EATING out with friends and family is always a real treat, but soaring costs can leave a lump in your throat when the bill arrives.

This week, Mel Hunter reveals how to take a bite out of your bill and save money on dining out . . . 

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FAMILIES

EATING out with children is an expensive business unless you know where to find the best deals.

The average cost of a family meal out is around £90, according to Greene King ­— but with some discounts you can treat the family for less than half that.

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Ricky Willis, founder of the money-saving community skintdad.co.uk, says: “There are lots of offers out there, even outside the school holidays, and there are plenty of ways to get more for your money.”

Here, we round up the best.

Tesco shoppers can swap Clubcard points for double their value at Pizza Express, ASK Italian, Prezzo and Zizzi.

Sign up to newsletters and apps to get discounts.

For example, Brewers Fayre gives 25 per cent off your food bill when you join.

With Pizza Express Club, get free doughballs worth about £5.95 on a first visit and collect stamps to get free food on future visits.

Wagamama fans can get a free portion of edamame beans worth around £4.90 when you first sign up and spend over £12.

At Bella Italia, children eat for £1 from 4pm-6pm Sunday to Wednesday and for free Thursday.

Children eat free at Dobbies Garden Centres and for £1 at Hungry Horse pubs every Monday.

Get a free kids’ meal for every £10 spent by an adult at Real Greek restaurants on Sundays.

With TGI Friday’s app Stripes Rewards, children under 12 eat free all day every day when you buy a full price adult meal.

BEST: Dine out as a family for under £15 at a Sizzling Pub on weekdays from 3pm to 7pm. Families of four can enjoy two adult main meals for less than £12 and two kids’ mains for £1 each.

COUPLES

IF you’re heading out for a date night or meeting up with a friend, there are ways to save cash.

Aim for a Monday to Thursday night, as this is when you can gobble up the best offers.

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It is when restaurants run two-for-one deals, which rarely apply at weekends.

A Tastecard is a great source of meal deals. It can cost £7.99 a month, but look out for a free trial.

Myvouchercodes.co.uk is currently offering 60 per cent off annual membership, taking it down from £79.99 to £29.99.

If you work in the civil service or public sector, or used to before retiring, a Boundless membership, from £40 a year, gets you a free Tastecard as part of its benefits.

Otherwise, look out for great value on set menus.

We’re impressed with Bill’s two-course meal for £17.50 each, Cote’s Prix Fixe deal for £17.95 and Bar+Block’s £13.95 menu which runs until 5pm.

To get a prime seat at a posh restaurant, look for deals at opentable.co.uk or squaremeal.co.uk, or maybe tuck into a cheap pre-theatre menu, usually served around 5-6pm.

If that’s a bit too early for you, book a date at a restaurant where you can take along your own booze.

With a bottle of house wine costing upward of £20 at many places, this could immediately cut your bill.

Find a list at wine-pages.com/business-directory and search locally as well.

BEST: Want to impress? The Ivy restaurants, with stylish branches throughout the UK, offer a set menu for under £20.

FRIENDS

THERE’S no need to dread splitting the bill if you choose what you eat and where you go wisely.

If you are going out for your birthday, you can bag yourself a freebie (and leave the others to split the bill) by signing up as a loyalty member at many restaurants.

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They will then reward you with a treat at around the time of your birthday.

This might be a free main meal or bottle of bubbly.

Look out for birthday freebies at Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Las Iguanas, Frankie & Benny’s and Pizza Express.

Even if it is not your big day, there are big ways to save with friends.

Yasmine Camilla, who posts about her journey to get out of debt on TikTok and Instagram (@yasminecamilla), says: “You need to get organised beforehand.

“Use WhatsApp to talk to the group and make sure everyone is signed up to get the same deal before you go out.

“That way, you won’t end up splitting the bill and paying for someone else’s more expensive meal.”

At Prezzo, you can get a code for a free bottle of Prosecco when you sign up for emails and spend at least £25.

At Hungry Horse pubs you can buy one burger at get another free on Fridays.

BEST: At Bill’s you can get a free birthday bottle of Prosecco worth around £29.50, if you sign up for the newsletter at least four weeks before your big day and meet the other terms and conditions.

UNIVERSAL CREDIT FIASCO

ALMOST 900,000 Universal Credit claims were closed before being paid in the last year.

That was the finding of a freedom of information request by Sun Money to the Department for Work and Pensions.

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Between July 2023 and June 2024, 896,000 claims were shut down without payment.

Having insufficient evidence was the main reason that claims were unsuccessful, with 92,000 such cases recorded.

This could include not having a valid UK passport, payslips dated within the last three months or your most recent P60.

These documents are important because the amount of Universal Credit you are entitled to depends on your individual circumstances.

