle's at Hanover Tavern: With its delicious southern-inspired dishes and gorgeous setting, Michelle's is always a crowd pleaser. And on weekdays you can sample it all at a discount. On Tuesdays all "tavern standards are $2 off and Wednesdays you can buy two entrees and get half off any bottle of wine. But Sunday is the best night of all, when Michelle's has its version of a Cheap Date Night. That's soup or salad, two entrees (tavern standards) and one dessert for only $39 per couple.  It's the perfect way to sample this Hanover favorite. 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road, (804) 537-5250

The Metro Grill: Tuesday night is date night at The Metro Grill. Two entrees, two salads, one dessert and one bottle of house wine for $39.95 – it's a fabulous date with plenty of money left over for a movie. Entrees include salmon Monterrey, ginger teriyaki stir-fry and Asian grilled tuna. 301 N. Robinson St., (804) 353-4453

Pescados: Local foodies know that Pescados is one of the best restaurants south of the river, but do you know they offer a Cheap Date Night? That's right, every Thursday, with the purchase of two entrees; you get a bottle of house wine for only $4 (Chardonnay or a Shiraz-Malbec Blend) and a dessert (entrees range from $14.95 to $28.95). 13124 Midlothian Tpke., (804) 379-7121

Richbrau Brewing Co. and Restaurant: The Slip's favorite brewery always knows how to please the guys. Tuesday is Big Nasty Nacho and Brew Night (nachos and one-half pint for $4) from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. it's all about the steak. On Steak Night an eight ounces Delmonico steak, French fries and a veggie with only set you back $7. And Thursday its Double Trouble with pitcher specials and $1 hot dogs. 1214 E. Cary St., (804) 644-3018

Shackleford's: Shackleford's raw bar has been a Richmond favorite for more than a decade and on Mondays and Wednesdays you can sample it at a discount with half off the price of steamed shrimp. If Monday and Wednesday aren't your thing, stop in on Tuesday nights for half-price Shackleburgers or Sunday nights when the children's menu items are half off. 10496 Ridgefield Pkwy., (804) 741-9900

Sí: It didn't take Richmond's newest tapas bar long to get it in on the weekday discount bandwagon. Every Monday bottles of wine are half-price and every Sunday, Sí gives a little help to all of Richmond's hard-working restaurant folk with 25 percent off food. 214 N. Lombardy St., (804) 257-7940

Six Burner Restaurant & Bar: Want to sample one of the hottest restaurants in town for around  $20? You're in luck. Every Monday through Thursday Six Burner offers a three-course prix fixe dinner menu for just $22. The entrees rotate, but choices can include salmon, chicken and scallops. 1627 W. Main St., (804) 353-4060

Sticky Rice: For a small window every Monday and Friday, Richmond's favorite bar / sushi bar turns into Sushi Heaven. Sushi Heaven meaning a selection of fabulous rolls are half-off. And it's only from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Mondays and 5 to 6 p.m. on Fridays. Sushi Heaven indeed. 2232 W. Main St., (804) 358-7870

Strawberry Street Café: I've said it before and I'll say it again: Strawberry Street serves up some of the best burgers in town. And on Mondays those burgers (including the ham and bean burger) are half-price. For those not in the mood for burgers, the quiche is half-price as well. And college students and professors get a break on Tuesday when a flash of the school ID gets you 20 percent off your food. And on Wednesday kids 10 and under eat free with the purchase of an adult meal (one kid meal per adult meal). 421 N. Strawberry St., (804) 353-6860

Verbena: This hot new Fan restaurant celebrates Sundays as Date Night. Every Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. you can get a three-course meal for just $35 per person. It's the perfect way to sample this new spot. 2526 Floyd Ave., (804) 359-3122

Zed Café: Fresh, local ingredients and a commitment to quality is what sets this Northside place apart and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays you can sample all the goodness on the cheap. Zed's offers a three-course prix-fixe menu for only $23.99 per person. The menu rotates frequently, but the meal usually starts with a choice of soup or salad, one of four entrees, like scallops, rockfish and roasted free-range chicken, and ends with a choice of dessert, like the flourless chocolate mousse cake. You can also get a bottle of wine for half-price to round at the meal. 5109 Lakeside Ave., (804) 261-5656 -- Added 6/24

Did we miss your favorite Cheap Date Night special in town? Send an email to karri.peifer@corp.richmond.com and we'll add it to the list.