Shopping Around archive

Published in December 2009

Make the most of the Christmas sales

by Christine Whitfield | Find out how to make your money go further in the Christmas sales and get your hands on real bargains!

The best places to sell your unwanted Xmas presents

by John Fitzsimons | Got a naff woolly jumper or some dodgy socks you don’t want? John Fitzsimons reviews the best sites to flog them onto somebody who actually wants them!

Frugal Recipes - Xmas Special (Leftovers)

by Paul Warburton | Got lots of turkey leftovers? Check out this original recipe on how to turn them into a delicious massaman curry - at a cost of just 62p per person!

Last minute gifts for Xmas Eve shoppers!

by Alison Hunt | Left your Christmas shopping too late and starting to panic about what to buy everyone? Fear not - check out these frugal (and mainly shop-avoiding) gifts!

Buying a car? Beat the VAT hike!

by John Fitzsimons | If you plan to buy a new car, you’ll need to get your skates on to beat the VAT jump. But there are other ways you can get a cracking deal too...

Mince pies: Lidl beats M&S!

by Rachel Wait | The results of the lovemoney.com annual mince pie taste test reveal Lidl's mince pies (12.4p a pie) taste the best - while Marks & Spencer's (26.5p a pie) taste the worst!

Frugal Christmas Recipe - Main (Veggie option)

by Paul Warburton | An original recipe for a vegetarian Christmas main course for just £2.22 per person!

The top five most wanted Christmas presents - video script

by Rachel Wait | Rachel Robson highlights the five most popular Christmas presents and shows you where to get them at the best price.

The top 22 Secret Santa gifts

by Rachel Wait | Rachel Robson hunts down 22 fun and frugal gifts, perfect for Secret Santa presents and filling those Xmas stockings!

Bargain booze for the festive season!

by Alison Hunt | Whether you're holding a Christmas party or would just like to get stocked up for the festive season, here's a rundown of the supermarkets' best wine, beer and sparkling wine deals available at the moment, including half-price champagne, three bottles of wine for £10, 18 Stella for £10.

Frugal Recipes - Xmas Special!

by Paul Warburton | Check out these amazing recipes for an alternative three course Christmas dinner and Boxing Day leftovers - for £7.49 per person!

Frugal Friday - video script

by Rachel Wait | Rachel Robson hunts out the best bargains on the high street...

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Highlights this week include 75% off fashion, 80% off books, the House DVD collection for £50, £80 off TVs, fabulous gaming deals, theatre tickets from £20, a 2 for 1 voucher for sea kayaking, and a free Christmas tree!

The top 10 most wanted Christmas presents!

by Rachel Wait | Rachel Robson reveals the 10 most wanted Christmas gifts and tracks down the cheapest places to buy them...

30 affordable gifts that you won't find on the high street

by Serena Cowdy | Struggling with Christmas shopping? Put your feet up and browse our bumper guide to frugal and unique gifts!

Published in November 2009

How to stay safe shopping online

by Emma Lunn | Buying Christmas gifts online should be quick and easy. Find out how to make sure things don't go wrong.

Frugal Recipes

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for potato rosti with creamed spinach and poached egg – for £1.36 per person!

Frugal Friday!

by Jane Baker | Highlights this week include jeans for just £30, up to £75 off leather jackets, savings of over £11 on the new Harry Potter film, 55% off Guinness World Records 2010, half price Oral B precision clean electric toothbrushes, buy one get one free spa experiences and Alton Towers tickets for 2010 at 2009 prices.

Frugal recipes

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for rabbit, bacon and thyme pie – for £2.06 per person!

Frugal Friday

by John Fitzsimons | Highlights this week include an extra 20% off men’s fashion, 50% off bedding, massive discounts on SEA LIFE tickets, 30 free music tracks, a free SKY+ box with £50 Marks & Spencer voucher, half-price books and more than £5 off Singstar: Take That.

Frugal recipes

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for pork, chorizo and cannellini bean stew– for £1.62 per person!

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Highlights this week include up to 70% off fashion, 20% discount at The Body Shop with The Independent newspaper, the M&S Penny Bazaar, half price furniture, 80% off books, brilliant gaming deals, the Lethal Weapon Collection for £9, tickets to the London Dungeon for under £7, and a mobile phone for £2.95!