And almost 64,000 cases were ended because the claimant failed the “habitual residence” test.

This can stop someone who has a right to enter the UK from claiming social benefits after they arrive.

Ayla Ozmen, at charity Z2K, said: “We know that people struggle to meet all of the requirements of the claims process, often because of a disability or because they have difficulty using computers.

“This can lead to people missing out on vital income.”

A DWP Spokesperson said: “We support millions of people every year through Universal Credit, and our priority is to make sure people get the support.”

OLIVIA MARSHALL

PENSION MISTAKE RULING

HUNDREDS of thousands of savers could be owed cash in the aftermath of a huge pension mix-up, Sun Money can reveal.

In July, the Court of Appeal upheld that telecom giant Virgin Media had not obtained a legal sign-off from an actuary, a type of financial expert, on changes it made to its company pension scheme several years ago.

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As a result, these changes were deemed invalid, and the court said they should be reversed.

Savers with reduced pension benefits owing to the changes would therefore be owed money.

We have now learned that between 1997 and 2016, many companies made changes to their pension schemes to save money on National Insurance contributions.

Insiders said a number of those firms did not get the required sign-off, like Virgin Media.

These insiders told us that hundreds of thousands of workers’ final-salary pensions could therefore be worth more than they thought.

But we believe these firms are calling on the DWP to remove the past sign-off requirement.

A DWP spokes-person said: “We have been closely following this case. We will consider the wider implications for both schemes and scheme members as we explore the implications of the judgment.”

A Virgin Media spokesman said: “Following the court decision, we are working to ensure the pension scheme is being administered correctly.”

ELLIE SMITHERMAN

2002 Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland – £60

In 2002, four different designs of this £2 coin were created to commemorate the Commonwealth games, but the Irish version is the rarest with only 485,500 minted.

We’ve seen this coin listed for as much as £60 on eBay in May with one bid.

There’s more money on the line if you’ve got the complete set though.

One seller proved this right when all four coins went for a whopping £100.

2002 Commonwealth Games England – £35

Another in the 2002 Commonwealth series, the English version is one of the rarest coins in circulation.

Some 650,500 were minted at the time, making the coin rare enough for eBay bidders to happily pay as much as £35 for it.

The edge of this coin also has the inscription “Spirit of Friendship, Manchester 2002″, which adds appeal to collectors too.

One recently went on the market on eBay for £27 with one bid.

2002 Commonwealth Games Wales – £27

With only 588,500 put into circulation, the 2002 Commonwealth Games Wales £2 coin celebrates Wales’ achievements in the event.

The piece features a figure in motion holding a banner, encircling the Welsh flag.

It is the fourth rarest in the Commonwealth set and the fourth rarest in the overall list.

We’ve seen one sell on eBay for £26.97 in May this year with 10 bids.

London 2012 Handover – £35

At the end of each Olympic Games, the next host city of the Games is celebrated with a flag handover ceremony.

In 2012 we gave the flag to Rio to take on the next tournament.

That event was immortalised on the design of a £2 coin, with just 845,000 released into circulation.

We saw one sell for £35 on eBay this month after 10 bids.

Olympic centenary – £37.95

Carrying on the sporting theme, the Olympic centenary £2 marked 100 years of the modern games in 2008.

There are 910,000 in circulation so finding one isn’t such a tough ask.

We’ve seen one version sell on eBay for £37.95 in February.

2002 Commonwealth Games Scotland – £24.97

Out of all of the valuable Commonwealth coins, Scotland’s is the sixth rarest out of all rare £2 coins.

It has a mintage of 771,750 – some 286,250 more than were released in the Irish version.

It features pretty much the same design as the other coins in the series but the Scottish flag is on the design instead.

Bidders on eBay have still paid higher than face value, we’ve seen one version sell on eBay for £24.97 in May.

Olympic handover – £9.99

Still in the top ten is the Olympic Handover coin.

This £2 details Beijing in 2008 handing over the Olympics to London in 2012, and shows the Olympic flag and two hands shaking.

One sold for precisely £9.99 in May on eBay with one bid.

There are 918,000 of these in circulation.

King James Bible – £23.95

Next on the list is a coin showing the King James Bible.

One was for £23.95 in May on eBay with one bid.

According to Change Checker, there are 975,000 in circulation.

Mary Rose – £19.50

A circulated £2 showing the famous Mary Rose ship sold on eBay for £19.50.

There are just over one million in circulation, and it lands ninth on Change Checker’s scarcity index.

2015 First World War (Navy) – £10.50

There were also 650,000 of the First World War Navy £2 coins minted in 2015.

The coin features a battleship design by military artist David Rowlands and the 5th portrait of the Queen.

