Going out doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive. Whether you fancy the cinema, theatre, a meal, a few drinks at the pub or are planning a day out with the family, there is usually a way to enjoy it without having to break the bank. Here are some of the best ways to save.
Loyalty and discount cards
Loyalty card points can be a useful way of getting a discount if you regularly shop at certain stores. Tesco Clubcard members, for example, can turn points (one point for every pound spent in store and online) into vouchers to use at restaurants and the cinema, and it is often better value than spending them at the supermarket. It has partnered with chains including Bella Italia, Zizzi, Café Rouge and Pizza Express, where 50p worth of vouchers gives £1.50 towards your meal (although watch out for location and date exclusions).
Shoppers can also trade in Clubcard points for days out at theme parks, museums and other attractions.
If you like eating out, it’s worth looking at whether the restaurant discount card Tastecard could save you money. It offers two-for-one meals, or 50% off food, at thousands of UK restaurants. At the moment it is offering a 60-day free trial (you can cancel at any time) but this then renews into a plan costing £47.88 a year (£3.99 a month). So don’t forget to cancel the subscription if you don’t want to be charged when the free trial ends.
If you are thinking about something you can do with the family, consider the Kids Pass scheme. Try it for £1 for 30 days, and time it for the school summer holidays. You will get “kids eat free” deals and discounts for adults at a range of restaurants, as well as offers on attractions.
There are also apps specifically tailored towards getting free drinks, including Dusk, which operates in London, Brighton, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool.
Download the app, link your card and earn points when you spend money at partner bars.
The points can be traded in for free drinks and other discounts at bars and pubs.
Check your contracts
If you have a mobile phone contract, it is likely you will be eligible for some freebies.
Depending on the network, you might be able to get free or discounted cinema tickets.
For example, O2 offers customers one free Odeon adult cinema ticket each week on a Sunday or Monday, while many Vodafone mobile customers can get two Vue adult tickets for £7.
Download your network’s rewards app to check what you are entitled to. Naturally, watch out for exclusions.
You may also get perks when you buy insurance. For example, Comparethemarket’s Meerkat Movies scheme gives customers two-for-one cinema tickets on a Tuesday or Wednesday for a year if you buy a qualifying product after comparing prices through the site.
Other freebies are available depending on which company you have signed up with. For example, you can often get free alcoholic or hot drinks from various companies with the O2 perks app.
Get more from your ticket
If you have already bought a ticket for something, check whether you can get discounts at nearby restaurants and bars.
For example, theatregoers who bought West End tickets through OfficialLondonTheatre.com can access restaurant and cafe deals, as well as 50% off at certain car parks.
Sign up
If you sign up to newsletters for your favourite restaurant and pub chains, chances are you will occasionally be sent a freebie – particularly around your birthday.
You might want to open a new email address especially for this to avoid your main account getting spammed.
Some theatres run ticket lotteries and similar schemes for popular shows, so if you are able to leave your plans to chance, that could be a good option.
One of London’s priciest shows, the award-winning Cabaret, runs a £25 ticket lottery, while the London production of Hamilton has a £10 one (both via the TodayTix app).
Ticketmaster has a special deals page where you can find its latest offers, and it runs flash sales throughout the year.
If you have an account with the website, you should get an email when there is a sale on.
Look out for free events in your local area, for example, free film screenings or gigs, by signing up to the mailing list for venues in your neighbourhood.
Time it right
You can often save money by either booking in advance or at the last minute.
You will often get your pick of the cheapest tickets if you are one of the first to book. Many gigs and club nights offer staged ticket releases, with cheaper “early bird” deals.
But you can also have a spontaneous night out by booking on the day. Dynamic pricing means prices on the ticket websites will sometimes drop at the last minute.
Many theatres offer cheap day seats, so if you have the time, you can head to the theatre on the morning of the show to try to get your hands on some.
Remember, however, that you might have to queue for a while, and you are not guaranteed a seat.
If you can be flexible about when you go, choosing a less popular time might allow you to get cheaper deals. Midweek and early evening are often quieter times, so there might be deals then.
Set lunches, or fixed menus, can be a cheaper way to try top-end restaurants at a lower price.
Use concessions
Make sure you are using any concessions or discounts you are entitled to. If you are older, on a low salary, disabled, a student or an NHS or emergency services worker, you might be able to get money off.
Many venues have young people schemes, offering much cheaper access, typically for people aged about 25 and under.
If you have children, keep an eye out for special offers – particularly during the school holidays. For example, many London theatres are giving out a free child ticket with every full-price adult ticket this summer. It’s called Kids Week but runs for the whole of August.
If you work for the NHS, emergency services, social care sector or armed forces, a Blue Light Card can get you discounts at lots of venues.
