Eating out can be a real treat, but often the resulting bill is a little hard to swallow, however this doesn’t mean you need to restrict yourself to dining out in roadside café’s.

With money-saving tips brought to you by our thrifty team – dining alongside celebrities at Nobu is still a possibility.

Here are simple strategies to cut your costs, so that you can enjoy your warm feta salad and eat it too.

Lauren says – “Use Discount Vouchers and Coupons”

Coupons and vouchers aren’t just for groceries or high street stores. Visit the printable vouchers section of Voucherfinder.co.uk regularly and you’ll find lots of restaurant deals. Buy one get one free offers can make a big dent in the price of eating out, and we have enough here to use a different discount voucher every day, ensuring your taste buds are truly treated! For even more savings, sign up to the Voucher Finder newsletter so you get all the hottest deals straight to your inbox weekly.

Lynda says – “Share a meal and/or dessert”

Restaurant portions are often huge, so consider splitting a dish with someone else – especially a pudding. Just ask for 2 spoons.

The unexpected bonus for your frugal efforts? Fewer calories and fat grams hitting your waistline and more intimate dining with your hot date. Easy on the whipped cream.

Rob says “Save your drinks for the pub”

Alcoholic drinks can really add to your bill and are often overpriced in restaurants. To keep costs down, order tap water rather than bottled (almost always free), to accompany your wine and save your real drinking for the pub.

Ka-Mei Says “Go Child-Friendly”

Lots of establishments feature special nights where kids eat free with the purchase of an adult main. Do a little research to find restaurants in your area that do this, and you could reduce your bill by half—now that’s sure to make you and the kids happy.

Barrie Says “Be an Early Bird”

Some restaurants offer a discount for eating earlier. Consider doing this and then moving on to a more lively establishment/bar area after eating.