It’s also the second in a five-coin series remembering the First World War and celebrates the efforts of the Royal Navy and their contribution to the war effort.

One sold on eBay in May for £10.50 with two bids.

Great Fire of London – £14.95

The Great Fire of London £2 coin was first put into circulation in 2016 to mark the 350th anniversary of the historic event.

The reverse side of the piece was designed by Aaron West, depicting the city of London burning.

The coin wasn’t always considered so rare, but it has since transpired its mintage figure was incorrectly published.

A recent auction on eBay saw the piece go for £14.95 with one bid.

HE is on a mission to help our pets  . . . and is here to answer YOUR questions.

Sean, who is the head vet at tailored pet food firm tails.com, has helped with owners’ queries for ten years.

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He says: “If your pet is acting funny or is under the weather, or you want to know about nutrition or exercise, just ask. I can help keep pets happy and healthy.”

Q) MY one-year-old Labrador Bob growls at big dogs when he’s on the lead.

He isn’t neutered yet and I’m wondering if that will help?

Once he’s off the lead he’s fine. What can I do?

Kay Edwards, Brighton, East Sussex

A) I always recommend getting a qualified animal behaviourist to advise on a case-by-case basis.

In general, aggressive displays like growling or barking on the lead are often due to fear or anxiety.

Feeling trapped without the ability to run from a strange dog, especially a bigger one might prompt Bob to communicate a “back off, I’m uncomfortable” message.

Secondly, we tend to see a change in behaviour and confidence levels around puberty particularly in male dogs.

The old advice was to neuter them if this is causing behavioural issues.

But new evidence shows that early neutering can actually worsen the behaviour if it’s due to fear or anxiety.

It’s complicated. A behaviourist is a great investment now.

Q) CAN I have your thoughts on a house rabbit?

Can they be toilet trained?

What are the essentials I’d need?

Sam Sherborne, Carlisle

A) Firstly, rabbits are a highly social species and need the company of their own kind so two is best.

Littermates of the same sex, or a mixed sex pair. Make sure they are neutered and spayed.

House rabbits can be as happy as outdoor rabbits with the right diet, and environmental enrichment.

They need to keep busy and have plenty of room to explore.

The house needs to be rabbit-proof as they will chew plants and cables.

And yes they can be litter trained easily and are clean house guests.

Q) MY cat Minky, 20, is reaching the end.

She’s eating, but is there a time to say goodbye?

What signs should I look for as I want to do the right thing?

Cath Brown, Leeds

A) It’s tricky to give advice without knowing Minky or doing a full health check.

Your own vet, who knows you and Minky, is the person to help you make the right decision.

It may be that Minky will have a good quality of life for the next two to three years.

Or maybe there are signs to watch for in the coming six months.

I always say it’s better to put an elderly animal to sleep peacefully a week too early than a day too late.

The aim is to prevent suffering and maintain a reasonable quality.

Eating is not always a sign of a good quality of life.

Sleeping lots, withdrawal from any interaction, odd vocalising, as well as signs of physical pain such as reduced mobility, toileting in new places or incontinence are all signs things are on the downturn.

My advice is a vet check and an honest discussion about your feelings, and come up with a plan together.

Q) I OFTEN walk my dog on Dartmoor and even though I use a supermarket-bought flea treatment Ed gets the odd tick.

Is there something I can do?

Pete Cox, Ashburton, Devon

A) Over the counter products from the supermarket or pet shop are often not as effective as those from your vet on prescription.

There’s some evidence that fleas are becoming resistant to certain products.

Parasite control is best advised on a case-by-case basis according to your dog’s lifestyle and risk factors.

It may be advisable to switch to an oral tablet rather than spot-on liquid, in case Ed washes off the product.

Not only does this make the product less effective, it is really harmful to the environment and aquatic life.

Star of the week

LONELY dog Zara has been treated to a special photoshoot to help her find a forever home.

It took place at rescue shelter All Dogs Matter, where some of their older, bigger or less “photogenic” pooches are waiting for adoption.

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Gentle Zara, a four-year-old Staffie who was abandoned by her owner after having puppies, lapped up the lens, with images taken by Wex Photo Video.

Ira Moss, founder of All Dogs Matter, said: “This photoshoot has allowed us to show that with a little love and the right photo, all of our wonderful dogs can shine brightly.”

Paul Wareham at Wex added: “Much like a dating profile, pictures tell a thousand words, whether that’s with people or dogs.”

WIN: Pet feeder

WE have teamed up with PetSafe to give away two Smart Feed Automatic Pet Feeders – worth more than £200.

This nifty gadget can schedule, monitor, and adjust your pet’s feeding schedule remotely using the free app.

Alerts tell you when they’ve been fed and when food levels are low or its empty.

