Top 10 money-saving websites

Save when you shop online

Been eyeing up a new sofa or toying with the idea of switching energy providers? You\'re not just saving your bus fare when you choose to shop or search online, you could be saving hundreds of pounds. Here are 10 fabulous websites that can save you time, money and energy...

Feature by Jane Murphy

Give and receive

What\'s the big deal? A \'community gifting movement\' that allows members to give and receive items such as furniture, leftover building supplies and other household goods for free. Just sign up online for your local group then you can browse through what\'s on offer in your area - and list the bits and pieces you\'re happy to give away. It\'s a great way to declutter the attic while doing someone else a favour at the same time. Genius!

For one day only

The website: www.grabitnow.com

What\'s the big deal? A discount shopping website that only sells one product a day. At midnight, one homeware item, gift or gadget is offered for sale at a bargain price for 24 hours only. Recent deals include a Kenwood Retro Coffee Maker with a RRP of £180 on sale for just £78. Only limited stocks are available - so it could sell out before midnight - and there\'s no way of knowing what will be on offer the following day. Be warned, it\'s addictive!

Compare and contrast

The website: www.uswitch.com

What\'s the big deal? A totally impartial comparison site that helps you get the best deal on your household bills and personal finance products. In each case, you just input a few basic details about your home and current payments, then you\'ll be able to compare prices on a range of services including gas, electricity, home phone, broadband and insurance. You can then switch providers immediately to get the best deal possible.

Read the code

The website: www.myvouchercodes.co.uk

What\'s the big deal? A clever little site that lists all current voucher codes (also known as promotional codes, e-vouchers or discount codes) that will save you money when you shop online from UK retailers. All you need to do is input the code given when you make your purchase. Offers vary from free home delivery to 30% off an LCD TV. You can also sign up for a free weekly newsletter that lists all the latest discounts.

Well decorated

The website: mydeco.com

What\'s the big deal? A fabulous furniture and homeware shopping site, featuring weekly exclusive offers with top retailers. For example, recent deals have included 25% off everything at Cargo. There\'s also a great special offers page that lists all the very latest sales information from leading stores, so you can see at a glance where to shop to get the very best deals, rather than trawling through each individual site.

Shop till you drop

The website: www.uk.shopping.com

What\'s the big deal? An online shopping comparison network that allows you to find out who\'s offering the best price on whatever it is you want to buy. Just use the site menu or search box to find the item you\'re after, then you can read product reviews and compare prices at leading online retailers such as Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, Currys and Dixons.

Child\'s play

The website: www.kidstart.co.uk

What\'s the big deal? A brilliant shopping portal that gives you money back for the kids. Yes, really. Simply register for free then when you use the site to shop online at one of 250 participating retailers - including B&Q, Homebase and Argos - you\'ll receive up to 20% back, which is put straight into the child\'s trust fund or bank or building society account of your choice.

Eco-savings

The website: www.ethicalsuperstore.com

What\'s the big deal? A one-stop shop for ethical gadgets - many of which will help you save wads of cash in the long term. Some examples? The ingenious Eco Kettle (£29.50) uses 31% less energy than standard kettles. Or Hippo the Water Saver (£1.99) sits in your toilet cistern to help conserve three litres of water per flush. The site also has regular special offers.

Best of the bidding

The website: www.greenmystyle.com

What\'s the big deal? The \'daily eco glossy\' where style gurus pick out all the best homeware and fashion bargains currently available on eBay. Every day the chosen expert trawls eBay for the most eye-catching deal then posts it on the front of the site so you can go straight on and make a bid. Recent finds have included a retro wall-mounted kitchen cabinet and a gorgeous original Ernest Race Donkey bookcase. Happy bidding!

Cash back!

The website: www.cashbackkings.com

What\'s the big deal? A shopping portal that pays you cash every time you buy online from more than 2,000 retailers. It works by passing on the company\'s commission directly to its customers. There are lots of great home and garden deals from the likes of The White Company, Next Directory and Heal\'s. It\'s free to join - and you\'ll only ever pay the lowest online price available.

Save even more cash with our great advice on keeping costs down in the home, plus keep track of your spending in 2009 with House Beautiful\'s monthly budget planner.