Frugal recipes

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for twice cooked pork belly (with gravy) roast parsnips and sweet apple red cabbage - for £1.35 per person!

Frugal Friday

by Jane Baker | Highlights this week include half-price beds and mattresses, a free Blu-Ray player with a HD-ready TV, £100 off Casio Gold Digital Cameras, 55% off Gordon Ramsay's World Kitchen, the entire Friends Collection for less than £40, free motorcycle rides and the chance to win a year's free supermarket shopping at Tesco.

Get free stuff from the internet!

by John Fitzsimons | From Twitter to Freegle, there’s a load of ways to get stuff for free on the net!

Published in October 2009

Frugal Recipes

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for spiced whole mackerel with a chickpea, tomato and coriander salad – for £1.45 per person!

Frugal Friday

by John Fitzsimons | Highlights this week include 70% off men's suits, half price books, games for just £9.99, the entire Rocky collection for less than a tenner and 20% off tickets to Alton Towers!

Five tips when buying a used car

by Alison Hunt | Buying a second hand car can be a minefield, so make sure you check out these tips first.

New or existing customers: Who gets the best deal?

by Serena Cowdy | Is it better to be a new customer or an old faithful? Serena Cowdy investigates.

Frugal Recipes

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for slow braised oxtail with autumn mash - for £2.24 per person!

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Highlights this week include 70% off footwear, half price digital cameras, fabulous book bargains, £100 off a netbook, 80% off games, and the Lost collection for £80.

Why existing customers only deals aren’t fair

by Jane Baker | Jane Baker takes a look at some of the most irritating exclusive deals and ask why all customers can’t be treated the same.

The cheapest way to listen to music

by John Fitzsimons | Goodbye Spotify, hello Sky Songs? John Fitzsimons investigates the cheapest way to listen to music on your PC and mobile phone.

Frugal Recipes

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for pumpkin and sage risotto – for 66p per person!

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Highlights this week include 75% off fashion, half price kitchenware, 50% off books, 80% off games, the complete Curb Your Enthusiasm box set for £45, 2 for 1 on days out, a return trip to Paris for £20 and a free haircut.

Frugal Recipes

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for rolled breast of lamb with garlic mash and savoy cabbage - for 99p per person!

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Highlights this week include 70% off footwear, half price books, the Prison Break box set for £60, games for £5, 2 for 1 tickets to The Canterbury Tales, and free chocolate for Chocolate Week!

Frugal recipes

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for lemon and rosemary chicken thighs with a baby spinach, new potato and cherry tomato salad.

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Highlights this week include 70% off fashion, half price kitchen gadgets, 50% off books, fabulous savings on games, 2 for 1 on days out, the Friends 15th Anniversary box-set for under £70, and a free £5 gift voucher for House of Fraser!

Published in September 2009

Frugal Recipes

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for Thai (Pollock) curry with egg noodles - and make a delicious meal for just £1.75 per head.

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Highlights this week include half price fashion, 40% off the Le Creuset range, 50% off books, the Prison Break box set for £60, 15% off furniture, 2 for 1 on days out, half price hotels, and two fabulous mobile phone deals.

Frugal Friday

by Jane Baker | This week's highlights include 70% off Burton menswear, cut price Ugg boots, great DVD and book offers for all Dan Brown fans, bargain hotel rooms from £18, free entry to famous buildings in London, and 2 days for the price of 1 at Alton Towers.

Feed five for a fiver

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for Chunky pea and ham soup with crusty bread - and feed five for less than £5!

6 ways to cut the cost of theatre tickets

by Anna Powell | Anna Powell explains how to have a great night out at the theatre even if you're feeling the pinch.

18 things you can get, see, or do, for free!

by Alison Hunt | Find out how to snap up free Lego and make up, how British Gas customers can swim for free, take part in a dance workshop plus much more, and all for nothing.

My 11 favourite moneysaving websites

by Serena Cowdy | Serena Cowdy rounds up the websites that could save you a small fortune.

