Many families are watching the pennies these days, but that shouldn’t mean compromising on fun treats such as the occasional meal out. It’s possible to save money on restaurant bills if you know how to track down special dining discounts, read on to find out more.

Many of the big chain restaurants offer vouchers which can be redeemed against food and drink purchases. Check the advertising pages in your local newspapers, and find out whether your favourite restaurants and family diners have websites where you may be able to print off coupons to take on your next visit.

Also, go online to sign up to customer newsletters to receive discounts by email and ensure that you get the best offers delivered direct to your inbox. Some restaurant websites regularly send out 2-for-1 offers and vouchers for free starters and desserts.

At the restaurant, think about sharing a large starter or dessert, or skip these altogether. It’s easy to get tempted by huge platefuls of food and to forget what a normal sized portion looks like –but chances are you’ll end up leaving half of the food on your plate. Not only will your waistline thank you for sharing your food, but you’ll save a significant amount on your bill.

Many diners feel shy about asking for tap water rather than expensive drinks, but this can be another great way to save cash. If you really must have a soft drink with your meal, seek out restaurants which offer free refills or ‘bottomless’ glasses.

If you fancy some wine with your meal, don’t be tempted into ordering a full bottle when a single glass will do. The same rule applies to other alcoholic beverages such as beer – order a glass on draught and sip it slowly rather than purchasing expensive bottled lagers which go down all too quickly!

Learning to chew and savour your food is also a useful tip – taking time to enjoy each mouthful will make you feel fuller for longer. Also make sure you order one course at a time. Most restaurant food is extremely rich, so leaving longer gaps between courses will allow you to decide whether you actually want a dessert, or whether you can go without.

It can be difficult to tear the kids away from their games consoles, but whatever the weather and whatever their age, there are hundreds of fantastic days out for families in the UK – many of which are completely free of charge.

Many of the UK’s best attractions can be found on your doorstep. It is estimated that 20 million people live within an hour’s drive of a National Park – the Peak District is thought to be the second most-visited national park in the world. Fresh air, great walks and stunning scenery can be enjoyed by all the family and bringing along a tasty picnic can add to the sense of fun.

When the sun is shining, head for the beach – Britain has over 8,000 miles of beautiful coastline and young children are often at their happiest when building sandcastles and paddling in the sea. Search out Blue Flag beaches which have been judged to have the highest quality of water, safety, facilities, environmental education and overall management.

Online websites such as MoneySavingExpert.com feature a round-up of the latest free days out for families, including savings at theme parks, zoos, theatres and cinemas. Sign up to their free newsletter to make sure that you take advantage of the latest deals.

Look on your council website for other attractions near you – some museums, stately homes and parks offer free entry to local residents and some councils provide free leisure passes which give further discounts.

When only a day of thrills and spills will do, look out for 2-for-1 deals at theme parks such as Alton Towers and Drayton Manor Park or go online to book your tickets in advance. Families can also save significant amounts of money by taking their own food and drinks, as onsite catering outlets are usually busy and extremely pricey. Note that some theme parks won’t allow you to bring your own food, so make sure you fill the kids up with a hearty breakfast before you arrive.

For more ideas for cheap days out visit www.visitbritain.co.uk.

Thousands of people join the gym each year in an effort to get fit and lose weight, but for many the good intentions are soon forgotten and the monthly direct debit membership fees become a real drain on finances. Read on to discover ways of keeping fit for less.

If you’re looking to improve your overall fitness, but don’t want to get tied into a contract, it’s worth knowing that many gyms now offer free trials, which allow you to sample what’s on offer before committing yourself. Most of the big gyms will give you a free one-day pass – all you need to do is visit their websites online and sign up. The Gym Website has all the latest deals from clubs such as Fitness First, LA Fitness and LivingWell.

Alternatively, if you know a friend or family member who regularly attends a local gym, ask if they have any free guest passes. Many health clubs give these to members in the hope that they will recommend others to join once they’ve tried the facilities for free.

Once you’ve decided to join a gym, try asking the staff at reception to see what deals they can give you. The lowest prices can often be negotiated during the summer months when most people have abandoned the New Year’s fitness resolutions that they made in January.

If you’re in the fortunate position of living somewhere with multiple gyms, don’t be afraid to haggle with the reception staff – you can save significant amounts of money if you’re prepared to be forceful and have the option to take your business elsewhere.

To save even more cash, check out the fitness facilities at your council leisure centre or local college/university campus. There may not be many frills such as juice bars and fancy changing rooms but you can usually pay per visit, meaning that you’re not tied in to a contract.

Many fitness activities, such as walking, running and cycling can be done completely free of charge in your own neighbourhood. Even a half-hour trip to the park with your neighbour’s dog can prove to be a real workout if you have the energy!  Or if you prefer to exercise with a friend, why not buy a fitness DVD or a copy of Wii Fit and have a giggle trying to keep up with all the moves?

One of the many things that the internet has made easier is using the power of grouping together to get quantity discounts from shops and suppliers of all kinds. By promising suppliers that they can find them a large group of people to buy their service or product within a few days, enterprising websites can get rock bottom prices to offer to the general public.

There are now many sites offering this kind of service for you to take advantage of, one of the best being Groupola.com. The sites all tend to work in a similar way, they offer a special deal every day. These deals are aimed at people living in or near one of dozens of towns or cities, but many offers are applicable nationwide. The offers are dependent on enough buyers being found for each deal, so if you’re interested in one, you promise to buy, and then when enough other people have signed up, you will all get the bargain item or service you wanted. If enough people aren’t found then the deal isn’t made and nobody loses anything!