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Send an email headed FEEDER to sundaypets@ the-sun.co.uk by October 13.

See uk.petsafe.net.

T&Cs apply.

Howl to beat dog’s separation anxiety

OWNERS working from home are causing more dogs to have separation anxiety when left alone.

Jo Sellers, 54, from Guildford, Surrey, says she has seen a rise in pooches struggling to cope and urges owners to teach them to feel happy on their own.

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She says: “Dogs are social and love being with their humans, but there are times we need to go out, and knowing how your dog responds is important, as so many owners don’t even know their dog is in distress.

“They come home to find they’ve chewed furniture or heard from neighbours that they’ve been howling, whining or jumping around.

“If you’re seeing this with your dog, you can help by watching them on a camera and then slowly build up their time apart from you.”

It is estimated that more than 50 per cent of the 12.5million dogs in the UK suffer separation anxiety.

Now Jo, a certified separation anxiety pro behaviourist, has even created a Dog Separation Anxiety Awareness Day on September 30.

She added: “Many owners are unaware just how upset their dogs can be, so the wider we spread this message, the more dogs can be happier.”

See pippinpetsdogtraining.co.uk/separation-anxiety.

FOREIGN lagers have the biggest share of the beer market in UK pubs — accounting for 28 per cent of all pints sold.

Italian and Spanish tipples such as Moretti, Peroni, Estrella and San Miguel helped them to top the pile.

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Adding in classic and premium lagers (each on 20%) — including pilsners and those made in the UK — the brewing style made up 68 per cent of beer bought in pubs, bars and restaurants.

Lager’s market share rose 70 per cent year-on-year, with the value of Spanish pints up 22 per cent, Heineken’s Beer Report 2024 said.

Bitter, ale and stout — with classic and premium offerings combined — claimed 23 per cent of the market, while trendy craft beers took eight.

Heineken’s report put the current boom in world lager down to the 2020 launch of Spanish-themed Madri — despite it being brewed in Tadcaster, North Yorks.

It said: “Brands that evoke happy memories and holiday vibes were therefore set to do well.”

PARENTS are rushing to buy discounted £2 Disney books for kids at a major supermarket that make the perfect Christmas gift.

An eagle-eyed shopper had spotted the offer and shared the deal in a post on Facebook.

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The selection of books included many related to Disney’s most iconic films.

Included were stories about The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast.

Shoppers were quick to tag their friends on the post and express their desire to nab the deal.

One user said: “Reuben wants this.”

Another tagged two friends and said: “If you see this please grab it.”

One shopper even exclaimed: “Omg I need it!”

Another commenter noted, however, that a similar deal was also available at a rival supermarket.

They said: “Aldi had this one for 99p recently other similar stories too.”

The books are normally priced for £4 at Tesco but this offer reduced their price by half.

It should be noted that the discount is only available for those who are signed up to the supermarket’s Clubcard scheme.

The programme, which is free to sign up to, provides you access to discounts across Tesco stores.

It also allows you to collect points which you can later redeem for vouchers or discounts at other outlets.

THIS home on sale is ‘Definitely Maybe’ worth a viewing by an Oasis fan with £550,000 to spare – after the owner decked out his living room to mirror their iconic 1994 album cover.

From the outside, the three-bed semi listed by Purplebricks, appears like any other home lining the leafy east London street in Abbey Wood – but a peek inside reveals it’s a place a true fan could really Live Forever.

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It’s not just the Cigarettes and Alcohol on the wooden living room floor that give the game away, flamingos on the fireplace and an Epiphone guitar are also there in tribute.

A framed image of music hero Burt Bacharach leaning against the sofa and another of Man City legend Collin Bell by the fireplace add to the effect.

And, to top it off, a giant spinning globe hangs beside the mirror, to the right of the image as it appears on the Purplebricks listing.

Located in Zone 4, the property is not Half The World Away (about 0.4 miles) from Abbey Wood train station and the Elizabeth Line.

The home’s entrance hall connects to the through lounge and extended kitchen, a first floor bathroom with over-bath shower, two double bedrooms and a single bedroom.

At the rear there is a laid-to-lawn garden with patio and out-building with windows in its Wonderwalls – and She’s Electric with power and lighting so can be used as an office or gym.

Owner, Jonathan Leclerc-Strode, said: “Definitely Maybe is one of the all-time greats and certainly a game changer in my generation’s lifestyle.

“Oasis makes me think back to a simpler time, when you could spend lazy afternoons blasting indie rock without looking back in anger.

“A well-placed glass of wine and lo and behold, a striking similarity that left me speechless.”

A Purplebricks spokesperson said: “We love what the owner has done to their living room.

“The likeness to the Definitely Maybe album cover is uncanny.

“It is the perfect house for any Oasis fan.”