The Bargain Hunter: Retailers slash prices to beat the VAT hike

Music to our ears

With Christmas spending and the annual January financial makeover leaving us all counting the pennies, the last thing bargain-hunters need right now is a VAT rise. Fortunately, several retailers are slashing prices in store and online in a bid to beat the hike and keep our costs down. At Play.com, everything from home computers to CD albums has been reduced by up to 70 per cent. Some of the best buys are in the video games department, where recent releases such as Football Manger 2011 and Blur can be picked up for as little as £9.99. Elsewhere on the site, grab Mumford and Sons' Mercury Prize-nominated debut album Sign No More for £3.99 and the autobiography of comedian Frankie Boyle, below, for just £3.29.

Morrisons crunches prices

Earlier this week, Morrisons launched its "biggest ever" price crunch, with thousands of grocery items reduced by 50 per cent. Most of the savings are on day-to-day buys, such as tea and breakfast cereals, but traditionally more expensive purchases such as beer, wine and household goods have also had prices slashed. Head over to http://ind.pn/dJZxmp for a full list, where you'll also find cute little widget that calculates your total savings every time you add an item to your basket.

King of the vouchers

The best printable coupon offer this week comes via VoucherCodes.co.uk and entitles customers to £20 of savings at Burger King. Simply visit http://ind.pn/hUv3xK and print the page of eight cut-out coupons.

A treat for leather-lovers

Finally, the aptly named Bargain Crazy website has launched its new year sale with unbelievable savings. Examples include women's denim leggings reduced from £20 to £2.99, a women's Love trenchcoat, down from £75 to £19.99 and, in the homewares department, a Metropole black faux leather sofa, below, down from £1,600 to just £349. Visit BargainCrazy.com.

j.hall@independent.co.uk