Best sites for going out on a discount

After a long month of festive fun, parties and treats, January can feel very quiet - especially when you're short of cash. But there's no need to sit miserably on the sofa with these sites at your disposal, which specialise variously in everything from discounted meals and discounted theatre tickets to money off facials, spa weekends or gig nights.

DINING DISCOUNTS

Tastecard.co.uk - A fantastic idea that offers owners of a Tastecard (£69.95 a year) 50% off the food bill, or 2 for 1 across all courses at over 4500 restaurants across the UK, making it perfect for large parties or romantic dinners out.

Tastecard.co.uk is offering GWG visitors a year's subscription to Tastecard for £49.95 instead of the usual £69.95. To sign up at a discount, just enter GWG2011.

Toptable.co.uk - Great for finding bargains on top restaurants that you've heard about but wouldn't usually be able to afford. But also a way of finding small places that you might not have heard of. Sign up to receive delicious deals of the week direct to your inbox.

CITY DISCOUNTS

Groupon.co.uk - Offers daily discounts on restaurants, spas, wellness, fitness and more across UK cities. Discounts can only be taken up if enough people buy into the offer.

Crowdity.co.uk - Runs on a similar premise to the above by offering restaurants, hotels, retailers, entertainment venues and other clients a guaranteed group of takers in return for a higher discount than other sites receive.

THEATRE DISCOUNTS

Londontheatredirect.com - Discounts on all the best London shows from musicals to plays to ballet, dance and opera, as well as package meal deals with your tickets.

Theatrefix.co.uk - A microsite of the Official London Theatre Guide. It offers discounted tickets to West End shows to 16-26 year-olds. It also provides basic advice to novices who might not know what to expect from a night out at the theatre in London.

GIG & CONCERT TICKETS

Lastminute.com - Get last minute tickets for festivals, gigs and concerts across a range of genres, spanning everything from alternative & indie and blues & jazz to dance & electronica and urban & rhythm and blues.

TimeOut.com - Information and discounts on the best live music in town, including gigs, festivals and concerts.

10 January 2010