Fancy £150 off a LG plasma TV at Comet? How about 20% off orders over £120 at Mothercare.com? Or 15% off chocolate at Thorntons? As the recession has tightened its grip, more and more people have logged on to voucher code sites to get discounts just like these.
The discounts work in two main ways: either they’re a voucher that can be printed and taken into the store and handed over when you get to the till, or they are codes that can be used to shop online.
However, before you log on to myvouchercodes.co.uk, vouchercodes.co.uk, hotdeals.com etc (there are hundreds of such sites), it’s wise to consider the dos and don’ts of voucher sites.
Firstly, if you’re going to make a major purchase, do have a look at these sites. However, don’t rely on them to get you the best price. Research by Which? found that price comparison sites often found better deals than voucher sites. For example, researchers searched for a Panasonic Viera TX-32LZD80 TV and found the best deal on comparison sites was £530 but the best deal using a voucher site was £539, £9 more.
But from my own experience I’d also say don’t assume the best prices for electrical goods are to be found online. Instead print off the cheapest online deal and use it to negotiate with staff on the high street. They often have the authority to knock money off, waive delivery costs or throw in freebies.
Voucher code sites perform better when it comes to clothing so if you’re planning a shopping spree to update your summer wardrobe do visit some voucher code sites first. On vouchercodes.co.uk, for example, there is a code for up to 50% off Matches and up to 40% of selected items in the Radley sale. However, despite the discounts on offer, don’t buy things you don’t need or won’t wear – that never makes financial sense.
When shopping around, do have a look at several different sites as they each have different offers that change all the time. If you want to keep an eye on what’s new, sign up for the sites’ email alerts.
Finally, do make sure you visit voucher code sites if you’re planning to eat out as there are loads of savings to be made. For instance, www.vouchercodes.co.uk has 2 for 1 at Pizza Express and ASK. So, whether you’re looking on the high street or the net, it always pays to do a bit of research first.
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Phil Szomszor
Johnno1701