It was a simple formula that led to my reputation as a money-saving connoisseur. I was at university, and the equation went like this: lots of time, plus little cash, multiplied by a desire to have a good time, equaled the discovery of hundreds of ways to save money online. When I went out for dinner with friends, the location was whichever restaurant was offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal on meals. Moving into a student house, my laptop was diverted from researching Shakespeare’s early comedies to logging on to price-comparison sites to source the cheapest utilities and broadband. That meant two things: I negotiated an £85 discount by finding a bundle deal from one supplier and found myself with a lower-than-average grade for that week’s essay. Love’s Labour‘s Lost is less important than the mantra Must Lower Cost.
When summer came, and it was time to book a holiday, my boyfriend and I spent whole days hunting through the internet for rock-bottom flight and hotel prices. I signed up to mystery-shopping sites and started being paid for going to the gym, eating out and even a couple of nights’ out clubbing. We managed to wangle four-star hotel deals for $100 a night, saving hundreds on our accommodation bill. This year, we will remember a last-minute trip to the US just as much for our discovery of Hotwire – a website that offloads cheap room rates as the hotels are anonymous until the customer has paid – as for the sight-seeing Team Kgsr.
Before flying off, travel insurance was a must. As usual, I sourced the cheapest rates using a price comparison site and logged into online cashback cooperative Quidco (see Shopping) to save extra money. I’ve received £400 back from my purchases through this site over the past three years. In the US, all that money-saving only meant one thing: more cash for shopping – from discount stores, of course. But now I’m back home, a graduate, and about to start work in one of the worst economic climates for years, my prudent websites are all the more useful. Here are my tips for 50 money-saving websites to help us all stay afloat in the coming months:
Shopping
A cashback website that has saved me hundreds of pounds. Normally a site such as Google receives a referral fee – through this “online cooperative,” the cash is paid into your bank account. When you buy something from 1,200 online shops (including Play.com), you receive a percentage of the price back. For example, there’s 5% back from shopping at M&S. Other cashback sites – each covers some different retailers – include pigsback.com and greasy-palm.co.uk.
Online pharmacy that promises to beat any other UK chemist’s price on prescriptions. Scours the net to find the lowest price for many items, from electronics to handbags. For a big purchase, compare several sites. Others include Instead of buying new cosmetics, sign up here as a volunteer to trial new beauty ranges. The products have all been declared safe. Lists Amazon items that are half-price or less. A specialist price-comparison service for books. Save money on eBay bids: type in your desired item, and the site searches eBay for listings with common typos, so you uncover items with low bids. furnituredeal.co.uk Online furniture retailer that cuts out the storeroom salesmen and offers low prices on a wide range.
retaileyes.co.uk
One of the several online mystery shopping companies that pay cash when members sign up to test their clients. Retail Eyes’ companies include Virgin Active gyms – you receive free membership and a small payment when you join the gym and compile reports on your experiences.
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mydigitalprints.co.uk
Finds the cheapest online photo developer for the exact quantity and size of prints for your needs. It also compares the cost of photo gifts such as mugs, calendars, and greeting cards. Eating in and out moneysavingexpert.com/tipnote/cheap-restaurant-deals. Lists current offers at hundreds of restaurants, including buy-one-get-one-free deals. Includes nationwide chains and, in the forums, area-specific dining-out bargains. 5pm.co.uk Restaurant-reservation site with discounted deals available if you book to eat on the same day, after 5 pm.
mysupermarket.co.uk
Compare the price of any single item or the price of your whole (online) supermarket trolley here. It will calculate the total cost at Sainsbury‘s, Tesco, Asda, and Ocado (Waitrose), and you send the order to the supermarket you choose.
fixtureferrets.co.uk
Lists promotions on groceries at major supermarkets, including Waitrose, Tesco, and Asda. Search via shop, brand, promotion, or category.
quaffersoffers.co.uk
Compiles details of up-to-date wine offers at major supermarkets and off-license chains. Search via grape, shop, country, price, or color.
Sign up for free and enter your journey, then find someone else to share it with. The nationwide car-sharing scheme now also includes cycling and walking groups and routes.
petrolprices.com
Search via town or postcode to find the cheapest petrol near you.
carrentals.co.uk
Compares the prices of 40 car-rental suppliers in the UK and abroad to find you the cheapest.
daysoutuk.com
Has around 300 discount vouchers for days out in the UK and Ireland, including theme parks and attractions, such as Cadbury’s World (£10 off a family ticket) and the London Dungeons (free child entry).
Vouchers myvouchercodes.co.uk
This site has discount coupons for thousands of stores, including Comet, Asda, and Next. Some are online offers; others can be used in-store.
oscaruk.co.uk
Features discount deals and concessions, especially for over-60s.
studentbeans.co.uk
Search via your university (or home) town for student offers.
Insurance and utilities moneysupermarket.com
One part of this massive site finds you the cheapest motor, home, travel, and life insurance deals; another focuses on utilities; another shows credit card and mortgage offers.
simplifydigital.co.uk
An Ofcom-accredited specialist in phone, broadband, and digital TV offers and bundles. Compare prices and buy digital deals from this impartial site.
onecompare.com
Finds cheap mobile deals, including pay-as-you-go options and best-value contracts. Search by phone, features, or inclusive minutes/text bundles.
Confused.com, CompareTheMarket.com, uSwitch.com
The cheapest quotes for home, life, car, and van insurance.
energysavingtrust.org.uk/calculator/checklist
A government-backed site providing tips on how to cut fuel bills.