Feed five for under a fiver

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for spaghetti alla carbonara - and feed five for less than £5!

Frugal Friday

by Jane Baker | This week’s highlights include 70% off wedding dresses, 3 for 2 offers on luggage, 80% off computer games, £12 rooms at Travelodge and a week long holiday in Ibiza for less than £75 per person!

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | This week’s highlights include 50% off Topshop, half price Legoland tickets, 80% off games, £50 cashback on your broadband, plus freebie of the week, half-price books and the complete series of The Royle Family for less than a tenner!

Feed five for under a fiver

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for Beef & thyme (Lancashire) hotpot - and feed five for less than £5.

Published in August 2009

Feed five for under a fiver

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for pork stroganoff - and feed five for less than £5.

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Fancy 70% off books, the complete Cracker collection for £18, half price homewares, West End shows for £15, and fabulous photo deals? We’ve got it all!

The financial supermarket sweep!

by Christina Jordan | Would you buy a mortgage with your mince and savings with your salad?

Soapbox - Keep it simple

by Ed Bowsher | Ed Bowsher thinks it’s best to go for simple financial products

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Get your hands on the A-Team collection for £70, half price books, 75% off footwear, and 10% off Florida holidays!

How to look beautiful on a budget!

by Anna Powell | Anna Powell shows you how to look fabulous for less...

Stay true to your partner, but not your bank

by Harvey Jones | Loyalty is an admirable virtue, but it can sometimes backfire, as Harvey Jones discovers...

Back to school money-saving tips!

by Alison Hunt | With a fortnight until the kids go back to school, here are some of the best and cheapest places to stock up on all that kit they'll need

How to have a dirt-cheap BBQ!

by Jane Baker | This coming bank holiday weekend could be your last chance to have a BBQ this summer. Here's how to make sure it's easy on your pocket.

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Highlights this week include 75% off fashion, the complete series of Cracker for £18, Alton Towers for £20, 15% off dining furniture, and 40% off holiday deals, plus freebies and competition of the week.

Feed five for under a fiver

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for green chilli pork meat balls, sunflower seed couscous salad and mint yoghurt - and feed five for less than £5.

Don't waste money on a 'free' laptop

by Szu Ping Chan | Dongle laptop packages may seem like a good idea, but you could be throwing over £135 down the drain if you sign up...

21 more things you can get free!

by Serena Cowdy | Get ready... get steady... and find out how to get your hands on 21 fantastic freebies!

Save £366 with a shopbot!

by Szu Ping Chan | Shopbots may sound unchic, but here's how they could help you save a packet!

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Fancy the Band of Brothers box set for £17, half price books from Amazon, 2 for 1 entry to Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon, and 70% off fashion? We've got it all...

Feed five for under a fiver

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for tagliatelle with air dried cured ham and minted peas - and feed five for less than £5!

Get a good digital camera for less

by Serena Cowdy | We show you how to get the best possible camera at the lowest possible price.

Published in July 2009

Feed five for under a fiver

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for Beef, thyme and mushroom loaf with potato dauphinoise - and feed five for less than £5!

Frugal Friday

by Szu Ping Chan | Highlights this week include 30% off the Man Booker Prize longlist, hotels from £19 a night and deals on the new Wii Sports Resort game.

New protection for YOU when buying tickets

by John Fitzsimons | New measures mean you'll now get extra protection when buying tickets for everything from the theatre to the football. Find out what this means for you.

Feed five for under a fiver...

by Paul Warburton | Check out this amazing recipe for a mixed bean and coriander green curry - and feed five for less than £5!

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Highlights this week include half price travel books, 50% off city hotels, days out for under £10, and 40% off beach holidays.

Frugal Friday!

by Rachel Wait | Fancy 80% off fashion, half price paperbacks, 2 for 1 spa days, and the Godfather Trilogy for £9? We've got it all...

Feed five for a fiver...

by Paul Warburton | Check out this retro recipe for egg Florentine with smoked cheddar and rocket salad - and feed five people for a fiver!

