The top secret discounts for couples

Emma Roberts reveals how you can treat yourself and your other half to a delightfully discounted date.

Being in a relationship can have its perks but sometimes it’s just too easy to fall into a relationship rut. After all, who has the money to go out and do fun stuff with your partner these days?

Well, the truth is everyone can afford to spice up their love life a little bit, so don’t let your relationship turn stale - check out these secret discounts for couples.

Cheap eats

A romantic, delicious meal in a beautiful restaurant might strike fear into the hearts of some frugal readers, but dining out doesn’t have to be expensive.

There are lots of vouchers for chain restaurants available if you sign up to their websites but if you want to woo your partner with an exquisite dining experience, look no further than toptable.

They have great deals on meals, with some dinners costing under £25 and even have money saving offers for Michelin-star restaurants.

If you have a smart-phone, you should download the Voucher Cloud app, which gives you access to thousands of vouchers at your fingertips. The website also has lots of useful printable vouchers, if you can’t download the app.

Don't forget to also check out our weekly Frugal Food blog which highlights the best restaurant deals.

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But you don’t always have to leave your house for a fine-dining experience. If your chef skills go as far as beans a la toast, then why not get someone else to do the cooking?

This doesn’t mean you should force your partner to slave away at the stove but check out swap a skill to see if there are any chefs willing to cook for you.

Of course you’d have to offer a skill in return for the gourmet grub but it’s a completely free and fun way of having a romantic dinner.

Evening entertainment

If you know more about Phil Mitchell’s life than your own family members', then you officially need to get out more.

Venturing out of your house on an evening can seem like a lot of unnecessary, expensive hassle, especially when your comfy sofa beckons. But going out is great fun and dead cheap if you know where to look.

A great way to get any date-night started is to experiment with a few delicious cocktails. Many cocktail bars have happy-hours where you can get 2-4-1 cocktails, meaning twice the fun and half the price. Check out Qype to search for which bars have offers on in your area (change the town in the drop down box to suit your requirements).

Theatre fanatics will be pleased to know that you can get hold of tickets to top shows for great prices.

Theatremonkey should be your first port of call, as it has a database of all the current deals and discounts for theatre shows. Showpairs.com feature loads of fabulous 2-4-1 theatre ticket deals and you could even treat your partner to a meal and show bundle for a great price.

Don’t forget, if you’re both under 26, you can see lots of plays completely free of charge. Check out a night less than ordinary for more details.

If you and your partner are more partial to the big screen than the stage, then check out See film first and you can get a free trip to the cinema.

Of course, don’t forget there’s also Orange Wednesdays which gives you 2-4-1 on cinema tickets.

Days out

The only thing that beats a top day out with your partner, is if it’s a free day out. If you’re a Londoner, why not go and see a free live music concert at the National Theatre? If you live outside London, you can still be treated to live music for free - just visit allgigs.co.uk for participating venues in your area.

Wherever you are, there’s bound to be something exciting going on in your community. Most communities have festivals, markets and free events, so have a look at the Where Can We Go website to see what’s going on in your area.

If the thought of traipsing around your local farmer’s market looking at various jams and spreads sends you to sleep, then why not try a more adrenaline fuelled day? You can a get a 2-4-1 entry voucher into the Camelot Theme Park with this voucher from vouchercodes.co.uk.

Just be aware that throughout the summer holidays, the queues for rides are ridiculous, so it’s probably best if you go in September when the kids are safely locked away in school.

If you’re planning a trip to London by train, then be sure not to miss your chance to get your hands on 2-4-1 vouchers for a number of top attractions, including Madame Tussauds and The London Dungeons. All you have to do is print a voucher off from days out guide and present your train ticket along with your voucher when you get there.

Something different

Why not try something completely different to inject a spark back into your relationship? There are loads of exciting experience days that you can try along with your partner that won’t break the bank.

If you’re always arguing with your partner about who’s better behind the wheel, then putit to the test with a go karting experience day for two, which is currently on offer at lastminute.com costing just £49.

Ever wondered how Nibbles your hamster feels when he runs around aimlessly in his hamster ball? Well, why not find out with a Zorbing experience for two for £50? Or if you fancy a more sophisticated, yet equally memorable experience with your partner, check out this vineyard tour, tasting and lunch for two offer, which costs £45.

So the truth is, if you’re in a relationship there really is no excuse for staying in, so get out and try some of these great deals for couples!

This is a classic article that has been updated for 2011.

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