McDonalds Money Savings Hacks
McDonalds Money Savings Hacks UK if McDonald’s is your top pick for fast food, we’ve gathered some money-saving tips for you – but remember to enjoy your meals responsibly.
Keep in mind that certain takeaway and delivery deals are exclusive to orders placed through the My McDonald’s app. So, if you’re ordering via Just Eat or Uber Eats, these discounts may not apply. 🍔📱
Get Short-Lived Discounts & Promotions Via the My McDonald’s App
Periodically, McDonald’s rolls out short-term promotions accessible through its app. These offers typically span about a week, although some may last only a day. Availability varies, ranging from being open to all customers, selected accounts, or exclusively for new app users. The app is free to download on both Apple and Android devices. Be sure to opt into My McDonald’s Rewards to start accumulating points, because points translate to free food. For every penny spent, you automatically earn one point. Upon reaching the first milestone of a £15 spend (equivalent to 1,500 points), you can redeem various items, including small fries, medium salad, regular McCafé drink, mini McFlurry, hash brown, or a regular drink. 📱🍟
McDonald’s Monday Offers
For both new and existing users of the My McDonald’s app, McDonald’s offers weekly promotions to help you save. Each Monday morning, a new deal becomes available in the My McDonald’s app, accessible on both Apple and Android devices. These offers are valid until 11:59 PM on the same day.
It’s essential to check the details of each offer or enable notifications, as some deals may only be applicable during specific hours, such as breakfast time. Please note that these promotions are exclusively available for in-store pickup when ordering through the app, with certain restaurants excluded.
Past offers have included enticing deals like six nuggets for 99p, £1.99 Double McMuffins, and a Quarter Pounder with Cheese for £1.49.
To redeem these offers, navigate to the ‘Rewards & Offers’ section within the app, select the desired promotion, place your order, and then proceed to your chosen McDonald’s restaurant for pickup. You can place your order at any time, and McDonald’s will start preparing it upon your arrival. It’s important to remember that only one promotion can be used per order, and they cannot be combined with other offers. 📱🍔
Excluded Restaurants
- Croydon
- Walworth Rd
- Birmingham Dale End
- Lincoln
- Ashton-Under-Lyne
- Lowestoft
- Tonbridge – High Street
- Rugby
- Birkenhead
- Falkirk
- Praed Street
- Llandudno
- Highway Shadwell
- Charlton
- Beccles
- Whitehall
- Croydon Valley Park
- Livingston 2
- Eastbourne 2
- Tunbridge Wells 2
- Croydon 3 Centrale
- West One Shopping Centre
- Wimbledon Centre Court
- Bracknell – The Keep
- Chelmsford 2 Riverside
- Greenhithe-The Railway Tavern
- Victoria Station
- Kings Cross – Ex Wendy’s
- Shaftesbury Avenue 2
- Manchester – Arndale Food Chain
- Waterloo Station
- Earlswood
- Asda Bournemouth
- Asda Swindon
- Asda Wallington
- Wandsworth
- Asda Slough
- Norwich – Chapelfields
- Paddington Station
- Westfield Stratford City
Discover McDonald’s Menu and Exciting Meal Options
McDonald’s offers a wide variety of delicious meals, catering to different tastes and dietary preferences. Whether you’re craving a burger or a lighter option, the McDonald’s Menu has something for everyone. If you’re looking for a great deal, the McDonald’s Wrap of the Day provides a rotating selection of wraps at a discounted price. For those following specific dietary needs, the McDonald’s Gluten-Free Menu offers safe and delicious options, while the McDonald’s Salad Menu features fresh and healthy choices. If you have a sweet tooth, don’t forget to try a refreshing McDonald’s Milkshake to complete your meal!
Earn Rewards and Enjoy a Better McDonald’s Experience
McDonald’s values customer feedback, and UK residents can take the McD Food for Thought Survey to share their opinions and earn exciting rewards. By participating, customers can enjoy exclusive benefits, which are detailed in the McDFoodForThoughts Survey Rewards section. Parents looking for a fun and balanced meal for their children can check out the McDonald’s Happy Meal, packed with kid-friendly options. If you ever have concerns or need assistance, the McDFoodForThoughts Customer Support and Complaints page provides all the necessary information to resolve your queries.
