Cooking at home is much cheaper but socializing is important!
Being careful with your spending doesn’t mean you have to miss out socially. There are smarter ways to enjoy dining out without burning a hole in your pocket. With a little more thought, you can still relish meals out without your bank balance nosediving.
Let’s break it down: making a meal at home might set you back £3-4 per person, while ordering the same dish at a restaurant will cost you £12-15. Many times the price and for what is oftentimes the same ingredients. But I get it, at times you want an outing, it’s easier, or you’re catching up with friends. No issues there. Let’s dive into how to make those expenses minimal.
Smart Timing for Restaurant Visits
Restaurants aren’t pricing their food the same way all day long. They’re businesses trying to fill seats during quiet periods, and that creates opportunities for you.
- Lunch is your friend. That £18 dinner special? Same kitchen, same chef, probably very similar portion – but served at 1pm instead of 7pm means you’ll pay £9. Pizza Express, Wagamama, most chain restaurants do this. Same food, half the cost.
- Happy hour isn’t just about drinks. Loads of places do food deals between 3pm-6pm when they’re trying to bridge the gap between lunch and dinner crowds. That pizza place on your high street offering 50% off from 3pm-5pm? Don’t rock up at 2pm or 6pm and pay full whack. Plan around it.
- Early bird specials work. Book for 5:30pm instead of 8pm and you’ll often find set menus or discounts. Prezzo does 2-for-1 mains before 6:30pm. Zizzi has early evening deals. Even independent restaurants often have quieter period discounts – just ask.
- Monday and Tuesday are gold. Restaurants hate quiet weekdays. Many offer special deals to get bodies through the door. That’s when you’ll find the best offers, smallest crowds, and sometimes better service because staff aren’t rushed off their feet.
Avoid The Hidden Costs of Restaurant Beverages
This is where restaurants really get you. That £3.50 soft drink probably costs them about 30p to make. The markup is insane, and they know exactly what they’re doing.
- Soft drinks are pure profit. A large Coke at most chain restaurants costs more than a pint of beer, despite containing maybe 15p worth of syrup and fizzy water. Skip the drink, save £3-4 per person instantly.
- Coffee markups are even worse. That £2.80 cappuccino costs the restaurant about 25p in ingredients. Order coffee at the end of your meal and you’ve just added 20% to your bill for no good reason.
- Alcohol pricing varies wildly. Wine by the glass is typically marked up 300-400%. A bottle that costs £6 in the supermarket will cost you £18-24 in a restaurant. House wine is usually your best bet if you’re drinking – it’s still overpriced, but less aggressively so.
- What you save by skipping drinks: Family of four eating out? Skip the drinks entirely and you’ve probably saved £12-16. That’s enough to cover a starter or dessert instead. Or just pocket the cash.
- The psychological trap: Sugary drinks make you crave more food. Restaurants know this. That Coke doesn’t just cost you money upfront – it makes you order more than you planned. Stick to tap water and you’ll eat less and spend less.
Smart alternatives:
- Ask for tap water with lemon – free and refreshing
- Have a coffee before you leave home instead of ordering one after your meal
- If you want alcohol, check if they do smaller measures or share a bottle between couples
Making One Meal Into Two
Restaurant portions have gotten ridiculous. Most mains could easily feed two people, especially if you’re not absolutely starving.
If you’re a student or just grabbing lunch between meetings, consider sharing. Order one main and a side instead of two full meals. Split a burger and chips between two people and you’ve each paid £6 instead of £12. Still filling, half the cost.
This works brilliantly for socializing too. Order a few dishes to share instead of everyone getting their own main. Tapas places, Indian restaurants, Chinese takeaways – they’re built for this. You get to try more things and everyone pays less.
Even at chain restaurants, portions are often massive. Share a pizza, split a pasta dish, order one dessert between two people. The staff don’t care, and you’re not wasting food or money.
How to Order Water Without Getting Charged
While a lot of places offer free water to customers, some places collect money for water which is illegal in places that serve alcohol.
If someone asks for “still water,” tell them “tap water please.” If they try to bring bottled water to you, do not accept it. Tell them that you didn’t order anything and requested tap water only. This will protect you from tricks.
In chain restaurants, tap water is practically free. If they are still pretending to be rude, do not feel shy to ask for the manager. If they serve alcohol, it is your legal right.
A small “service charge” may be placed for tap water, but this should be written on the menu. If not, simply don’t pay.
Restaurant Portion Control Strategies
Most restaurant meals could feed two people. Use this to your advantage.
- Order a starter as your main if you’re not that hungry – many starters are actually decent-sized portions
- Skip the bread basket – it’s just filler that makes you order less of what you actually want
- Ask for half portions if they do them – some places offer children’s portions for adults
- Box up half your meal straight away for tomorrow’s lunch
Don’t feel pressured to clean your plate. Restaurants count on people feeling obliged to finish everything, even when they’re full. That’s how they justify the large portions and high prices.
The Money-Saving Lunch vs Dinner Menu Strategy
This might be the biggest lunch and dinner savings trick that most people miss out on. Take the same restaurant, the same kitchen and even the same identical ingredients, yet the pricing shifts based on walk-through time.
A chicken meal costs £18 for dinner but will be £9 during the lunch hour. Everything else like the portion and chef remains unchanged. You’re literally getting charged twice for the “privilege” of dining at 7pm instead of 1pm.