Get your hands on these fantastic best buys!

by Alison Hunt | Need to revamp your finances? Well there's no time like the present - start assessing them now and make your money work harder with these best buys

Eight cheap and thoughtful wedding gift ideas

by Serena Cowdy | Are you a soon-to-be wedding guest stuck for inspiration? Here are some good present ideas that won’t break the budget.

Have a hay fever-free summer for less!

by Rachel Wait | Get the lowdown on how to save money on your hay fever medication...

Get unlimited calls and texts for a fiver

by Szu Ping Chan | Forget Skype and other fancy deals, here's a new way for you and your loved ones to get unlimited calls and texts for next to nothing...

Frugal Friday!

by Rachel Wait | This week's highlights include 80% off fashion, the Blade Trilogy for £5, fabulous restaurant deals, and £10 flights to Australia!

Feed five for under a fiver...

by Paul Warburton | Check out this original recipe for beef, mushroom and thyme pie - and feed five people for less than a fiver!

Feed five for under a fiver!

by Paul Warburton | Check out this original recipe for sausage and rosemary hotpot with an easy pickled red cabbage - and feed five people for less than a fiver!

Frugal Friday!

by Rachel Wait | Get your hands on half price paperbacks, 75% off fashion, the John Wayne collection for £6, and 50% off theatre tickets...

Published in June 2009

Seven cheap alternatives to iTunes

by John Fitzsimons | Don’t do all of your music shopping on iTunes – there are plenty of alternatives which will save you money!

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Highlights this week include 70% off fashion, 60% off summer paperbacks, the entire Sherlock Holmes DVD collection for £18, and 2-for-1 on days out...

Feed five for under a fiver...

by Paul Warburton | Check out this original recipe for chorizo and pea risotto - and feed five people for less than a fiver!

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Up for grabs this week is the entire Inspector Morse box set for £40, half price fashion, £10 theatre tickets and fabulous Father's Day gifts...

Beware rising prices and shrinking sizes!

by Serena Cowdy | Supermarkets and well-known food brands are making huge profits but slyly offering their customers less value for money. Serena Cowdy investigates the cunning tricks they play on their customers...

Feed five for under a fiver!

by Paul Warburton | Check out this original recipe for Beef koftas with a feta, spinach and fresh mint salad - and feed five people for less than a fiver!

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Highlights this week include 40% off fashion, the Lethal Weapon boxset for £11, 60% off paperbacks, and brilliant Father's Day gifts...

Fabulous Father’s Day gifts for less!

by Rachel Wait | Father’s Day is on 21 June, so if you’re madly searching for gift ideas, you’ve come to the right place...

Frugal Friday!

by Rachel Wait | This week's round-up includes the Jonathan Creek box set for £18, half price kitchen gadgets, fabulous Father’s Day ideas, and cracking restaurant offers...

Do not get caught out by cricket tickets

by John Fitzsimons | With the Aussies over for the 2009 Ashes series, and the Twenty20 World Cup about to kick off, John Fitzsimons finds a shortage of cricketing bargains - but plenty out to make a fast buck...

Feed five for under a fiver!

by Paul Warburton | Check out this original spicy tuna, bean and coriander lasagne recipe - believe it or not, you can use it to feed five people for less than a fiver!

Published in May 2009

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Looking for half price fashion, a free Sony PS3, 30% off the Le Creuset range, cheap restaurant deals and 60% off paperbacks? Then look no further...

Why loyalty doesn't always pay

by Szu Ping Chan | Boots or Superdrug? Which provides more value for those everyday essentials? Szu Ping Chan investigates...

Grab some free cash today!

by Szu Ping Chan | If you like shopping, bargains and discounts, you'll love this article....

Five free ways to spruce up your finances

by Szu Ping Chan | Own an iPhone or iTouch? Here are some financial applications to whip your finances in order. And the best thing? They're all free...

Frugal Friday!

by Rachel Wait | Looking for the complete West Wing box set for £50, fantastic gardening offers, half price fashion, and cheap days out? Well, we've got it all - and a brand new 'mobile phone deal of the week' section too...

The cheapest supermarket Value range

by Rachel Wait | We reveal which supermarket carries the cheapest value/basics range...

