Which site could save you thousands of pounds? Where do the financially savvy shop and book their travel? We asked money-saving experts for their top sites
How to save on household bills
1. Saynoto0870.com
No more premium calls
Are you fed up with being forced to call expensive numbers with an 08 prefix when you want to get hold of a company? There is an alternative. This site has identified cheaper phone numbers that the companies themselves aren’t keen to tell you about. You simply click on the “search to find an alternative number” link and off you go.
2. Turn2us.org.uk
Benefits advice
The benefits system can be a nightmare to negotiate but Turn2us is there to help people in financial need rightfully claim benefits and grants. It contains a benefit calculator to help you work out how much you could receive and details of where you can find further information. There are many grants for which you might not realise you are eligible, from bodies such as the Royal British Legion and the Musicians Benevolent Fund.
3. Moneysupermarket.com
Compare your finance options
This all-embracing financial website offers price comparisons, from car insurance to mobile phones, helping you to search out the best deals. It has large sections on savings and mortgages and also covers energy, travel and shopping. It is worth checking out the likes of Uswitch.com, Confused.com and Comparethemarket.com, too. Their adverts may be annoying, but they could save you thousands of pounds.
4. Savvywoman.co.uk
Nominated by Alvin Hall, financial commentator, broadcaster and author
“I find that Sarah Pennells, the creator of SavvyWoman, stays amazingly current about a wide range of important consumer issues, writing about them clearly, thoroughly, and with an occasional humorous reflection. She explains the regulation in easy-to-understand language and accurately points out the impact it will have on different types of consumers. It’s a smart, very user-friendly website.”
5. Energysavingtrust.org.uk
How to save on bills
Offers a comprehensive guide to how much energy you can save and thus cut pounds off your fuel bills. It offers an online energy check, with information on how to make your home more energy efficient, through measures such as better insulation and draughtproofing.
6. Envirofone.com
Recycle your old phone for cash
How many old mobile phones do you have? Envirofone offers cash for mobile phones which it then recycles; since 2005 it claims to have helped more than three million people. The site invites you to send in details of your handset, including make, model and number, and then offers you a price. Once you’ve sent in your handset, you are paid by return post.
7. Simplifydigital.co.uk
Find the best broadband deal
A specialist comparison site focusing on broadband, digital and home-phone packages. It allows you to search for the best deal in your particular area and can focus on a single service or a package covering several products. It also offers the option of speaking directly to an expert.
Where to save money on travel
8. Redspottedhanky.com
Cheap train tickets
Buy cheap rail tickets without being stung by credit and debit-card fees at the online checkout. You will not be charged for the delivery of your tickets, either — unless you need them the next day. Book in advance for the best savings; the website claims that you could save up to 51 per cent compared with buying tickets on the day.
9. Skyscanner.net
Flight price comparison
A user-friendly price-comparison site of more than 1,000 airlines, including easyJet and Ryanair. You can also use the site to compare the cost of car hire and hotels. To find the best-value flight, you enter the name of the place from which you want to travel, your destination and dates, and the site produces a list of airlines that fly that route, ranked in order of price. You can also search to see if you can save money by flying indirectly.
10. Lastminute.com
Cheap holidays and entertainment
This has thousands of deals for cheap entertainment and holidays. One of its best features is the secret hotel deals. If you are visiting London, for example, you can enter dates of your trip and roughly where you want to be and pay 45 per cent less to stay in a “secret” hotel. If you cannot stand the surprise, you can often google the hotel’s location to find out from previous lastminute.com guests what it might be.
11. Airbnb.co.uk
Helps you save money twice
If you are off on a city break enter where you are going, and the dates, and a list is displayed of apartments and rooms that locals are renting out. You can get a huge place to yourself for a tiny price tag, such as a Brooklyn loft apartment for £66 a night. While you are away, you could post your own home for rental. Airbnb claims that it has 200,000 listings worldwide in more than 33,000 cities and 192 countries.
12. Daysoutuk.com
Discount for tourist attractions
If you visit tourist attractions regularly in the UK or Ireland, consider becoming a member of Daysout.co.uk. For £14.99 you can have unlimited club membership allowing you to download as many discount vouchers or special offers as you like. For £7.99 you get ten vouchers a year; for £4.99 up to five. Discounts are for such themeparks as Legoland, Cadbury’s World and Peppa Pig World.
The best sites for shopping
13. Mysupermarket.com
Supermarket price comparison
The “home of savvy shopping” is an ideal way to work out which supermarket really offers the lowest prices. The site compares products from Sainsbury’s, Asda, Tesco, Waitrose and Ocado, as well as Majestic, Boots and Superdrug. The idea is that you shop on the site for your normal groceries, wine and beauty products, and when you get to the checkout the site shows you the total cost from each supermarket, including delivery. You can then choose where you want to buy. The site estimates that you will save an average of £17 each time you shop for groceries.
