From where you choose to eat through to what you order, the choices you make will inform how much you spend. So if you want to spend less, go to somewhere that’s not just good food but good value.

We’ve got a choice of four Thai restaurants where I live. Luckily all are very good. One is ridiculously expensive two are mid-range and one is really cheap For me it’s the last one that wins every time, and my tastebuds don’t really notice the difference.

The same goes for wine. Don’t forget that the bottle with the biggest markup is usually the second one on the list, while the house wine tends to be good value even if it is the cheapest.

And make sure you look at the whole menu. It won’t necessarily be listed in price order, and the bigger the menu the harder it might be to find those cheaper dishes.

Be upfront about how the bill will be split

If your finances are tight there’s absolutely nothing wrong with telling your mates that you can’t split the bill evenly.

It’s actually one of my bugbears. There’s always someone who orders the most expensive items and drinks more than everyone else – and they tend to be the person who says lets just split it!

I’m not saying get the calculator out every time – use your judgement. For instance if there’s just two of you and you regularly eat out together, it’s easier for things to work themselves out.

But when you are deliberately ordering cheaper items

“but to do this they’ve spent far more than they normally would” – in other words more of taxpayers money going to the well off when it should be being spent on those using food banks.

And if restaurants are going to continue offering the 50% discount it just shows what a rip off they really are and that this money really is going to the wrong place.