Happy Monday {{ first name | Cheapskater }},

Welcome to our penultimate edition of 2025! We’d love to spotlight some good causes our readers can support this festive season. If you or someone you know does any work with a London-based charity, or if you think a particular local cause deserves a shout-out, let us know here! We’ll feature a selection of responses in next week’s newsletter.

In other news, congrats to last week’s competition winners: Cheapskate Club member Jude V, who won tickets to a jazzy concert at King’s Place, and to Anna W, Jun P and George L, who collectively won £150 EatClub credit. I’m particularly excited about this week’s free-to-enter prize draw because visiting Machu Picchu last summer was one of the most special experiences of my life – scroll down to learn more.

I hope you love reading this week’s newsletter!

Clementine x

PS: If you’re able to do so, please join the Cheapskate Club this Christmas. You’ll help us keep doing what we’re doing: enabling everyone to make the most out of living in London, no matter their financial situation 🧡

Want to experience Incan ruins without flying all the way to South America? Machu Picchu: Journey to the Lost City might be the answer.

This touring virtual reality experience (located at Shepherd's Bush Green) uses cinematic storytelling & cutting-edge technology to tell a fantastical tale set in the heart of the Peruvian Andes.

We’re offering two readers a pair of tickets each to this groundbreaking VR adventure. To be in with a chance of winning, get someone you know to subscribe to Cheapskate by sending them this link (it contains your personalised referral code): {{rp_refer_url}}. Once they’ve signed up, you’ll be entered into a draw, & we’ll pick a winner at random.

The second winner will be chosen from the Cheapskate Club, our amazing community of supporters who literally help this newsletter survive. Join them today!

And for dessert...

🍽️ Love eating out but not the price tag? The EatClub app gives you instant discounts on food & drink at great London restaurants. It’s totally seamless – redeem an offer, enjoy your discounted meal, then tap-to-pay with your EatClub digital card (no awkward voucher chats with staff!). Get £20 off your first visit with the code CHEAPSKATE20 – basically a free meal. Download the app here.

🧡 Want to support Cheapskate without spending a single penny? Click on links scattered throughout the newsletter like this one – we’ll be so grateful!

🚆 Train travel is so expensive, but I’ve found a site that’s usually a little cheaper: TrainPal, which helps you snag discounted fares & split-ticket savings without any faff. You can get money off your first booking too, if you download the app here, then use this invite code: 0769f4ed$00. - Kate

✍️ We love hearing about events our readers are running, like this free writing workshop which explores how objects can reflect & distort our inner lives. It’s this Sat at Book 28, a queer library in Southwark.

💷 I’ve just found a secret section of Amazon with absurdly low prices, like these cute ornaments for under a pound – it’s the perfect place for Secret Santa inspo! If you buy anything at all from Amazon this Christmas, please use our affiliate link to help us make some £££ 💙 - Clementine

🦒 A little rec: I hadn’t been to London Zoo since I was a child until I took my 10-month-old last week & it was genuinely lovely – fabulously festive & a really nice way to spend a couple of hours outdoors. If cost is a barrier, the zoo has a Community Access Scheme offering reduced tickets for eligible visitors. - Kate

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We try to only include accurate information, but sometimes things can change. Everything included in the newsletter is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time the newsletter is sent out. Sometimes we make money from ads and the links we include (like this one!) but we only recommend things we genuinely like. You can also support us by joining the Cheapskate Club as a monthly or annual member.

Sign up for Cheapskate Kids, our spin-off newsletter featuring free, family-friendly events across London, here 👧