14. www.bumblebeeauctions.co.uk
Buy stolen goods — from the Police
The prices are low on this site because the goods almost certainly did “fall off the back of a van”. This is the police auction website for items that have been lost or stolen and the rightful owner cannot be found. If the owner comes forward, the auction is called off and the property returned. There are gadgets such as digital SLR cameras and, if you do not find the idea too creepy, the jewellery is very cheap, as are laptops, antiques and even cars. The highest value item so far is a BMW 330ci Clubsport Coupe — which sold for £13,269. We found mountain bikes listed on the site for only £1.
15. Kelkoo.co.uk
Price comparison
The sure-fire way to ensure that you are not paying over the odds for a purchase. The website scours the market to find you the lowest price online or in high-street stores. Ideal if you are searching for a big-ticket item such as a laptop or camera, but also useful for clothes, holidays and household items. Kelkoo claims that it saves its users an average of 15 per cent ; PriceRunner.co.uk works in the same way.
16. Quidco.com
Get paid to shop
If you have ever felt that you are so good at shopping that you ought to be paid for it — now you can be. This is a real way to boost your income by earning cashback on almost everything you buy online. Retailers pass money back to Quidco for every person who makes a purchase, which Quidco pays to the customer. You can earn anything between 2 per cent and 30 per cent cashback across a wide range of high-street brands, energy suppliers, insurers, hotel and travel websites. Rival Topcashback.co.uk offers some of the same deals, but others are exclusive so to get the best offer it is worth comparing the two.
17. Salesgossip.co.uk
Search all the sales at once
This site is all that the fashionable bargain hunter ever needs. It brings together all sales, in men’s, women’s and children’s fashion and beauty from 772 different shops — high-street stores to online designer outlets — so you can find the best deals in one easy place. It also has an iPhone app so you can search the sales while you are on the bus. Sign up to be alerted the moment a new sale starts.
18. KennedyPurple.com
Rent a handbag
Fancy a Chanel on your arm, but don’t have a spare £2,000 lying around? Never fear, you can borrow one. Kennedy Purple is a designer-handbag rental site. Choose the bag you are after by designer, colour or by the celebrity most likely to have been papped toting it, and you can pick from a calendar when you want to rent the bag and for how long, from a week to a month. For example, Mulberry’s Limited Edition Gold Alexa bag is available to rent for £45 for a week, or £100 for a month. The site also allows you to rent some designer jewellery and accessories, such as an Alexander McQueen scarf or a Louis Vuitton shawl.
19. Feelunique.com
Discount beauty brands
This site offers more than 18,000 beauty products from more than 500 brands at discounted prices. Products include make-up, skin and body care and fragrance, as well as accessories such as hair dryers and hot-water bottles, and even those for healthy living, such as vitamins and yoga mats. Discounts are about 15 or 20 per cent and brands include GHD, Benefit, Kerastase, St Tropez and Lancôme. An alternative website for discounted perfumes and beauty products is the unfortunately named Cheapsmells.com.
20. Gilt.com
Flash sales of designer wares
This site has regular flash sales of designer clothes for men, women and children as well as homeware and food and drink. Sales usually last 24 hours, starting at 5pm and offering as much as 60 per cent off normal prices. You can sign up for inbox alerts so you can make sure you do not miss the designers you like.
21. Quaffersoffers.co.uk
Wine discount
A wine-discount website that allows you to search for the best offers from companies including Majestic, Laithwaites and the main supermarkets. You can search by shop, colour and type of wine, including fortified and sparkling wines, grape variety and country of origin. The site also has a wine of the week deal.
22. Tastecard.co.uk
Restaurant deal members club
If you are a regular restaurantgoer buying a Tastecard via this website could save you hundreds of pounds. A new year special offer means it currently costs £39.95, reduced from £79.95. For your annual membership fee you receive either 50 per cent off your entire food bill or 2-for-1 off courses for up to two diners in thousands of member restaurants, including Pizza Express, Prezzo, Ask and Gourmet Burger Kitchen. The site shows you a map of member restaurants and the restrictions some offers have (ie, only weekdays).
Discount sites worth knowing
23. Moneysavingexpert.com
The original money-saving site
Britain’s No 1 money site with 39 million visitors, it mixes editorial comment and advice with the latest freebie deals and money-off vouchers and has made a millionaire out of its owner, the financial pundit Martin Lewis. Though it was bought for £87 million by MoneySupermarket, the price comparison business, Lewis retains full control of the website and its independence is ensured through an editorial code.
