Fancy saving hundreds of pounds next time you eat out or get your hair done?

Thanks to websites offering money-off vouchers and deals, it’s a no-brainer. VoucherCodes.com is the biggest and best-known of the bunch, while others include Wowcher.co.uk, Groupon.co.uk and HalfDiscount.com.

Research by market analysts Mintel shows it’s not just hard-up people who use these money saving sites, they’re equally popular with wealthy professionals who want to shop smart.

Taking advantage of these offers is simple, as they have apps that can be downloaded to smartphones, Facebook pages and instant updates via Twitter. VoucherCodes’ website vouchercodes.co.uk draws a staggering six-and-a-half million visitors each month and its app has been downloaded by more than two-and-a-half million bargain hunters.

The website is awash with money-off and two-for-one voucher deals across 2,000 UK restaurants, retailers and attractions.

Brands include Browns, The Living Room, All Bar One, Strada, Zizzi, Loch Fyne, Malmaison, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Argos, B&Q and Sky.

There are also vouchers for gyms such as LA Fitness, days out and theme parks Legoland, Thorpe Park and Alton Towers. Wowcher is another way of avoiding paying full price for restaurants, beauty treatments, concerts, lessons, tours, spas and hair salons.

The site wowcher.co.uk centres on a deal a day, and along with rivals, uses the power of group or bulk-buying.

Groupon at groupon.co.uk also revolves around a main deal and is crammed with money-off things to do, eat or buy. It works out where in the UK you are accessing from and tailors its offers accordingly.

Offers usually have a time limit and recent examples include a glamorous photo shoot at a photography studio in Long Hanborough for just £19, down from more than £100, and a Champagne afternoon tea for two at a four-star hotel for £19, a saving of more than £20 off the normal price.

The team at HalfDiscount.com scour more than 1,000 online retailers to find promotions, money-off vouchers and deals which are listed on its website. It covers everything, from books and clothing and flowers to electronics, computers and internet services. Looking at the deals on offer on all these voucher websites, it’s easy to wonder if there’s a catch.

Actually, there’s no doubt the promotions on these leading sites are genuine and offer a real way to save cash.

But as with anything, it’s important to read the small print, as some offers have conditions of use attached, such as they can only be used at a particular day or time.

If online vouchers, they may only be valid for internet shopping and not accepted in a bricks and mortar store. If in doubt, all the leading operators have helplines or are easily contacted via email.

So, as long as you take time to check the details, your only problem should be deciding which delicious deal to bag first.