Yes, it's true, there are nights when even I, master of cast iron and happy preparer of everything from Beef Wellington to boiled broccoli, simply don't feel like cooking. By the end of a week of work, housework, cooking and all the other millions of minutiae that go into life, the idea of standing in front of the stove makes me feel like grabbing for the Scotch.

So I do what many of you do, I either call for delivery or go grab some takeout.

Before we start looking at ways to save money on delivery food, let's get one thing perfectly clear: Treat your delivery driver the same way you would a server at a restaurant. TIP THEM. Granted, they come to your door, hand you your food and leave, unlike a restaurant server who attends your table throughout your meal, but they drive their own vehicles in any weather, ensure your order is accurate, and frequently in smaller shops have a hand in cooking the food.

When I order from any of my local delivery joints, I get lightning-quick service. Why? I've got it from several different drivers that they'll fight over who gets to deliver my food because I've got a reputation as a good tipper. Having managed a delivery operation, I can tell you that your tipping habits have a good deal to do with how quickly you get your grub.

Now that that's out of the way, let's save some money.

Buy Local

The big chains spend the big bucks on advertising, but keep your eye peeled for the weekly or bi-weekly coupon magazine that most communities have for great deals from local restaurants. You'll keep the money in your community and get food that's prepared according to someone's recipe, not a corporate formula.

I've seen many locally owned restaurants that run customer loyalty programs that reward you with free food or discounts for continuing patronage. Usually, you're able to use any coupons they've got floating around in addition to the loyalty discounts, magnifying your savings.

Watch For New Offerings

The major chains, especially Pizza Hut, are almost always coming out with new styles and types of pizzas. They're usually offered at an introductory price that makes them a really good deal. Be sure it's something you're actually interested in, though. If Domino's comes out with a new Beef Liver and Brussels Sprouts Deep Dish and offers it for $1, you might want to just spend that dollar on something actually edible.

Avoid The Sides

Just as appetizers are huge profit makers for sit-down restaurants, things like wings, breadsticks, desserts and other extras will drive your total price through the roof in a big hurry. That $10.99 large pizza you got with a coupon can quickly become a $25 bill if you let the extras tempt you.

Besides, from a dietary standpoint, you're getting enough fat and calories to choke a horse from the pizza. Adding more food on is likely to make your arteries unhappy.

Shop Online

All the major national pizza chains have online ordering, but did you know that a lot of your local shops do it, too? My favorite local pizza joint, Johnny B's Pizza Pad, has an online order system that blows the majors out of the water in terms of ease of ordering and clear navigation.

Since the more online orders they get, the fewer people they have to have tied up answering phones, most restaurants offer great deals to online customers. You'll find online coupons that you'd never find in the mail, and most sites will let you use your newspaper or direct mail coupons, too.

Be sure and look for a "specials" or "coupons" link on the main page of the site. Go there first and then start building your order based on what you find.

Beware, though: By means of popup windows and other shiny objects, the online order forms will really put the arm on you to add extras to your order. Be strong!

Get Together

Unless you spent large sections of the '90s on a desert island, you've probably got the "regular price, four bucks, four bucks" commercial stored somewhere in your memory banks. While that deal, from Pizza Hut, is no longer with us, any pizza chain worth its salt has something similar somewhere on the menu. Look at the fine print on your coupons and you'll often see things like "add another for $6" or the like.

Why not have a pizza night with the gang? Call your friends and pool your cash and get a truckload of pizza goodness delivered to your gathering.

These types of deals are harder to find at other delivery joints, but keep your eyes peeled. Many Chinese food places have "family meal" deals that give great value and offer an excellent variety of dishes.

When it comes down to it, calling out for delivery is never going to be soft on your wallet, but when you consider the convenience factor it's often worth it. Shop smartly and you'll enjoy the experience even more!