Shopping archive

Published in December 2012

How much Christmas is costing the lovemoney team

by Rebecca Rutt | Christmas is an expensive time of year and here's what the editorial team will be spending.

Frugal Christmas gifts for kids

by Chiara Cavaglieri | Keeping the cost of Christmas to a minimum? Then don't miss our round up of the best budget Christmas gifts for the children in your life.

The best Christmas present cashback deals this week

by John Fitzsimons | In the build up to Christmas each week we'll bring you the deals offering you the best cashback on your Christmas present spending.

Christmas presents that make the world a better place

by ReenaSewraz | Want to make a positive impact on the world around you this festive season? Then have a look at these alternative gift ideas.

The cheapest places to buy Christmas gadgets

by Rebecca Rutt | If you're buying someone a gadget this Christmas make sure you get the best price.

Cheap Christmas drinks 2012

by John Fitzsimons | Now is the time to take advantage of the various cheap deals on alcoholic and soft drinks to stock up in time for Christmas.

Christmas presents you should never buy on the high street

by ReenaSewraz | Reena Sewraz takes a look at where you should be heading to get hold of the best bargains online this Christmas...

High street stores vs. online shops

by ReenaSewraz | The web or the high street: which is cheaper this Christmas? Reena Sewraz finds out...

Why the American Express gift card could be a waste of money

by ReenaSewraz | The first American Express prepaid gift card opens up a world of choice, but is potentially a rip-off.

The worst ways to pay for Christmas presents

by Cliff D'Arcy | We look at some of the worst ways to pay for Christmas.

The best secret Christmas bargain websites

by Rebecca Rutt | A new wave of websites have been created offering big discounts, but they're only available for a limited time.

Published in November 2012

Retailers' last order dates for Christmas deliveries

by lovemoney staff | We reveal the last Christmas order dates for some of the biggest online retailers.

by Sue Hayward | Free delivery slots can mean sitting around all day waiting for your item. But as one retailer launches free one-hour delivery slots, we look at other ways to sort your delivery as cheaply as possible.

Shoppers overspend by £30 on every supermarket visit

by Rebecca Rutt | The supermarkets are duping us into spending more, but we're partly to blame by not budgeting.

The VistaQuest disposable digital camera: novel idea or waste of time?

by ReenaSewraz | Disposable cameras seemed to go the way of the dodo once digital cameras took off. But now there's a camera which is both digital and disposable. Why would you want one?

Amazon's Black Friday Deals Week: how to take advantage

by ReenaSewraz | Over the next seven days Amazon will heavily discount thousands of products, including TVs and laptops, to bring shoppers millions of pounds worth of savings ahead of Christmas.

BeforeWeBuy, TopCashBack, Voucher Comparison: shopping tools put to the test

by ReenaSewraz | We put the latest shopping tools from BeforeWeBuy, TopCashBack and Voucher Comparison to the test to find out which were the best for savvy shopping online.

Flubit.com: the new shopping website that will save you cash

by Donna Ferguson | Could new website Flubit.com really save you money shopping online? We put it to the test.

Comet: why gift vouchers make terrible presents

by Emma Lunn | As Comet comes crashing down, leaving many with gift vouchers our of pocket, we look at why gift vouchers make terrible presents.

Daysoft contact lens customers 'refused prescriptions'

by Neil Faulkner | Daysoft contact lenses are being bad-mouthed by some opticians, with accusations that they may be refusing to issue prescriptions to their customers.

Tesco Clubcard Exchange returns for Christmas

by John Fitzsimons | Double the value of your Clubcard vouchers with the Christmas Clubcard Exchange.

Published in October 2012

Ffrees: I'm saying no to the card that gives a big shopping discount

by Neil Faulkner | The new Ffrees payment card allows you to get up to 20% of your spending back. But I'm not a fan.

The best baby gifts for new mums

by Donna Ferguson | Donna Ferguson shares her insights on the best baby gifts to buy a new mum and where to get them cheapest.

The cheapest place to get a flu jab

by John Fitzsimons | As we enter cold season, where is the cheapest place to get this year's flu jab?

Will dynamic ticketing mean cheaper tickets?

by Rosalind Kent | Dynamic ticketing promises to cut the cost of tickets to sporting and entertainment events. But will it really lead to cheaper tickets?

