If you go to Bethesda, make sure you’ve gone to the ATM first. There isn’t much good cheap fun, but there are a lot of great restaurants.
I spent half of my paycheck on a dinner in Bethesda once. Even though I only work part time as a grocery store cashier, that’s a lot of money.
If you like the finer things in life, Bethesda is for you. If you enjoy slightly trashier, cheaper areas (like myself) search farther east in Silver Spring and Wheaton.