1. Go early. Early in the week and early in the evening restaurants are typically slower and often run specials. At one point we joked that Monday is the new date night because of all of the offers near where E used to live in Fulham. Along the same lines, many restaurants don’t accept vouchers on Fridays and Saturdays. And that leads me to…

2. Look for vouchers. An obvious suggestion, coming from me, but one that is often forgotten. There are a few ways to do this: first, look through the heaps and heaps of restaurant vouchers on sites like VoucherHub.com; second, go directly to a restaurant’s website to find out what promotions they are running; third, sign up for localised group discount sites like Groupola, Groupon and MyCityDeal. Now repeat after me: “Never make a purchase without checking for a voucher”!

3. BYOB. There is the most amazing kebab shop in Notting Hill where I used to live called Fez Mangal. E and I went there way to often because they had just the absolute best chicken shish and lamb beyti. They didn’t serve alcohol and we could pick up a cheap bottle of red from the shop next door and do dinner for under £20, usually with leftovers for lunch.

4. Be loyal. Sign up for a restaurant’s loyalty scheme, facebook fan page and twitter. You’ll always be the first to know about promotions. The Geronimo Club is one of my favourites – I like their pubs and every month they send an email full of lovely offers for discounts on dining and free drinks, plus pub events.

5. Get a card. If you live in London, for a small upfront investment you can get a Taste London or a View card which will give you 50% discounts at restaurants all over town. At the moment, Taste London is £65.95 (but check around for a 20% off voucher!) and a View card will run you £25.95.

6. Read this blog! I write about restaurant deals I’ve tried or heard about from time to time in the Mummy Daddy Date Night posts.

UK Office Direct
10% off your first order
Code: CAT10
Expires 31^st December 2010

B&Q
15% off everything
Printable voucher
Expires 30^th January 2010

Crave Maternity
10% off
Code: NEWMUM
Expires 28^th February 2010

Cheeky Wipes
£5 off Cheeky Wipes kit
Code: recommend

Mothercare
10% off
Code: AF9
Expires 29^th May 2010

The Hut
Extra 10% off toys
Code: TOY10
Expires 31^st 2010

Firetrap
10% off Spring Summer 2010 Collection
Code: NEWJAN10
Expires 31^st January 2010

Woolworths
£5 off
Code: ZQ311
Expires 31st January 2010

New-Look
£10 off
Code: LOVE50
Expires 28th January 2010

Thorntons
20% off Orders Over £25 at Thorntons
Code: VCVI
Expires 24^th January 2010

Wallis
10% off and free delivery
Code: WLEVF
Expires 26^th January 2010

Elemis
15% off first orders
Code: AFF1001
Expires 31^st January 2010

Homebase
15% off
Code: FURN15
Expires 28^th January

T.M.Lewin
£10 discount on basket values of £100 or more
Code: AFLSLE

Additions Direct
15% discount off everything
Code: xx585

Kaleidoscope
New customers enter the code at the checkout to get 10% off all purchases.
Code: PP2P
Expires Sun 31 Jan 10

Oli.co.uk
10% off and free delivery for first time Oli.co.uk customers.
Code: RHTP
Expires Mon 08 Feb 10

Kodak Shop UK
15% off Digital Cameras
Code: Kodak15
Expires Sun 31st Jan 10

DK Travel
Download Your Own Free Bespoke Travel Guide
Code: Free

Very.co.uk
30£ off on when spent over 60£ for the first time on very.co.uk
Code: ZG103

Oasis
10% off
Code: VCCOUK0110
Expires Sun 17th Jan 10

Strawberry fool
Discount: 10%
Code: TEN25
Expires 31 January

Yellow Moon
Discount: £10 off and free delivery
Code number: M10JAN
Expires 1 February

The Baby Catalogue
10% off
Code:  I-MVC01
Expires Sun 31th Jan 10

Funmum.com Maternity
Free Delivery and Returns
Code: FMMVC3101
Expires Sun 31th Jan 10

Tumble Tots
15% off Books, Games and Puzzles
Code: 2010jansale
Expires Sun 31th Jan 10

Boden
10% off plus free postage and returns
Code: LN3P
Expires: Sun 28th Feb 10

La Redoute
£10 off first order when you spend £20 or more
Code: 3339
Expires: Wed 31st Mar 10

Barratts
10% off all orders
Code: WINTERDISCBSB
Expires: Sun 31st Jan 10

TM Lewin
£10 off when you spend £100 or more
Code: AFLSLE
Expires: Sun 28th Feb 10

Pet Supermarket
10% off
Code: sale010
Expires Sun 31 Jan 10

Simply Piste
£5 off when you spend over £50
Code: JAN50
Expires Sun 31 Jan 10

Totally Funky
10% off for orders over £25
Code: TEN25
Expires Sun 31 Jan 10

Laskys
10% off all Sony Readers
Code: 10READER
Expires Wed 20 Jan 10

Littlewoods
£15 off when you spend £25 or more on your first order
Code: ZG127
Expires Tue 02 Feb 10

Since that time, using voucher codes has become more and more popular–but there is still some education to be had! In honour of the new year, I’ve collected all of my best voucher code-finding tips in one post.

