At least five million people have used online discount shopping vouchers over the last few weeks, as consumers increasingly try to cut down their Christmas spending. In a week which has seen a record amount of pre-Christmas sales on the high street, more and more retailers have also turned to online discount vouchers to woo reluctant shoppers.

Electrical retailer Dixons, the toy shop Hamleys, the department stores Selfridges and House of Fraser, Argos and Gap are just some of the companies using this tactic.

Once a niche phenomenon, these vouchers have come of age in recent weeks, according to research conducted for the Daily Telegraph.

More than 41 million visits to discount voucher websites were made during October by 8.8 million people, figures show from Nielsen Online, a research company that monitors internet shopping habits.

The discounts work in different ways.

Either they are a voucher that can be printed off and taken into the store and handed over to the shop assistant when you get to the till, or they can be used to shop online.

In the latter, there is usually a code, which the computer user types into a retailer’s website to take advantage of the discount.

There are now many websites, notably MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, codes.co.uk, and MoneySavingExpert.com, which collect all the codes available at any one time.

EXAMPLES:

* 10pc off any digital camera at Jessops.com , using code CAM10

* 20pc off ‘humour’ books at Waterstones.com using code HZ3229

* 20pc off everything at stationery shop Smythson.com , using code JOULES

* 30pc off everything at Gap, by visiting http://www.gapcorporateinvite.com/holiday08/en/ Expires: 30th Nov 2008

* 40pc off everything at Threshers, Wine Rack and Victoria Wine by visiting http://www.thedreamoffer.com/

* Hamleys - http://www.hamleys.com/ 10pc off when using this Discount Code: HAMRH Exp: 22/12/08

* House of Fraser – http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/ £10 off from House of Fraser on your first online order of £50 using promotional code OFMC111 plus Free Standard UK Mainland Delivery. End Date: 24/12/2008

* Red Letter Days – http://www.redletterdays.co.uk/Home 15pc Discount from Red Letter Days when using exclusive voucher code MYVOUCHER Expires: 29-Dec-2008

* Burtons – http://www.burton.co.uk 15pc off at Burton on all orders over £60 when using exclusive code: BURTONSB Expires: 30-Nov-2008

* Hawkins Bazzar – http://www.hawkin.com/ £6 Off a £35 Spend at Hawkin Bazzar using discount code hawkin6 End Date: 30/11/2008

* Hotel Chocolat – http://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/ 10pc off at Hotel Chocolat on all orders over £30 excluding delivery when using voucher code MYVC Expires: 31-Dec-2008

* Littlewoods – http://www.littlewoods.com/ £15 off at Littlewoods on all first orders over £25 when using promotion code: ZG228

* The Body Shop – http://www.thebodyshop.co.uk/ 10pc off any purchase online from The Body Shop when using promotional code: DHAD000451 Expires: 31-Dec-2008

* The White Company – http://www.thewhitecompany.com/ 15pc discount from The White Company on orders over £65 plus Free Delivery using promotion ode: 28CXC Expires: 21-Dec-2008

For more vouchers:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/shoppingvouchers

www.codes.co.uk

www.MyVoucherCodes.co.uk

www.Perks.com