Maisie Wilson, a 21-year-old economics apprentice earning £33,000 a year in London, has shared her arsenal of money-saving tricks that allow her to dine out and enjoy drinks without ever paying full price. Originally from Newton Abbot, Devon, Wilson has mastered the art of frugal living in one of the world's most expensive cities, using apps like Eat Club, Tesco Clubcard points, and mailing list sign-ups to cut costs.
How she saves on dining out
Wilson discovered Eat Club, an app offering 50% off at restaurants across the UK, and was astonished that such deals were legitimate. "No one was talking about these apps, and I couldn't believe they were legit," she said. To use it, users download the app, select a restaurant, redeem the offer for walk-ins only, and pay via the Eat Club card in their digital wallet, with the discount applied automatically. She also uses similar apps like The Fork and First Table. Wilson earns an extra £20 per referral by inviting friends to Eat Club, which she does to further reduce her bill. She uses these discounts about twice a month, often when friends visit or on solo outings.
Another strategy is signing up for mailing lists from chains like Pizza Express and Bella Italia. "They often have really good deals on there that aren't advertised on the menu," Wilson noted. She recently enjoyed bottomless pasta for £15 and has seen buy-one-get-one-for-£1 offers. She recommends creating a separate email account for mailing lists to avoid inbox clutter.
Tesco Clubcard points triple value
Wilson maximizes her Tesco Clubcard points by converting vouchers into restaurant reward codes through the Tesco app, tripling their value. For instance, a £2.50 voucher becomes £7.50 at participating restaurants. "Every few months I have enough points for money towards a meal out," she said. "If you've got 15 quid, you can use that for £45 in Bella Italia, rather than £15 in Tesco."
Pubs and coffee savings
For pub outings, Wilson uses Greene King's 20% off student discount, which can be reused every hour, allowing friends to take turns buying rounds. She also relies on the Dusk app, which offers free drinks at select bars and pubs. "It's great because for me, going into one pub is no different to going into another, but for the pubs it's so beneficial as it gets them extra customers," she said. When craving coffee, the Paace app provides discounts based on step count, with no extreme activity required, and also offers restaurant discounts.
Breaking the taboo of frugal living
Wilson, who shares her finds on TikTok @maisiewilsonn_, believes that living frugally should not be stigmatized, especially during a cost-of-living crisis. "So many grads and apprentices are living in London on salaries that aren't really fit for London," she said. "Lots of people are cutting out little luxuries and cancelling subscriptions, and not going out as much, and there's still so much pressure for us to save for the future. I started looking into ways I could have the lifestyle I want, on my salary, and make little luxuries more affordable. I think this has been a bit taboo in the past; things like couponing are a bit seen as a bit cheap. But we're living in a cost-of-living crisis, and these tips are really useful."