Costco, Shorters Club, Amazon Grocery: the pros and cons of buying in bulk

by ReenaSewraz | Buying your goods in bulk from outlets like Costco and Shorters Club can get you huge discounts. But are there any downsides?

Txtr beagle: new £8 Kindle rival

by ReenaSewraz | Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Amazon Kindle? Well the txtr beagle e-reader will only cost £8. But there's a catch.

M&S to reward 'shwopping' with discounts

by ReenaSewraz | Unwanted shoes, boots and bags can be swapped in-store to receive a £5 discount on brand new Marks & Spencer items for a limited period during October.

Top 20 toys for Christmas 2012

by John Fitzsimons | Toys R Us has published its list of the top toys for Christmas this year. Here's a rundown of what they are and where you can buy them for less.

Paperless receipts: a good idea?

by Donna Ferguson | A company has launched a service allowing you to store your receipts online. Here's how it works.

Published in September 2012

Pay as you tweet: the first Kellogg's 'Tweet Shop' opens

by Rebecca Rutt | You can now use a tweet instead of cash to pay for the latest product from Kellogg's. But how does it work and will other retailers follow?

Netflix vs Lovefilm vs NOW TV: the cheapest way to watch films

by John Fitzsimons | There are now two serious rivals to Lovefilm in the UK movie rental market.

How to get your Glastonbury 2013 tickets

by Rebecca Rutt | If you're keen to make sure you don't miss out on going to Glastonbury festival next year, here's the full guide on how to get your tickets.

Published in August 2012

ReDigi: the world's first second-hand mp3 marketplace

by ReenaSewraz | Spring cleaning your hard drive? No need to delete the clutter, now there is a place to flog your second-hand digital music in ReDigi.

Published in July 2012

Where to find voucher codes

by lovemoney staff | If you're after the very best deals when you shop, make sure you check out these top tips...

Published in June 2012

The best cheap Father's Day gifts

by John Fitzsimons | With Father's Day just a week away, we have the best cheap gifts worth a look.

Ukash: how to pay with cash when shopping online

by John Fitzsimons | By making use of the Ukash service, you don't need to worry about your personal details falling into fraudsters' hands when shopping online.

Yipiii.co.uk: cashback and freebies at the spin of a wheel

by ReenaSewraz | The first ever 'winmarket' platform invites you to spin to win your shopping. But can it really save you money?

Published in May 2012

New app lets you pay in-store with your PayPal account

by Laura Shannon | You can now pay in-store using your PayPal account thanks to this clever new app.

Barclaycard axes Freedom loyalty scheme

by ReenaSewraz | The Freedom scheme from Barclaycard is on its way out, leaving customers just two months to spend their Reward Money.

Tennis: the cheapest ways to get Wimbledon tickets

by Sue Hayward | Wimbledon is just a matter of weeks away. We look at the cheapest ways to get to see the elite of tennis up close.

Return of the Tesco Clubcard Voucher Exchange

by Laura Shannon | The Tesco Summer Clubcard Voucher Exchange is back. Find out how you can boost the value of your Clubcard points.

The UK's favourite shop

by Robert Powell | Robert Powell looks at new research outlining the nation's favourite retailer.

Published in April 2012

Tesco launches online marketplace to rival Amazon

by Ed Bowsher | Tesco has opened up the Tesco Direct website to third party retailers.

Voucher codes leave you worse off!

by Neil Faulkner | At least 68 out of 100 voucher codes tested would not have saved you money.

Why I'm boycotting Amazon and where I'm going instead

by Ed Bowsher | Don't let Amazon take over the world! There are loads of great alternatives.

Alcohol pricing plan to hit low income households hardest

by Robert Powell | Government plans to introduce a minimum price for alcohol will hit low income, heavy drinking households as well as moderate consumers, according to an influential think tank.

Published in March 2012

Addicted to Apple? A sucker for Starbucks? The big brands that bankrupt us

by Robert Powell | Big brands have taken over the everyday lives of many. But what compels some of us to loyally spend our cash on the products of such a relatively small group of companies? Robert Powell investigates.

Published in February 2012

Improve your bargaining skills: how to haggle

by Neil Faulkner | Haggling and bargaining can save you serious money. We explain the two rules of confident negotiation.

Valentine's deals for every budget!

by Robert Powell | Whether you're playing it stingy, sensible or steep this Valentine's Day, Robert Powell has some do's, don'ts and essential bargain hunting tips for a cheap Feb 14th.