How to cut the cost of going out

Letting your hair down doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg.

Dine out for less

Finding somewhere cheap isn’t easy, but a bit of rooting around will do wonders.

The Guardian is a useful place to start with Britain’s Best Budget Eats, breaking down the top cheap places to eat in cities across the UK.

While you’re on your search, look out for some top restaurant deals. Many have promotions for concessions like students and seniors so take a look at their websites or check their menu if you're wondering around the city centre.

Try OpenTable, 5pm or Skiddle to knock some of the cost off your meal.  

For those of you who dine out more regularly, a membership card could save you a lot more cash. National chains do top deals with loyalty cards so that frequent diners can get money off their meals.

A Gourmet Society membership will get you 50% off meals at over 6,500 restaurants including Loch Fyne, La Tasca and Bella Italia. Annual membership will set you back £79.99.

With a tastecard you can either get 50% off or two for one at 6,956 restaurants such as Pizza Express and Prezzo. You can also grab a 30-day free trial without handing over any payment details. This one will also cost you £79.99 for full membership.

If you want something a little cheaper, you could opt for a Hi-Life Diners Club card for £69.99 a year. However, you can only use it at 3,500 UK restaurants.

Those in the West Midlands may prefer the Gastro Card. It’s £30 and the choice of eligible restaurants is limited. There is a pretty hefty cluster of them around the West Midlands area though.

If you only eat out now and again, going for the early bird option is often cheaper than a la carte so if you don’t mind eating a little earlier, you could save quite a bit. Just be aware that your options will be a bit more restricted.

Better yet, lunch menus are often cheaper so if you’re flexible with when you can eat, go for it.

For drinks, what’s better than happy hour? Most bars and pubs do them so keep an eye out for good deals. Your best bet would be to go in the early evening on a weekday for cheaper cocktails and wine.

Save money at the movies

A cinema trip is a classic failsafe for drizzly British weather, but prices have rocketed in recent years.

There are a few ways to save however, particularly for frequent moviegoers.

If you act quickly you can see pre-releases through Show Film First. Places are extremely limited though so it really is a case of being in the right place at the right time.

Discount cards can save you an awful lot of money if you head to the flicks more than a couple of times a month.

Odeon’s Premiere Club lets you choose your package according to how often you visit the cinema, giving you 10 points for every £1 spent plus exclusive deals and offers. Vue’s Super Club Tuesday Club where you can get up to a third off an adult ticket on Tuesdays.

And for hardcore film fans, you can go Unlimited with Cineworld for £16.40 a month. You’ll get 10% off food and drink bought in the cinema at any time of day plus discounts for all non-film screenings such as live National Theatre and live sport.

If you’re a younger person, older person or a student, take advantage of it! Cinemas will offer special rates for these groups.

Odeon holds £3-£4 Silver Cinema showings (formerly known as Odeon Senior Screen). There’s tea, coffee and biscuits before the film starts to give you a little time to relax and catch up with friends and family before the film starts. The tickets state that viewers must be over 55 but there’s no formal age restriction imposed.

Students can get 25% off with student tickets using an NUS Extra card Mondays-Thursdays at the Odeon, too.

There’s an armed forces discount of 15%-20% available at Vue. All you have to do is show your ID. You can turn Nectar points into tickets- every 500 points equals £2.50. Read more on How to boost your Nectar points.

It’s even better for families. Family tickets will often get you money off plus special food and drink offers. 

At the Odeon there are free Newbies screenings for parents and babies under two. These screenings have the volume turned down and the lights turned up so that your child will feel more comfortable.

Head over to How to get free and cheap cinema tickets for more info.

Enjoy the theatre for less

When you think of cheaper evenings out, you wouldn’t normally think of the theatre.

But a cultural expedition needn’t be that expensive.

First, try buying tickets directly from the theatre. That way, you won’t have to pay extortionate booking or postage fees from third party sales.