1. Check the voucher websites. There are loads and loads out there. To find a list of the ones I like, just check one of my weekly voucher roundups. I’m particularly fond of VoucherHub.com because it’s based on voucher-sharing (anyone can submit a code) and user feedback makes finding useable codes easy.

2. Get on Twitter and Facebook. So many merchants are now giving exclusive codes away to Twitter followers and Facebook fans. Emma Bridgewater, for example, sometimes tweets 1-day only voucher codes.

3. Sign up for email alerts and newsletters. Get the most current voucher codes (and sales updates) directly from retailers by getting on their email lists. Lots of the voucher websites have newsletters too.

4. Check the retailer’s website. Argos, for example, lists current codes on its site for any clever shopper to find. You might have to dig around on the site map to find the right page, but lots of stores do this. You can also just call customer service and ask if there are any current codes.

5. If all else fails, Google. Search for the name of the store and the words voucher code. You’ll have tonnes of results, which makes the process a bit slow–so I do this last and when I’m desperate!

Now get out there and save some money!

Karen Millen
10% off
Code: vc1209
Expires Sun 20th Dec 09

Benefit Cosmetics
Free Delivery
Code: DEILVFRE
Expires Thu 24th Dec 09

Argos
Save 20% on Christmas Trees, Lights and Decorations
Code: XMAS20

Topshop
£5 off order
Code: TSFIRST15

Oasis
22% off
Code: 20vc09
Expires: 22/12/09

My Mini Monsters
20% off
Code: PREGNANT20
Expires Sun 31st Jan 10

Lloyds Pharmacy
20% off
Code: ADC33
End Date: 19/12/2009

Leekes
10% off
Code: 10XMAS 09
Expires 21/12/09

Warehouse
Discount of 15%
Code: REVOLUTION

Figleaves
15% off
Code: figvcuk2
Expires Sun 20th Dec 09

Kodak Gallery
25% OFF Personalised Cover Photo Book
Code: UKHS7-PCPB
End Date: 13/12/2009

Littlewoods
15% off anything
Code: xx587

National Express
10% discount
Code: COUNTEN

Dorothy Perkins
Exclusive 25% off all orders over £50 at
Code: DPVOUCHA
Expires Mon 21st Dec 09

The Body Shop
Exclusive 20% off and Free Delivery
Code: VCXMAS20
Expires Tue 22nd Dec 09

Baby Curls
10% off
Code: XMAS
End Date: 31/12/2009

The rule to live by is ‘Never make a purchase without checking for a voucher’!

These are the best of the week (in my view!) from VoucherHub.com, MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, VoucherCodes.co.uk, Savoo.co.uk, NetVoucherCodes.co.uk, EveryDaySale.co.uk, MoneySupermarket.co.uk and VoucherCodes.com.

Lonely Planet Shop
20% off Titles
Code: LPFAF20
Expires: 17/12/09

Red Funnel Ferries
15% discount
Voucher code: ss999

Myla
10% Off
Voucher code: Every100
Expires: 22/12/09

Leona Lewis Tickets at Viagogo
10% off
Voucher code: LEONA10
Expires: 25/12/09

Monsoon
25% off women’s wear
Printable voucher: http://www.monsoon.co.uk/page/mon25
Expires: 7/ 12/2009

Seraphine
10% off
Voucher code: AFF2009

Yoodoo.com
15% off all personalised cards
Voucher code: YDXMAS12
Expires: 31/12/09

Tesco
£10 off all orders over £50
Voucher code: XXPD96
Expires: 31/12/09

Laura Ashley
25% off all Home and Gift Orders
Voucher code: 19AG
Expires: 9/12/09

Crave Maternity
15% off
Code: CRAVEXMAS
Expires: 20/12/09

Kurt Geiger
10% off
Voucher code: KGMVCTREAT09
Expires: 6/ 12/2009

Peacocks
20% off Peacocks
Voucher code: NOV20OFF
Expires: 12/12/2009

Duo Boots
£10 off your order
Voucher code: MVC2
Expires: 18/12/09

ASOS
£10 off a minimum spend of £75.
Voucher code: STEALLATER

Littlewoods
15% off orders £50 and above with Code.
Voucher code: XX889
Expires: 23/12/09

lowcostholidays.com
£20 off all Flight and Accommodation Orders
Voucher code: VCLCHX1
Expires: 31/12/09

Pure Footwear
10% Off All Orders Plus Free Delivery
Voucher code: DY79
Expires: 31/01/2010

JoJo Maman Bebe
10% Discount
Voucher code: WGA92

Mini Barratts
20% Discount
Voucher code: AMAZINGM
Expires: 13/12/09

Evans
10% off all orders over £50
Voucher code: EVEDS129
Expires: 6/12/09

Ocado
Save £15 off Your First Shop over £60
Voucher code: VOU4827397

Gap
30% off
Printable voucher: download here
Expires: 29/11/09

Figleaves.com
10% off
Voucher code: figvcuk1

Elemis
15% off and free deliver
Voucher code: VCUKNOV

Kiddicare
Free delivery on orders over £29.99
Voucher code: 3mur5kid

Dream Books
10% off
Voucher code: 2222

Sainsbury’s
£15 off all nursery goods orders over £175
Voucher code: EJYX-SZC3-CD83
Expires: 27/11/2009