Eight Ongoing McDonald’s Hacks
Here are some ongoing tips and clever hacks to save at the fast-food giant. Keep in mind that prices may vary by location, with differences of up to 30p, so the exact savings may vary slightly. However, the principles remain the same. 🍔💰
£2.50 off a ‘McChicken Sandwich
You can save £2.50 by opting for a Mayo Chicken priced at £1.29 instead of the £3.79 McChicken Sandwich at McDonald’s. Both options serve the same purpose as a chicken burger. Here’s a comparison: 🍔💰
- McChicken Sandwich: £3.79
- Mayo Chicken: £1.29
Sure, while the Mayo Chicken may be slightly lighter – the one we tested weighed 25% less overall – it still offers the same ingredients as the McChicken Sandwich (chicken, lettuce, and mayo in a bun). Considering it’s £2.50 cheaper, it’s definitely worth a try! 🍔💰
Pay 50p, Get a Big Mac and Fries for £2.99 Every Time
At the top of most McDonald’s receipts, you’ll find a ‘Food for Thoughts’ code. By completing a quick survey online, you’ll receive a second code that can be exchanged in the restaurant for a £2.99 Big Mac and fries, which usually costs £5.48. The best part? You can use the receipt from this purchase to do the survey again, repeating the process as many times as you like.
If you’re only interested in a Big Mac, you can purchase the cheapest item on the menu to obtain your first ‘Food for Thoughts’ receipt code – a 50p sauce (BBQ, sweet chilli, or sour cream & chive) should suffice. After completing the survey, you can order the inexpensive meal. Keep in mind that you only have 60 days from receiving your receipt to complete the survey, so you can use this trick even if your ‘Food for Thoughts’ code has expired.
If you’re not a fan of Big Macs or are looking for something different, you can opt for six chicken McNuggets, Fillet-o-Fish, McChicken Sandwich, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, or a McPlant. You also have the option to replace the fries with a side salad if you prefer. 🍔🍟
Get FREE Extra Toppings
On the self-order screens or the McDonald’s app, you have the option to customise your burger for free by adding extra ketchup, mustard, onion, pickles, mayonnaise, and/or shredded lettuce. If any of these ingredients are already included in the burger, you’ll receive double the amount, or if they’re not typically part of the burger, they’ll be added for you.
Additionally, you can choose to add extra cheese for 20p or bacon for 50p to enhance your burger experience. 🍔🧀🥓
£1.80 Off a DIY ‘Big Mac
Instead of splurging on a £3.99 Big Mac, save £1.80 by opting for this MoneySaving alternative.
Simply order a Double Cheeseburger priced at £2.19 and request or select to add extra shredded lettuce at no additional cost. While you may miss out on the iconic middle tier of bread and Big Mac sauce, the £1.80 savings you can enjoy each time make it worthwhile.
While McDonald’s no longer offers Big Mac sauce for 50p, mustard and mayonnaise can serve as delightful alternatives. 🍔💰
Dodge the ‘Sugar Tax’ on Drinks
There’s a tax on certain fizzy drinks (refer to our ‘Sugar tax’ MSE News story), but only one drink at McDonald’s is impacted.
Opting for original Coca-Cola (not Diet or Zero) will incur an additional charge of 8p for a small, 12p for a medium, or 14p for a large. However, you can easily sidestep this tax by selecting any other drink from the menu. 🥤🚫
£1.89 Less for Eight EXTRA Chicken Nuggets
If you’re craving Chicken McNuggets, here’s a smart tip to get more bang for your buck:
Instead of purchasing two boxes of six Chicken McNuggets priced at £3.79 each, totaling £7.58 for 12 nuggets, consider opting for a single McNuggets ShareBox containing 20 nuggets priced at £5.69. With this swap, you’ll receive an extra eight nuggets and save £1.89.
Moreover, if you’re dining with family or a group, ordering the ShareBox along with fries and drinks separately can also maximise value. 🍗💰
Say ‘NO’ to Ice and ‘YES’ to 30ml More Drink?
Unless you request “no ice,” McDonald’s typically serves fizzy drinks with ice as the standard. As shown in the image below, opting for no ice can get you an extra 30 ml of drink for your money. 🥤❄️
Students Get a ‘Free’ Burger or McFlurry
If you’re a student with a valid ID or signed up with Student Beans, you’re in for a treat! You can claim a free Cheeseburger, Mayo Chicken, or McFlurry. Here’s how:
Simply order an Extra Value Meal from the menu and present your student ID at the till. While it’s not a total freebie, it’s a nice bonus if you’re eligible.
Please note that the offer is available after 10.30am, except in selected restaurants in the south of England where it starts from 11am. Additionally, it’s limited to one person per visit and cannot be used in conjunction with other offers. 🍔🍦🎓
Final Words
In summary, there are smart ways to save money at McDonald’s while still enjoying your favourite meals. By choosing cheaper options and taking advantage of special deals, you can get more for your money. Just remember these tricks next time you visit McDonald’s, and you’ll be able to enjoy your meal without spending too much. Happy saving and happy eating! 🍔💰