If that doesn’t help you much, try going elsewhere. If you’re around London, head to TKTS in Leicester Square to see which of the last available seats you can get your hands on.  

As with many other things, your best deal might be a last-minute one. Try Theatremonkey, DiscountTheatre, Whatsonstage.com and, of course, lastminute.com.

Theatre ticket comparison sites are terrific in theory, but often they don’t cover what many agencies are selling. If you must, try Seatchoice and Comparetheatretickets.

A better shot would be Theatremonkey’s special offers page which has every deal going, whether it’s from a theatre, a third party or even a stray press pass floating around. It’ll also tell you where the best seat and worst seats in each venue are. 

At the National Theatre, it's well worth joining the Advance UK membership scheme, which only costs £15, but lets you book 24 hours in advance of the crowds.

Just as good are the front slips at the Royal Court. You're in the position of the old royal boxes. Admittedly, you'll have to lean forward when the action moves to one side of the stage, but these are hard to beat.

Sometimes coming right out and asking is the best policy. If you want classic theatre at a really low price, ask for a groundling ticket at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. You’ll be standing at the front in ‘the yard’ as it was known back in the Elizabethan era when tickets only cost a penny. It’s a great experience and an utter bargain at a fiver a ticket.

For couples who love the theatre, there’s Showpairs. When two tickets to a show become available, you’ll be notified so that you can both go together!

Some theatres have a structural commitment to cheap tickets, usually those which receive Arts Council funding.

For example, the National runs the well-known £15 Travelex scheme, where you can get any seat for £15.

The Royal Court has £10 Mondays, which do exactly what they say on the tin. For these, you'll need to book well in advance. Join the theatre's mailing list for notification of when the booking season opens.

16-28 year olds can get cracking deals via hitthetheatre while 15-18 year olds can get tickets for a fiver through the Mousetrap's theatrelive4£5 scheme.

Alternatively, you could see an underrated comedic genius or an off-the-wall dance performance at a fringe performance.

Of course, the Edinburgh Fringe is in August every year which promises loads of street theatre and free shows, but there are fringe festivals all over the UK.

Get out for free

As it’s now officially summer (hooray!) it’s the perfect time to get outdoors. Head over to the National Trust to find walks and cycle routes in your area, including child-friendly routes that won't tire their little legs out

If you stay local, there’s bound to be events such as fetes, fireworks, illuminations or even a free concert. Grab a thermos, put something cold in it and go and have fun. For a little more inspiration, head over to Free Events.

Use allgigs or ents24 to search for free and cheap gigs in your local area. Look at How to go to concerts and gigs for cheaper for more.

You could see one of your TV shows being filmed. Popular choices include Mastermind, X Factor and Have I Got News for You. Sign up at BBC Tickets, sroaudiences, TVRecordings, ApplauseStore, HatTrick and LostInTV and keep your eyes peeled for updates.

Get free weekly tennis coaching through Tennis for Free. They are available across the UK. TFF also works with councils to provide free ‘Walk on and Play’ access in as many parks as possible. Sessions are family-focused and take place all year round.

Certain people are entitled to get money of swimming at their local pool. Check your local council’s website to see if you’re eligible.

Or how about a leisurely walk around the park? Have a look at 15 of the UK’s best national parks.

Get vouchers and cashback!

Voucher websites always have special offers going on days out. Try the zoo, Legoland or an adventure park for something a bit different. Vouchercloud and Vouchercodes are both great sources of cheap, fun days out.

Cashback sites will give you a portion of what you paid back if you make a purchase through them. If you’re interested in the latest cashback offers, head to TopCashback and Quidco.

For major money off deals, get on Groupon, LivingSocial and Tickles as well to find some special offers on anything from cupcake decorating to comedy shows.

You can also get cashback on your spending by using a cashback credit card. It’ll give you money back on virtually all of your purchases. Just make sure you pay your balance off in full each month or else the interest you're charged will wipe out the value of any cashback you do earn.