Eating Out
We all like going out for a nice dinner with friends and loved ones but in these difficult financial times, we maybe are unable to go as often as we once did. However the truth is that there are lots of great deals to be had out there, and if you do your homework then you could save yourself a good bit of money!
Below are 10 top tips to help you save money when eating out:
1-Click and print promotional vouchers
Many restaurants offer promotional vouchers online and in newspapers. Examples of these are 2-for-1 deals at Pizza Express, Zizi’s and Bella Italia. There are many more restaurants to choose from and some great offers, so why not check regularly on websites such as:
www.hotukdeals.com and
www.vouchercodes.co.uk.
2-Book your night out online
Websites such as www.toptable.co.uk and www.lastminute.com specialise in 50% offers, 2-for-1 deals and other promotions which can sometimes include a bottle of wine! You can search current deals within your area, and then book a table at the restaurant of your choice in advance. Then once you arrive at your dinner destination, just remind the person serving you that you booked through a special deal online.
3-Eating out off-peak
An example of this is pre-theatre meals and lunchtime deals. This is always a good time to save money as most restaurants offer a pre-theatre menu which means you can sometimes get 2 or maybe 3 courses for the price of one on the normal menu. The selection may be limited, however they are getting better as restaurants are using them to try and entice customers to come back and pay full price.
4-Enjoy lunch for less
Going out to eat at lunchtime could be far cheaper than having an evening meal. There are great bargains to be found in some of the country’s best restaurants. For more information check out The Good Food Guide, it highlights budget eating and high dining, latest recommendations from its readers and £50 money-off vouchers.
5-Sign up for chain restaurant discounts
Joining some chain restaurant’s own clubs can save you a lot of money. These tend to be free to join via email, and are run by large chains including La Tasca, Pizza Express, Wagamamas and many more. You can join their mailing lists and get sent special offers and deals straight to your inbox.
6-Join a dining club
Becoming a member of a loyalty scheme such as The Midweek Dining Club or The Gourmet Society can save you up to 50% at restaurants that are part of the organisation. The Gourmet Society requires an Annual membership of £43.50 but can be used at over 3,000 eateries!
There are a vast selection of restaurants around the country that allow you to bring your own bottle (BYOB) to have with your meal. A typical house wine costs £14, whereas you could purchase a decent one for around £5 at your local supermarket, so you could save yourself a tidy sum. Look online at www.wine-pages.com for a list of BYOB restaurants.
8-Drink tap water not expensive bottled water
Establishments that serve alcohol are now required by law to give customers free tap water. Some restaurants charge around £3.50 for a bottle of mineral water, so for those twice-monthly diners, you could be saving almost £100 a year by just switching to tap!
9-Order several kids an adult meal to share
Another way to save money with children is to order several kids an adult meal to share. Kids meals are becoming more expensive, by sharing an adult meal they usually are getting something slightly healthier (no chicken nuggets and chips) and you might save a few pounds as well.
10-Don’t forget your doggy bag
There should be no embarrassment attached to taking leftover food home. After all you’ve paid for it, so why waste it? Most of us commonly over-order in restaurants, so it makes sense to ask for a doggy bag and take your leftovers home. This saves you money on lunch the following day.