24. Vouchercodes.co.uk
Discounts and vouchers
Those with an eye for a bargain can save money at more than 2,000 stores and restaurants with the discount vouchers and promotional codes issued by this website. The offers range from £30 off holiday bookings with easyJet Holidays to 50 per cent off orders over £40 from Pizza Hut. Discount junkies can also try Myvouchercodes.co.ukand netvouchercodes.co.uk.
25. Oscaruk.co.uk
Savings for the over-50s
A targeted service offering discounts for those over 50. The deals are wide-ranging, from eating out and hotel accommodation to sports and gardening. The site also aims to give the over-fifties a voice by hosting a number of open forums to which they can contribute.
26. Petrolprices.com
Find the cheapest petrol in the area
Aims to cut the cost of motoring by enabling you to find the cheapest petrol station in you area. It allows you to sign up for regular e-mail alerts so you know when prices change. There is also a PetrolPrices app for smartphones so you can keep in touch on the move.
27. Carrentals.co.uk
Find a cheap car rental
Provides details of the cheapest car hire prices at more than 15,000 locations in the UK and abroad. You simply state your desired pick-up and drop-off location, date and times, your age and e-mail address and Car Rentals comes back with the cheapest deal from its database of more than 50 car hire firms.
28. Whatcar.com
Find the car for you. A long-established guide to buying cars, it contains hundreds of reviews and also keeps customers informed about major industry events, such as motor shows, with live webchats about motoring issues.
The insiders’ favourite websites
29. Bloomberg.com
Chosen by Nick Candy, luxury property developer and cofounder of Candy & Candy with his brother Christian.
“Given the nature of my client base I also need to keep on top of what is happening in the financial markets, and for that I use Bloomberg for its up-to-date international news, business analysis and financial data. The site has a good personal finance section with news supported by videos and calculator tools.”
30. Wsj.com
Chosen by Alvin Hall, financial commentator, broadcaster.
“I have to know about the investment markets for the training classes I teach at financial services organisations and for this I primarily useThe Wall Street Journal’s website. I have to know what are the important news events of the day, what’s happening with various investment products, as well as other relevant details that will enliven the class, help trainees see how the information relates directly to their day-to-day work, and at the same time increase their overall understanding of the investment markets and products.”
31. Skype.com
Chosen by James Caan, entrepreneur and founder of the charitable The James Caan Foundation.
“As a frequent traveller in the UK and abroad, keeping phone call costs down is a must. I’ve found that working across different continents it can get quite expensive. However, one of the best money-saving websites I use regularly is Skype. I have Skype on my PC, tablet and phone and I use it to keep in touch with colleagues, friends and family at a much lower cost. I’d definitely recommend this to any businessman who travels abroad.”
32. Fool.co.uk
Jasmine Birtles, financial and business commentator, TV and radio presenter, and founder of the money-saving website Moneymagpie.com
“I’m a big fan of the Motley Fool and think they’re the best around for investment advice. They’re sensible, sane and most of their advice is understandable to the amateur investor. Their share tips newsletter is one of the very few on the net that I would consider subscribing to”
33. Cia.gov
Chosen by Justin Urquhart Stewart, broadcaster and cofounder of Seven Investment Management
“I love facts and figures, so good and reliable statistics sites are really helpful. In order to make good investment decisions you need reliable statistics — this is the CIA website and the world fact book is very interesting for data around the globe. This has lots of country data and some fascinating economic and political reports. An essential reference site I keep to hand.”
The best sites for property and finance
34. Propertyweek.com
Nominated by Nick Candy, luxury property developer and cofounder of Candy & Candy with his brother Christian.
“A must for property news is egi.co.uk, the online outpost of Estates Gazette, although I also recommend Property Week. Their up-to-the-minute real estate coverage and early morning news alerts are great. You will read about any big deals that are happening in the market here first.”
35. Nethouseprices.com
How much is that house worth?
A useful site whether you are looking to buy, sell or just satisfy your curiosity about how much your neighbours paid for their property. Find out how many sales there have been on your street and which properties fetched the highest price, order a free estate agent’s estimate of your home’s value and discover what the typical market rent is for your area (useful for both tenants and landlords).
36. Parkatmyhouse.com
Rent or rent our a driveway
Given the cost of annual permits to park at railway stations, or in parking spaces in commuter towns and cities, a driveway or garage you do not use might offer a welcome source of income. The price an empty space commands will depend on the location, with nearby attractions such as a football stadium increasing the appeal. The website is currently advertising driveways in Camden, in North London, for around £200 a month, although spaces can be hired out for as little as half an hour. The website takes 15 per cent of the booking value as commission, but it is free to list your space.
