The websites that make life easier in these hard times
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We're all busy shopping around for the best prices in all types of stores, in the quest to be savvy consumers and to save some money. But you don't have to do all the research yourself as there are many websites offering advice and tips on saving money. This week Smart Consumer takes a look at some of them.
Our current favourite is www.bethrifty.ie.
Launched in April, and already boasting 8,000 members, this is a 'cash-back' website like the type popular in the US and UK, where you actually make money.
Basically you become a member, which is free, and then you can link through the site to around 2,000 companies to make online purchases.
For each purchase made you get a cash amount or percentage of the sale price sent to your bank or PayPal account by Bethrifty.
Oasis, Dorothy Perkins and Coast are currently offering a 4pc cash-back; you get €30 for an O2 purchase and €70 back on an Eircom broadband bundle purchase.
When booking your summer holiday book with ebookers and you can get 10pc back through this site.
Honestly, there is no catch.
www.thriftypages.ie is a blog-based site that brings together articles and posts on money saving tips across all areas.
Recent articles include "how to get 150 shaves from one razor blade" and "understanding the mortgage interest relief situation".
There is a lot of useful information on this site but it can sometimes be difficult to sort through.
Also, given the current price war among supermarkets it would be better if the special offers section was updated daily.
If you are interested in grocery prices you should also head to www.cheapeats.ie. Another blog-based site but this one focuses only on café and restaurant deals, special offers and grocery prices.
It is up to date -- for example, Aldi's nationwide discounts which were announced last Thursday were posted the same morning, and future Lidl discounts also posted so that you can plan ahead, making this a worthwhile resource.
Another site where people can share information about deals they have found or heard about is www.goodbuy.ie.
This seems wholly dependent on the information users add so when I searched for deals on cameras, for example, I didn't find anything.
I did find posts on hotel deals and sales on lingerie but if you're looking for something specific you may not find it. This is one for browsing through when you have some time.
www.itsyourmoney.ie operated by the Financial Regulator, is the most comprehensive site for getting advice on, and comparing the cost of, financial services such as all the types of insurance, personal loans and credit, savings and investments.
Regular price comparisons are published allowing you to compare costs for car insurance, home insurance and more. So if you're thinking of switching provider, look here first.
If you're thinking of switching your health insurance provider then take a look at www.hia.ie, the website of the Health Insurance Authority, an independent regulator of the private health insurance market in Ireland.
It contains advice on choosing health insurance but also has detailed price comparisons of the various components of private health insurance across the providers. It's very detailed and it's good.
www.callcosts.ie, run by the Commission for Telecommunication Regulation, is the one for you if you think you can get a better deal on your landline, mobile or broadband bill.
Work out your usage then enter it into the tool on the site.
It responds with the best deals for your usage pattern. This is a great research tool to use before you start to look for a new provider or bargain with your existing one.
If you want to save money and energy then a quick glance at www.powerofone.ie will tell you that if you lower your thermostat by 1 degree you can save €100 per month and if you never leave appliances on standby you can save €30 per month.
Apparently always filling appliances before use, like your kettle and washing machine, will save €100 per month.
But if you really want to be shocked at the cost of your electricity use, go to the appliance calculator on www.esb.ie.
Here you can put in the type of appliances and their usage in each room in the house and then the calculator will tell you how much it costs.
Then enter the same appliances with reduced usage to see how much you could save.
Of course, for customers of Bord Gais and Airtricity you can take at least another 10pc off that if you have made the switch.
