Budget 2026 & How Early Table Helps You Stretch Your Income

Budget 2026 gives mixed news. Some permanent supports are coming. Some reliefs will be modest. Many once-off payments are not returning. For lots of people, cost pressures will continue. But you don’t have to accept every cost rise. You can take control of where you spend, especially on meals and socialising. Early Table gives you options to eat out more affordably - and enjoy life a bit more in 2026 without overspending.

If you’re not using Early Table already, have a look: sign up for free, explore offers, plan ahead. It won’t solve everything - but it helps you hold onto more of your earnings.

Impact on Hospitality & Dining Out

What Budget 2026 is doing / expected to do:

• The VAT rate on food-led hospitality (restaurants, cafés) is due to be cut from 13.5% back down to 9%. 

• This cut won’t extend to hotel accommodation or hotel rooms.

• The VAT cut is expected to cost the State quite a bit (hundreds of millions annually) and will use up a big share of the €1.5 billion allocated for tax cuts.

How this impacts people:

• You may see menu prices hold steady or rise more slowly once the VAT reduction kicks in.

• Cafés and restaurants may pass savings on (or not) - depends on the business. Some price increases may still happen because of costs of labour, food supplies, energy.

• “Cheap nights out” might get somewhat cheaper, especially mid-week or early evening deals.

How you can use Early Table:

• Lock in dining rewards ahead of time so you’re paying less even before VAT moves fully take effect.

• Try to dine out when you can using available (e.g. early evening slots) since those slots often have better rewards and offers.

Childcare & Family Costs

What’s changing or promised:

• The government plans to publish a Childcare Action Plan, which will spell out how to reduce costs and expand access. 

• There’s a cap being introduced for fees in Core Funding-childcare services. Some facilities will limit gross fees to about €295/week for a full-day place (40-50 hours). After State subsidies, many parents will pay less.

• There’s a target (from the Programme for Government) to reduce childcare costs to about €200/month per child, though that’s a longer-term goal, not something fully delivered in Budget 2026. 

Real-life impact for families:

• Parents with young children will still feel squeezed. Even with the fee cap and subsidy, childcare remains a large cost.

• Families planning meals out, social events, or treats may need to budget more carefully, since childcare takes priority.

How you can use Early Table:

• Use Early Table to plan low-cost family meals: pick times and slots that offer better value, perhaps when kids are more flexible (lunchtime, early dinner).

• Group outings or shared meals can stretch the meal budget.

• Combine a dining out treat with something else (e.g. a walk, free activity) to get more value in the evening out.

Students & Education

What we know or expect:

• The temporary reduction in 3rd level fees (students paying less) is being partially rolled back. But Budget 2026 is expected to include a permanent cut of up to €500 (instead of full restoration of the previous higher fee) for many students.

• Grants and supports may be adjusted, but many students will still face rising costs in accommodation, books, transport.

How students might feel it:

• The fee cut helps, but doesn’t erase all costs. Students may still have to budget firmly or take on extra work.

• Social life might be toned down: cheaper nights out will have more appeal. Splitting costs with friends, finding discounts will matter more.

How you can use Early Table:

• Students can use Early Table to find affordable dinner options near campus or home.

• Think “early meal” or “pre-theatre” time slots where restaurants are more likely to offer lower prices.

Income Tax & Cost of Living

Key tax / cost-of-living changes:

• The overall tax package is about €1.5 billion in tax cuts and reliefs.

• Some adjustments of tax credits and bands are expected (indexing / raising thresholds) so people don’t get hit by “fiscal drag” (paying more tax simply because their wages / inflation pushed them into higher bands).

• Social welfare payments (pensions etc.) are likely to be increased, but less generously than in past budgets. A rise of about €10/week is more realistic than what people got last time. 

• Some once-off cost-of-living supports (like energy credit or double child benefit weeks) are expected not to be repeated. 

Are people better off?

• For many households, there will be small gains through tax credits, reliefs, or modest welfare increases. But rising costs (rent, food, energy) may eat those gains.

• Some will feel better off slightly; others may feel little change or even more pressure, especially renters, people with children, low income or variable incomes.

How you can use Early Table:

• Even modest gains can make a difference when paired with smart spending. Use Early Table to capture savings on dining out so more of your increased income stays in your pocket.

• Budget for meals out just as you budget rent, bills etc. Early Table helps you plan fun without overspending.

Stretching Your Income in 2026

Putting this together, here are practical ways you can use what Budget 2026 offers + Early Table to have a bit more breathing room.

• Track when VAT cuts or fee caps take effect, and plan your “bigger” meals or nights out around those times (so you get maximum value).

• Use Early Table to plan ahead. Booking in advance often gives access to better rewards.

• When your income or tax relief increases, channel some of that into savings rather than increasing spending. That buffer makes cost shocks easier.

• For students: check if your grant or college offers meal plans, subsidized cafeteria options; use Early Table for rewards of up to 50% off - campus spots.

• Families: choose days when outings cost less (weekdays rather than weekends), use child-friendly dining offers that are on Early Table.