The average UK household spends around £120 per month eating out and on takeaways — that's nearly £1,500 a year. While cutting this to zero would boost your savings, it's also unrealistic for most people. Eating out is social, enjoyable, and sometimes just necessary. The good news is you can easily cut 30-50% off your restaurant spending without giving up the experience. From apps that offer 50% off to timing strategies and loyalty hacks, there are dozens of ways to eat out for less in the UK.
Restaurant Deal Apps and Cards
Several UK apps offer genuine 50% off or 2-for-1 deals at thousands of restaurants. Meerkat Meals (free with any CompareTheMarket quote) gives you 2-for-1 at chains like Pizza Express, Zizzi, and ASK Italian every Tuesday and Wednesday. The Tastecard app offers 50% off or 2-for-1 at over 6,000 restaurants for around £5/month. Too Good To Go sells surplus restaurant food for a third of the price — perfect for lunch on the go.
- Meerkat Meals — free 2-for-1 with any CompareTheMarket quote
- Tastecard — 50% off at 6,000+ restaurants (£5/month)
- Too Good To Go — surplus food from restaurants at 1/3 price
- Dine Club — 50% off food at independent restaurants
Is Meerkat Meals really free?
Yes — you just need to get a quote (not buy a policy) through CompareTheMarket for car insurance, home insurance, or energy. The quote is free, and you get 12 months of Meerkat Meals plus Meerkat Movies.
Timing and Strategy
When you eat out matters almost as much as where. Lunch menus are typically 30-40% cheaper than dinner at the same restaurant. Early bird menus (usually before 6.30 PM) offer significant discounts at many restaurants. Mid-week dining is cheaper than weekends. Many restaurants also run specific daily deals: Monday might be burger night, Tuesday could be pizza 2-for-1. Check the restaurant's website or social media before booking.
- Go for lunch instead of dinner (30-40% cheaper)
- Use early bird menus (before 6.30 PM)
- Dine mid-week instead of Friday/Saturday
- Check social media for daily specials
- Book direct — some restaurants add surcharges on delivery apps
Loyalty Programmes Worth Joining
Most major restaurant chains have loyalty apps with genuine rewards. Nando's loyalty card gives you a free quarter chicken after 10 visits. Greggs rewards you with a free hot drink after 9. Costa Coffee Club and Caffè Nero both offer free drinks on a stamp-card basis. Stacking these loyalty rewards with deal apps can make eating out remarkably cheap. Sign up for email newsletters from your favourite restaurants — they often send exclusive discount codes and birthday freebies.
- Nando's — free quarter chicken after 10 visits
- Greggs — free hot drink after 9 stamps
- Costa Coffee Club — points on every purchase
- Birthday freebies — sign up for emails from favourite chains
- Stack loyalty rewards with deal apps for maximum savings
Setting an Eating Out Budget with SYM
Rather than trying to eliminate eating out entirely (which rarely sticks), set a realistic monthly eating-out budget. Track it as a separate goal in SYM so you can see exactly how much you're spending. A good starting point is cutting your current spending by 30%: if you spend £120/month, budget £85. Use the savings techniques above to make that £85 go as far as your old £120 did. The £35/month you save adds up to £420 per year that could go straight into your savings goals.
- Set a dedicated 'eating out' budget in SYM
- Track every restaurant and takeaway spend
- Aim to cut current spending by 30% initially
- Redirect savings into your main savings goal
- Review monthly and adjust as needed
- eating out
- restaurants
- frugal living
- money saving