Set lunches are even more advantageous, as two courses for £12 which would cost £20+ in the evening. Some offer three courses for £15, what would normally be £25 during dinner hours.
These set menus are aimed at business lunches, which city-centre restaurants sidestep with their drowned wired crowds pouring in for the value meals. Shrewd buyers are getting dinner-level quality food served during lunchtime.
Weekend brunch menus often have the same pricing as lunch menus, even though it’s a more social hour. Saturday brunch at 11 am is priced lower compared to Saturday dinner at 7 pm, but doesn’t change the fact that it feels like going out.
Discounted and Use of Coupons
Most people walk into restaurants and pay full price like mugs when there are loads of ways to get money off. Restaurants partner with discount schemes because they’d rather have customers paying less than empty tables making nothing.
- Tastecard is probably the best known one. Costs about £35 for the year but gets you 50% off food bills or 2-for-1 deals at thousands of restaurants. Pizza Express, Zizzi, Bella Italia and range of restaurant deals are on there. Use it twice and it’s paid for itself.
- Groupon still works for restaurants. Not as popular as it used to be, but you can still find proper deals. I’ve seen £40 worth of food for £20, or set meals at half price. Just check the small print – some have restrictions on when you can use them.
- Your bank might offer restaurant discounts. Santander 123 customers get money back at certain restaurants. Some credit cards have dining programs that give you points or cashback. Check what your bank offers – you might already be entitled to discounts without knowing it.
App-based discounts are everywhere now:
- Too Good To Go – end-of-day meals from restaurants at massive discounts
- Wriggle – location-based restaurant offers, often 50% off
- First Table – book early slots (5:30pm-6:30pm usually) and get 50% off food
- OpenTable – sometimes has points you can use for discounts
- Student discounts aren’t just for students anymore. Loads of places do NHS discounts, teacher discounts, emergency services discounts. Always worth asking “do you do any professional discounts?” when you’re paying.
- Email newsletters actually work. Sign up for your favorite restaurants’ mailing lists and you’ll get exclusive offers. Byron Burger emails vouchers regularly. Nando’s sends out freebies for your birthday. Takes two minutes to sign up and you get deals sent directly to you.
- Social media follows pay off. Follow restaurants on Instagram or Facebook and they often post flash deals or limited-time offers. Some places do “social media only” discounts that aren’t advertised anywhere else.
Plan Ahead for Meal Savings
One of the simplest ways to cut costs when dining out is to plan in advance. Whether you’re catching up with a friend or celebrating a special occasion, checking for offers beforehand can really pay off. Lots of restaurants share discounts or set menus online, and some even offer extra value for early-evening bookings or midweek visits.
Choosing places that regularly promote meal deals is an easy way to reduce dining expenses without sacrificing quality. These offers span many types of cuisine and locations, giving you lots of options whether you’re in the city or staying local.
It’s also worth watching for seasonal offers, lunchtime menus, and group discounts. Many venues offer fixed-price multi-course meals, which can be more cost-effective than ordering individual dishes.
Budget-Friendly Fun Doesn’t Mean Boring
There’s a misconception that cutting back on spending means missing out on fun—but in reality, it can lead to new discoveries. Being cost-conscious often encourages trying out different experiences or venturing off the beaten path.
Whether you’re exploring somewhere new or tasting a different cuisine, being mindful of your budget can actually enhance your enjoyment and create meaningful memories—without the pressure of overspending.
Living well doesn’t have to break the bank. With a bit of planning, thoughtful spending, and a good understanding of what’s available nearby, you can enjoy great food, exciting days out, and unforgettable experiences without going over budget.
It’s not about cutting corners—it’s about making the most of what you’ve got.
Balancing Frugality with Social Life – Social Eating on a Budget
Being tight with money shouldn’t mean becoming a social hermit. There are ways to keep up with friends without spending a fortune every time someone suggests going out.
- Suggest the place yourself. Instead of waiting for someone else to pick an expensive spot, jump in first with “how about that new pizza place?” You can steer the group toward somewhere more reasonable without looking cheap.
- Pre-drinking works for food too. Have a snack before you go out so you’re not starving. Order a starter or share a few dishes instead of getting a full meal. You’re there for the company, not to stuff yourself.
- Weekend breakfast beats weekend dinner. Meeting friends for brunch or breakfast costs half what dinner would. Same social experience, same catch-up time, but £10 instead of £25 per person.
- Suggest activities that include food. “Fancy going to the cinema and grabbing something quick after?” is cheaper than a full restaurant meal but still social. Food becomes part of the activity rather than the whole expensive event.
- Be honest about budget. Most people are in the same boat but nobody wants to be first to admit it. “I’m trying to save money this month – anyone fancy somewhere cheaper?” Usually gets a relief response from everyone else.
- BYOB restaurants. Some places let you bring your own wine for a small corkage fee. Bottle that costs £6 from Tesco instead of £24 from the restaurant menu. Not many do this, but the ones that do are worth finding.
- Set a spending limit beforehand. Tell yourself you’re spending £15 max before you leave the house. Makes it easier to make sensible choices when you’re looking at the menu.
Lunch dates instead of dinner dates. Same restaurant, same person, half the price. Lunch feels less formal but you still get proper time to chat without the pressure of a big evening out.
The point isn’t to never spend money on social stuff. It’s about being smart so you can afford to do it more often without going broke.
