How to unlock big discounts: Entertainment App vs EatClub
Like every other Australian with a mortgage (and yes, renters likely have it even worse), my partner and I are always chasing savings.
Thankfully we're Zillennials, who woke up in the '90s without a trust fund or a house at age three, but with an instinct to scrimp and save.
While I missed out on the Entertainment Book that saved generations before me, I was recently blessed with an Entertainment Membership - the app version that propels the paper discount codes into the digital age.
But when it comes to saving money, loyalty doesn't pay - just ask my long list of ex internet providers (they'll tell you I'm insane).
So, here's an honest review of the paid discount provider, and what else saves me money.
Entertainment App
If you happen to be from Perth and rarely venture to other states (before the sandgropers vilify me, I'm proudly from the most isolated city in the world), the $70 single-city membership might be worth it.
But if you're a frequent traveller across Australia, New Zealand and now Bali, the $120 multi-city membership opens options in 20 cities.
Frankly, it should always be one cheaper membership, but there's currently a deal to unlock the bigger pass for $75 for one year.
The great thing is 40% of your membership goes to your nominated charity, up from the usual 20%.
Over its 30-odd years, the Entertainment Book and app has raised about $110 million for charities.
Now for the deals. Sure, I could've treated my partner to 25% off at Scarborough's La Capannina or C Restaurant - the spinning scenic site of our first anniversary - but the first code I used back home was for Pasta Cup, a bona fide WA institution.
I open the app, set it to "near me," and sort by the biggest percentage off. When I'm at the venue, I tap Redeem, a short timer starts, staff scan or sight the screen, and the discount comes off the bill.
The live, spinning crown animation makes sure the code is legit. You can share a referral QR code, and if a friend buys a membership, your charity gets 20% of their purchase.
Some users have griped about changing or disappearing deals. I booked in the morning and redeemed that night without drama. The original owner is back at the helm, and the app feels better for it, according to one long-term user I chatted with.
I wrapped up the night at Palace Arcade on a two-for-one game-card deal and thrashed my mates on '80s-style pinball.
My top picks for Entertainment Membership discounts
Discounted airline tickets
- Virgin Australia - 5% off
- Qatar Airways - Australia - up to 10% off on flights
Theme park deals
- Dreamworld - 15% off
- Sea World - 10% off
- Movie World - 10% off
- Australia Outback Spectacular - 10% off
Hotels
- Vibe Hotels - up to 20% off
- TFE Hotels - special rates
- Travelodge Hotels - up to 20% off
Car rentals
- Thrifty Car Rental AU - 12% off
- Europcar Australia - 16% off
- Hertz Australia - 10% off
EatClub
Don't get me wrong: the Entertainment app has plenty of deals across categories, and its dining options span a mix of cuisines in genuinely trendy spots. But it pales next to the free options on EatClub.
As I write, there are 580 live deals in Brisbane, 911 in Greater Sydney, 602 in Melbourne and hundreds more in Perth and Adelaide.
While the Entertainment App has a similar interface, I find EatClub slightly easier.
I switch to map view and it snaps to my location, peppering the area with pins. Each pin expands to a tidy card that tells me everything I need at a glance: live now versus book for later time slots, the percentage off, and a small, easily scannable cuisine tag (think Japanese, Thai, burgers).
If I'm planning ahead, I tap a later slot and it holds the offer for that window; if I'm hungry now, I walk in on a live deal and redeem.
It now even offers reward points.
However, it's not all seamless. The first time you add your EatClub card to Apple/Google Wallet (the card you pay with to trigger the discount) can be fiddly.
At the venue, if the restaurant is new to the app, there can be a minute of awkwardness while staff figure out the flow. But at the end of the day, a discount's a discount, and it's frequently upwards of 40% off spots I'd buy lunch at anyway.
Other apps I actually use
Too Good To Go - This is a go-to for recommending something nifty and sustainable. You reserve a discounted "surprise bag" in the app, pay, then rock up during the pickup window and swipe in-app to collect whatever's left from that venue's daily surplus. I'm grabbing leftover honey gold mangoes this afternoon from a spot near me.
ShopBack - My default cashback hub now that Cashrewards has shut up shop. Open ShopBack first, click through to the retailer, and stack it with a discounted gift card when you can. That said, the Entertainment App also has excellent gift card discounts that I will likely use in the future.
Raiz, ANZ Plus, AIA Vitality - These provide steady value if you're already in the club. Raiz keeps my round-ups investing on autopilot and offers great shopping discounts (MJ Bale for example), ANZ Plus helps me corral spending into jars, and AIA Vitality throws me the odd perk when I hit goals. You do need to be a member for these and, yes, I'm not thrilled about the insurance premium creep - but again, a discount's a discount.
Of course, these are just my go-to apps. Check out Tom Watson's list of money-saving tools Aussies are using this year.
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