37. Tepilo.com
Buy a house without an agent
Most house-sellers wouldn’t voluntarily spend time with an estate agent, which is why this website, from Channel 4’s Sarah Beeny, will be popular. It allows you to cut them out of the loop completely when buying, selling or renting your home and, best of all, it does not charge commission. Tepilo also has a smartphone application, which allows you to find places for sale in your current location, using GPS or, in other areas, a postcode.
38. Zoopla.co.uk
House hunting online
This is the website for comprehensive listings of homes to buy or rent from a wide range of agents. It has 15 million visitors each month and more than a million properties listed. You can find estimated home values based on other sales in the area and it also collates other pertinent data on different locations, which could help you in your decision to relocate. It enables you to see the typical asking price and sold price for your locality. The gap between these figures may be illuminating if you are about to sell your home or bid for a new one.
39. Riseart.com
Rent quality art
Looking to make a good impression by spotlighting your appreciation of art, without spending a fortune? Riseart allows you to rent out good quality works of art for a modest monthly outlay. Participants can enjoy a constantly changing selection of items, including paintings, prints and sculpture. Your monthly payments also earn you credits towards the possible future purchase of works of art.
40. Valuemystuff.com
What are your antiques worth?
If the Antiques Roadshow is not coming to a town near you then this website could be the next best thing. It enables you to have an antique, or several antiques, valued by experts. You upload a picture of the item, with any relevant details, to the website, and receive back a valuation within 48 hours. One valuation normally costs £7.50, with discounts for several items.
41. Rightmove.co.uk
Anne Ashworth, Property and Money editor
“The property search website Rightmove has great data and great pictures. As Asos is to fashion, Rightmove is to property.”
42. www.Mylostaccount.org.uk
Hunt for dead savings accounts
Ever lost track of money in a savings or current account? It happens surprisingly often, usually when we change address, but this website can help you find it for free. Set up by banks, building societies and National Savings & Investments, it should take no more than three months to find out if you have some handy cash hidden away in a forgotten account.
43. Moneyadviceservice.org.uk
Chosen by Jasmine Birtles
“It’s a shame that so few people know about the government-backed website Money Advice Service. Their website is clear and helpful. They’re one of the few that do a comparison of stakeholder pensions. They have a number of useful tools you can use to help you budget, manage your money and work out which savings and investment products are best for you. There are also some very handy letter templates for doing things like complaining to a bank, insurance company or local council.”
44. Moneyfacts.co.uk
Detailed advice
Known as the “bible of personal finance”, this giant site has details of thousands of financial products in categories including savings, mortgages, loans, credit cards and insurance. You can also find relevant news stories, reader guides and a blog. The site’s “best buys” are selected on merit only (companies do not pay for the best positions). It has a straightforward layout, and the advice is helpful and jargon-free.
45. Moneydashboard.com
Keep track of your personal finances
If you struggle to keep on top of your household finances, Moneydashboard can help. It pulls together information on your current accounts, savings and credit cards so that you can keep track of them in one place. There are budgeting tools, including a “clear cash” feature to show how much spending money you have in your current account once you have paid all your bills.
46. Tradingeconomics.com
Nominated by Justin Urquhart Stewart
“This is another essential tool for me giving me up-to-date economic data both on nations as well as good stock market information,” he says. “It provides 300,000 indicators covering 196 countries in a way that I can select and compare.”
47. Morningstar.co.uk
Where to invest
A go-to website for investors, with detailed information on shares and funds including performance charts and ratings — top funds are “Gold” or “5 star”. You can also track and analyse your fund and share portfolio without cost. Looking for inspiration? Morningstar is packed with investment guides, news, comment and videos.
48. Abnormalreturns.com
Financial blogs index
Founded and edited by a US private investor, Abnormal Returns is “a wide-ranging, forecast-free investment blog” intended to bring its readers the best of the financial blogosphere. It links to comments and sites from around the world, providing an insight into the investment zeitgeist. It has an American bias but the commentators it quotes have relevance for investors worldwide.
49. Uk.freecycle.org
Give and take local things for free
Lets you advertise things you want to give away free. You might think that most of items offered would be old, damaged, moth-eaten junk, but there is also a lot of quality stuff that people just do not want to keep. You sign up to a group in your local area and it is up to you to monitor the freebies on offer and negotiate collection. When you want to offer something, just post details to the local group. Ilovefreegle.org works in the same way.
50. Miss-thrifty.co.uk
Money saving blog
From where to buy a cheap alternative to YSL’s Touche Eclat (Aldi) to recipes for using up ingredients that are past their best, this blog is full of original penny-pinching ideas. But, Miss Thrifty also knows where to draw the line with her frugality. You will not find her “harnessing energy via a mini wind turbine and washing clothes with home-made soapflakes and a hand-cranked mangle”, she writes. What you will find is plenty of sensible, creative and even, on occasion, “fun” ways to save cash.