Eat-out cheap to fight the January blues

January is a famously deflating month. The third Monday of this month, known as Blue Monday, is considered by many as the saddest day of the year, and with empty post-Christmas bank accounts and the festive fun behind us, it is difficult to keep spirits up.

Although January is typically a low-spend month, it is clear that times are changing. Sales and deals characterise January shopping and they are enticing customers to get back out there and enjoy themselves, despite their tightened purse strings. This might mean buying something new or enjoying a meal out with friends. 

Eating out may seem out of grasp during the post-Christmas slump, but there are many ways in which you can still enjoy some delicious restaurant food! Read on to find out some budget-friendly life hacks that will satisfy your appetite and help fight the January blues.

Big savings for loyal customers

Make the most of being a regular customer by joining a loyalty scheme. Most cafes and coffee shop offer stamp cards which allow you to earn freebies. Every little helps over this cold and dreary month, so a free coffee goes a long way.

Get your hands on some discount cards

Enjoy cheap meals this January (and the rest of the year!) thanks to restaurant discounts. Restaurants will be going the extra mile to increase footfall over this low-spend month, and that spells extra discounts for foodies! There are also apps available that offer huge savings such as half-price meals, 2-for-1 deals and free bottles of wine at great restaurants. In addition, because of such apps focussing on independent restaurants, not only will you be eating great food at great prices, but you’ll also be helping local businesses.

Student savings

If you’re a student, always remember to ask if there’s a discount scheme! Many bars, restaurants, and cafés want to encourage younger customers, who might not have as much disposable cash, into their establishment – so student discounts are a win-win! Just make sure you always have your student card on you and watch the discounts roll in.

Stay happy and eat-out

Whatever the offer, we all love a happy hour! all feel smug when we accidentally happen upon one, but during January, plan ahead! Make a list of where and when all your local happy hours take place and craft a money-saving action plan.

Eat out for free

Forget cheap dinging – free dining is the ultimate January life hack! That’s right, if you become a mystery diner you’ll be able to eat out at certain restaurants completely free of charge! It sounds too good to be true, but many restaurants are on the lookout for people to review them or mention them on a blog. As long as you give an honest review of your experience, the meal will be “on the house”!

Let nothing go to waste

Never letting anything go to waste is key if you want to be a savvy spender this January. Avoid waste and get your money’s worth even when your stomach can’t handle it by taking home a doggy bag. If you’ve gone out for a pizza for example, but just can’t put it all away, save a few slices for lunch the next day – essentially two meals for the price of one!

Stay in the loop

Staying in the loop is key to never missing out on an offer. Many places run regular competitions, where you can win delicious freebies, so stay in the loop! During the post-Christmas slump, these competitions will likely become all the more frequent in order to increase footfall in restaurants.

Forget the January blues! There is plenty of opportunities to eat out this January without breaking the bank. You can be frugal while still eating well and enjoying a social life thanks to all of these options. So, what are you waiting for? Start eating out while saving money!

The editorial unit