Ocado
15% off orders over £60
Voucher code: VOU3532528
Expires: 30/11/2009

Pizza Express (At your local retailer)
50p off Pizza Express Pizzas
Printable voucher: download here
Expires: 07/12/2009

Littlewoods
£15 Off and Free Delivery on Orders of £25 or More for New Customers
Voucher code: ZG134

Early Learning Centre
20% off
Voucher code: BC1009

Argos
20% off all Christmas lights & decorations
Voucher Code: XMAS20
Expires: 24/12/09

mama-la-mode
Free delivery
Voucher code:  MLMFRDL

Mothercare
10% off when you spend £120 or more
Voucher code: AF9
Expires: 31/12/19

Big Red Toy Warehouse
15% off toy website
Voucher Code: BIGRED15
Expires: 11/30/09

The great thing about VoucherHub.com is that it is community-driven. Nearly all of the vouchers on the site are contributed by shoppers, who can then vote and comment on their reliability. The most popular vouchers–as voted by users–end up on the front page of the site, in the Hot Vouchers Newsletters and, ahem, on that widget on the lower right hand side of my blog.

If you haven’t bookmarked VoucherHub.com yet, I highly recommend you go do it now!

Dominos.co.uk
20% off orders over £20
Voucher code: BCZ8LJJJ

Baby Sense
Free Shipping on Orders Over £15
Voucher code: BSPP02
Expires: 26/11/09

Oasis
20% off
Voucher code: 2009winter
Expires: 23/11/09

Bowbelle
10% off
Voucher code: PCNTR03

American Apparel
30% off Socks and Hosiery Orders
Voucher code: SOCKDEAL
Expires: 25/11/09

USC
£15 off orders over £100
Voucher code: USC100
Expires: 31/12/09

Naturally Close
Save 20% on Gok Wan Shapewear
Code: CHAJ6
Expires: 30/11/09

Prezzy Box
Exclusive 10% off all Orders
Voucher code: VCCOUK

Blue Inc
10% off
Voucher code: vouchernetwork

Mini Barratts
20% off
Voucher code: AMAZINGM

Figleaves.com
Exclusive 10% off the Figleaves Range
Voucher code: figvcuk1
Expires: 29/11/09

Pet Supermarket
10% off
Voucher code: petsupermarket110
Expires: 01/12/09

Nike
20% off clearance items
Voucher code: EXTRA

Flowers by Florists
10% off Christmas Orders
Voucher code: XMAS10
Expires: 31/1/10

Feminine Plus
10% off any basket above £25
Voucher code: myvoucherfp10
Expires: 30/11/09

Tesco.com
Save £10 when you spend £100 or more on the Baby and Toddler
Code: TDX-TDAW

Borders.com
25% off
Voucher code: 25%offbooks
Expires: 19/11/09

MarksandSpencer.com
Free Delivery
Voucher code: MVCFDELV
Expires: 19/11/09

Superdrug
10% off Orders
Voucher Code: abbey100809
Expires Wed 18th Nov 09

Argos
20% on Christmas Trees, Lights & Decorations
Voucher Code: XMAS20
Expires Thu 24th Dec 09

Boden
12% off Orders plus Free Delivery and Returns
Voucher Code: LN1Q
Expires Thu 10th Dec 09

Marks and Spencer
10% off Women’s Knitwear Orders
Voucher Code: WWKNIT10
Expires Sat 14th Nov 09

Wallis
20% off your Order
Voucher Code: WOMAN
Expires 14/11/09

Nike Store
Free Delivery on All Orders
Voucher Code: GIFT
Expires 20/12/09

Lowcostholidays.com
£20 off all bookings
Voucher Code: VCLCHX1
Expires 31/12/09

Ann Summers
10% off orders over £50
Voucher Code: VCODES
Expires 13/11/09

Topshop
10% off all orders
Voucher Code: TSBOOK10

Early Learning Centre
20% off any items not already on offer
Voucher Code: BC1009

Cotton Traders
Free rain jacket with orders over £30
Voucher Code: DX4R

Firebox.com
£5 off
Voucher Code: IPSOS-5

Treeblocks.co.uk
5% off
Voucher Code: V-HUB

Fragrance Zone
Save 6% off all orders
Voucher Code: mvc6
Expires 31st Dec 09

Dorothy Perkins
Save 25% off all orders
Voucher Code: DPVIPE
Expires 15th Nov 09

Debenhams
10% off Cosmetics, Furniture and Small Electricals Orders
Voucher Code: PNXP
Expires Fri 13th Nov 09

LittleWoods
£20 Off Your First Order when you Spend £40
Voucher Code: ZG333
Expires 15th Nov 09

Balatan Spa
30% off all products
Voucher Code: CUSBAL

Lloyds Pharmacy
10% off Christmas Gifts
Voucher Code: CD22
Expires 20th Dec 09