Where are Britain’s biggest bargain hunters?

Think you’re a bargain hunter? You’re in good company.

A survey of 2,000 UK adults by OnePoll for Virgin Red, found that 65% of Brits proudly wear the bargain-hunting badge.

The survey, which focused on festive shopping and the impact of rising living costs, found that 42% of us who celebrate Christmas are worried about our wallets this year.

Belfast

Belfast takes the crown, spending a whopping 3.5 hours a week hunting for deals.

Gift shopping tops their list (56%), followed by chocolates (41%) and festive foods (35%). And what’s their secret weapon? Nearly half (47%) of them swear by loyalty point schemes.

The people of Belfast also have a crafty side, with homemade gifts and decorations being popular ways to make savings.

Glasgow

Hot on Belfast’s heels is Glasgow, with Glaswegians spending 3.4 hours a week scouring for discounts.

London

The capital isn’t one to be left behind, with Londoners spending 3.2 hours a week hunting down bargains.

Interestingly, they're more likely to search for discounts on flights over the festive period than anywhere else.

Chelmsford

The bargain-hunting spirit is strong in the Essex city of Chelmsford, where locals spend 3 hours a week sniffing out discounts.

Loyalty schemes are a big win here too, with 47% of Chelmsford’s bargain-seekers relying on them to make their money go further.

Bristol

Over in the south west and Bristolians dedicate 2.7 hours a week to finding the best prices.

An impressive 61% of them love racking up loyalty points.

Liverpool

In Merseyside, Liverpudlians spend 2.6 hours per week bargain-hunting, with 46% favouring price comparison websites to get the best deal.

Manchester

In Manchester, 2.5 hours a week are spent searching for bargains.

Mancs love a deal on alcohol (34%), festive foods (27%) and chocolates (27%). And, like their northern neighbours, loyalty schemes are key, with 42% of Mancunians swearing by them.

Southampton

Southampton also clocks in at 2.5 hours of bargain-hunting per week, with festive food, gifts and chocolates topping the shopping list.

A staggering 53% of Southampton’s bargain hunters favour loyalty schemes to stretch their budgets.

Leeds

True to their reputation, Leeds folk spend 2.3 hours a week hunting down the best deals, confirming that Yorkshire really knows how to shop smart.

Birmingham

Birmingham residents spend 2.1 hours per week on their bargain hunts. And just like many of their fellow Britons, 49% of Birmingham shoppers rely on loyalty points to save a little extra.

Sheffield

Up in Sheffield, bargain-hunting is a serious business, with locals spending 2 hours a week on their quest for deals.

Newcastle

In the north east, Geordies spend 1.9 hours a week searching for bargains, with chocolates, gifts and festive foods topping their list.

So, whether you're in Belfast, London, or Bristol, it’s clear: Brits are serious about getting the best deals.

Head to our money saver page, for more tips and tricks for making valuable savings.

Gabrielle Pickard Whitehead

Gabrielle is an experienced journalist, who has been writing about personal finance and the economy for over 17 years. She specialises in social and economic equality, welfare and government policy, with a strong focus on helping readers stay informed about the most important issues affecting financial security.

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