So what kind of offers do these sites have? They cover a huge range: cheap spa days, restaurant offers, adventurous days out, hair styling, skiing lessons and much much more. They’re great offers for dates, days out, gifts or just a treat for yourself. How can you find out what’s on offer? The sites all offer a daily email to keep you informed on the latest offers for your area, or you can sign up for their text messages, Facebook pages or Twitter feeds to be updated that way if you prefer.

The UK has a very extensive rail network and it’s often overlooked in our love for our motor cars. But you may find that letting the train take the strain from your journey is often not only quicker but can even be cheaper than using the car.

Here are our favourite tips for saving money on rail fares:

Plan ahead

You can get your best fare deals by booking weeks in advance. Even booking the night before you need to travel can save you a considerable amount over buying the ticket when you arrive at the station.

Get a railcard

If you spend over £80 a year on rail fares it would be worth checking out the options for buying a railcard. They cost £18-£26 depending on the particular card and can save you 1/3 on fare prices. Read about the various types at Railcard.co.uk and order one online or at your local station.

Use the web wisely

By far the largest savings can come from investigating prices online. It may take a little work but the savings can be huge:

• Megatrain.com and Virgintrains.co.uk have amazing offers on some routes, as low as £1 for a single!
• TheTrainline.com and Raileasy.co.uk let you easily compare prices for travelling at different days and times to find the lowest prices for your chosen route.
• Nationalrail.co.uk lists special offers by train company so you can easily hunt for bargain fares for the rail operators where you live or where you’re planning a visit to.

Don’t always buy a return

If you’re using the websites listed above, it’s worth checking to see if it would be cheaper to buy 2 single tickets rather than a return ticket. It seems contradictory, but you will sometimes find special prices are available 1 way that makes it much cheaper to buy singles.

Take advantage of a range of enhanced guest benefits to make your stay even more special. The Disney Dining Plan offers great value to families and the Disney Magical Express service takes the stress out of travelling with free round-trip airport transfers and baggage delivery for guests at selected hotels.

Many of the resort’s hotels have free monorail access to the Parks, which makes it easy to get back to your room or the pool after a busy day walking round the attractions. And of course, staying onsite guarantees that you’re in the heart of the action 24 hours a day!

Disney Value Resort Hotels

Disney Value Resort Hotels are big on fun and small on price, most suited to families and budget conscious visitors.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

Disney’s All-Star Music Resort

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

Click here to browse Disney Value Resort Hotels and book online.

Disney Moderate Resort Hotels

Disney Moderate Resort Hotels are great for families and couples looking for a ‘middle of the road choice’. Moderate rooms offer more space as well as a wider range of dining and recreation options.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Reverside & French Quarter

The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

Click here to browse Disney Moderate Resort Hotels and book online.

Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels

For those looking for something extra special, Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels offer the highest levels of quality, service and guest amenities. Services include supervised kids clubs and concierge services.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts

Disney’s Broadwalk Inn

Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Click here to browse Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels and book online.

Disney Deluxe Villa Resort Hotels

Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts are ideal for families and large groups. Villas include fully-equipped kitchen facilities and daily housekeeping, with swimming pools and other Park amenities close by.

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village

Disney’s Old Key West Resort

Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort

The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Disney’s Beach Club Villas

Disney’s Broadwalk Villas

Click here to browse Disney Deluxe Villa Resort Hotels and book online.

Walt Disney Resort Area Hotels & Good Neighbour Hotels

The award-winning Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels are the ultimate in luxury. After a day in the Parks, unwind in the Mandara spa, dine in style at one of the 17 restaurants, and then enjoy a blissful night’s sleep in your Heavenly Bed®.

Walt Disney Travel Company also offers accommodation offsite at non-Disney hotels and villas.

Champion World Resort (Kissimee Area) from only £23 prpn, Comfort Inn (Lake Buena Vista Area) from only £33 prpn, Holiday Inn & Suites (International Drive Area) from only £42 prpn, Quality Suites (Lake Buena Vista Area) from only £50 prpn, Staybridge Suites (International Drive & Lake Buena Vista Area) from only £62 prpn, Embassy Suites (International Drive Area) from only £86 prpn.

Villa Properties

Holiday Villas (Kissimmee Area) from only £49 per 2-bed villa per night, Sheraton Vistana (Lake Buena Vista Area) from only £75 per 1 bed villa per night. Don’t miss out – book your tickets today!

Related Links

Special Offers at Disney
Activities at Disney World Resort in Florida
Booking Your Disney Holiday

Special Offers at Disney World Resort

Thinking of booking your dream holiday at Walt Disney World Resort Florida, but worried about the cost? Check out the latest fantastic money-saving offers and book online today!

FREE Disney Dining Offer, Plus Huge Savings on Selected Resorts

Enjoy FREE Disney dining for everyone in your family, saving you up to £1500. Book for a minimum of 5 nights including tickets, and everyone in the party dines for free for your whole holiday!

You can also save almost HALF of the price of your accommodation when you stay at some Deluxe Villa Resorts.

Unbelievably these offers and more can be combined with the fantastic 14 nights for the price of 7 Ultimate Ticket offer.

Visit the official Disney World offers page for full details of these and other amazing money saving deals.

Related Links

Activities at Disney World Resort in Florida
Staying at Walt Disney Resort Hotels
Booking Your Disney Holiday