If you haven't planned dinner yet, we can point you to some places where you can stretch your family's dining budget, by getting food for free.

Since 1941, North Texas families have been coming to Dickey's for BBQ.

And for about three years, they've come every Sunday because kids eat free.

The economy has more families looking for that saving.

The deal takes place at Sunday at all Dickey's, although some locations do it Tuesdays, too.

Dallas Morning News

Dickey's says offering free food to children on Sundays builds a customer base.

"It is a generator. We build customers off of that. People come back during the week, come back without their children," said TD Dickey.

With a little planning - families can hit the deals all week long.

•Monday - Backyard Burgers.

•Tuesdays after 5 p.m. at Black Eyed Pea locations.

•Luby's feeds kids under 10 for just $2 on Wednesdays.

•Hit an IHOP (only at some locations) on Thursdays and get one free kids' item for every adult entree.

•Kids eat free Saturdays and Sundays at Humperdinks.

At Dickey's, without the deal, a parent would pay $14.58 to feed themself and a child.

On kids-eat-free night, it's $10.26, more than a $4 savings.

And with most kids-eat-free deals unadvertised - spread just by word of mouth - people are sharing the tips online.

It's an appetizing way to stretch those dollars.

E-mail bhawkins@wfaa.com.