Standing up to comparisons

FAR, far away from the hysteria of supposedly saving money in the January sales, there are some services we simply cannot do without and every cent we can shave of the right deal counts in these challenging times.

However, researching just the right package for everything from phone service and broadband connectivity, to power suppliers and financial protections, takes time. It also demands a real understanding of the product type and its features to judge one firm’s offer against the other without becoming distracted by a highly polished website.

Price comparison websites now pop up on any search engine with the mention of a range of consumer services and financial products, often towering over individual company listings — but can they really steer you right and save you hard cash?