Make big savings with money-off vouchers

Shopping may be a national obsession, but in the current uncertain economic climate, more and more of us are trying to boost our disposable income by making cutbacks in our spending.

While there used to be a view that some consumers were "too posh for points", vouchers have become increasingly common with nearly a fifth* of Brits now using discount coupons when they shop.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, research shows that women are the savvier sex when it comes to hunting down a bargain,** with female shoppers the more prolific users of money-saving vouchers.
But with all manner of discounts up for grabs, anyone can cash in.

Savvy supermarket shopping

Pick up almost any newspaper or magazine and there's a good chance that its pages will be stuffed full of vouchers and offers, so cut these out and present them at the checkout next time you make a trip to the supermarket.

Also, look out for buy one get one free deals in store, and log on to www.fixtureferrets.co.uk for food and drinks promotions from the major supermarkets.

Get clicking to save cash

If you're doing your weekly shop online, log on to www.mysupermarket.com to find out the best value supermarket for you. The site compares prices at Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys and Ocado, and will then send your trolley of goods to the cheapest online checkout.

You can also search for the cheapest price on comparison websites such as www.kelkoo.co.uk, www.pricerunner.co.uk and www.pricechecker.co.uk. These sites all sweep online stores to see which retailer stocks the item you want at the cheapest price.

Be a voucherista

If you're looking for discounts and deals, the internet is a gold mine.
Check out websites such as www.confused.com, www.sendmediscounts.co.uk, www.vouchercodes.co.uk, www.myvouchercodes.co.uk and www.wowvouchercodes.co.uk which offer voucher codes for a wide range of goods.

If the site offers the chance to subscribe to email alerts to keep up with the latest discount offers make sure you sign up to avoid missing out.

For those who are a little less web-savvy, MyVoucherCodes will be publishing a direct mail discount book this Christmas with offers and vouchers from a wide range of retailers.

Bag a bargain

Further online bargains can be found at www.madaboutbargains.co.uk which offers big savings on theatre trips, clothing, hotel rooms, electronics and jewellery, while www.homesandbargains.co.uk helps you find top quality goods for your house or garden.

You can also shop for second-hand goods at Ebay, www.preloved.co.uk or www.gumtree.com, and if you don't want to part with a penny, www.freebieholics.co.uk has plenty of links to website with free offers, samples and giveaways.

Eat out for less

More and more restaurants now offer discount vouchers to attract customers through their door, so check out two-for-the-price-of-one deals and other money saving offers at the likes of www.restaurantvouchers.co.uk.
And, if you want to dine out at a decent restaurant without making a huge dent in your wallet, visit www.toptable.co.uk.
The site promotes hundreds of special meal offers across the country, including discounts of up to 50 per cent, group offers and inclusive drink offers.

Days out at a discount

Clubcard and reward points can be redeemed for use at many theme parks and leisure parks such as Alton Towers and Chessington World of Adventures, and it's also worth keeping an eye out for special promotions in newspapers, supermarkets and on cereal and washing powder packets.
There are also big savings to be made on days out - and nights out - at www.lastminute.com.

Enjoy being a savvy shopper!

Find out more how to make savings with money-off vouchers at http://www.confused.com/savings

Notes
• * Selftrade
• ** Friends Provident