28 April 2009
Bartering is just one of the money-saving methods Britons are turning to in an attempt to slash outgoings, it is claimed.
New research from uSwitch.com shows that 73% of people hate paying full price for items and are instead opting to haggle.
"The stigma attached to using discount vouchers or even picking up small change off the street is also a thing of the past," suggests Louise Bond, Personal Finance Manager at the website.
She believes that "battening down the financial hatches" for the short-term at least can help spenders weather the recession more effectively.
Among the other penny-pinching techniques being used is DIY lunches, with people taking a packed lunch to work instead of forking out on more food, with savings equating to £173 million.
One way of making the most of savings is by finding an account with great returns. Research conducted by uSwitch.com recently discovered that 22 million savers have no idea what level of interest they currently earn on their main account.