BlackBerry seeks to oust the iPhone

by Szu Ping Chan | T-Mobile's new BlackBerry offer may be making waves in the mobile market, but how does it compare to the mighty iPhone in terms of cost?

Top cashback websites!

by Alison Hunt | With so many sites offering online shoppers cashback with their purchases, which one is best?

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Fancy the Alien Quadrilogy for £10, 65% off footwear, £15 off a Wii console, and fabulous holiday deals? Look no further...

Published in April 2009

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Up for grabs this week is the Indiana Jones trilogy for £8, 60% off paperbacks, half price garden furniture, and 50% off fashion...

Why eBay is better than Amazon

by Szu Ping Chan | We're all looking for ways to make some extra cash in the credit crunch. So if you want to sell your stuff online, here's a guide to two of the biggest players in the game...

Downsize your deals and save!

by Szu Ping Chan | Whether it's dongles or mobile phones, we show you why great things come in smaller (and cheaper) packages...

Six money must-haves for summer

by Ed Bowsher | Find out which leading financial products are the pick of the bunch today.

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Fancy 50% off fitness equipment, the Quentin Tarantino collection for £13, half price furniture, and fabulous 2 for 1 restaurant deals? Look no further...

Frugal Friday!

by Rachel Wait | Up for grabs this week is the Family Guy box set for £60, half price fashion, 75% off hardbacks, and fabulous Easter deals...

The cheapest Easter egg tastes best

by Szu Ping Chan | Easter wouldn't be the same without our egg-cellent annual taste test. We put cheap and expensive eggs through their paces.

Published in March 2009

Banks are better than building societies

by Szu Ping Chan | New research suggests banks offer more competitive deals than building societies on both savings accounts and mortgages. Szu Ping Chan puts this to the test.

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | This week's highlights include 50% off fashion, the complete Dad's Army collection for £40, half price books, and dinner for four for £15....

Frugal Friday

by Rachel Wait | Missed yesterday's instalment of our Frugal Friday discounts and deals? This week's round-up of bargains includes 30% off the Le Creuset range, half price fashion, 80% off DVDs and fantastic Mother's Day gifts...

Beware Michael Jackson ticket touts

by Emma Lunn | Tickets to Michael Jackson's summer residency at London's O2 sold out in record time. But fans should be wary of paying over the odds for tickets or buying them from unofficial sources.

The cost of on demand TV

by Szu Ping Chan | Busy lives and last minute lunches mean we often miss our favourite programmes. Here's one way to watch TV without having to set that recorder...

50 things you can get for under £5

by Szu Ping Chan | Whether it's a new mobile phone, £5 broadband or 10p theatre tickets, here are 50 of the best bargains - all for under a fiver...

Don't waste money on a diesel car

by Szu Ping Chan | Research suggests it could take 28 years to recoup the cost of buying a diesel car. We tell you why this supposed greener fuel isn't always worth it...

Published in February 2009

Seven clever ways to save cash

by Szu Ping Chan | Want to save money without cutting the essentials? Here's seven money saving gems to get your teeth into...

Why it's risky to borrow and save with the same bank

by Jane Baker | Jane Baker explains why banks' right of set off could cause serious financial trauma.

Amazon isn’t always the best

by Szu Ping Chan | Amazon is a firm favourite with the nation’s online shoppers, but how does it really shape up to the competition?

Get Suited And Booted For £15!

by Szu Ping Chan | Want a complete suit for £15? We test a whole range of office clobber which won’t cramp your style or wallet…

Save £££s With A Netbook

by Szu Ping Chan | No-frills netbook computers have surged in popularity. But whether you’re thinking of buying one, or confused about Linux vs. Windows, here’s the lowdown...

Five Fabulous Financial Products!

by Rachel Wait | With so much doom and gloom around, it can be hard to stay optimistic. But believe it or not, it’s still possible to get your hands on some great financial products to help weather the storm…

How Much Your Bank Costs You

by Neil Faulkner | Sticking with your bank for all your needs cost you money, but how much?

Find Your Valentine's Gift Here - For Under £20

by Serena Cowdy | If you’re lacking Valentine’s inspiration, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve searched high and low to find a host of thoughtful, romantic and quirky gifts for under £20.