Almost 60 per cent of Brits save via comparison sites, claims Virgin Media

Independent research, commissioned by Virgin Media, has shown 90 per cent of us have saved money online, with two thirds of those using comparison websites. 

It also claims we feel broadband offers more value for money than any other form of entertainment, especially as so many people use it to save online on other products too; the nine out of every 10 surveyed either saved via comparison sites (64 per cent), online shopping in general (63 per cent) or online auction sites such as eBay (50 per cent).

Virgin's Entertainment Spending Survey, carried out by ICM Research, saw them gain the opinions of more than 2,000 UK respondents. Of those, 45 per cent said they 'could not live without' using broadband internet. We can only image most of them don't remember anything before the mid/late 90s, when somehow we managed to get by.

Other than giving comparison sites some much needed love, the survey showed up what some consider to be poor value for money entertainment options: 20 per cent cited a cinema trip, 15 per cent a family outing and 12 per cent a 'music concert'. It's a shame they didn't ask about football prices - maybe next time.

Another interesting stat was the percentage of people who 'never did/used' certain forms of entertainment. Of those Brits surveyed 34 per cent never attend music concerts, with the same number also never attending the theatre. To these people we say, get out more. That said, only five per cent 'never' eat out, compared to 10 per cent who never use broadband - and 16 per cent who never use a mobile phone.

It seems foolish at this point not to mention some broadband bargains available right now, right here. If you click on the 'broadband' tab at the top of the page, then head on to 'special offers', you'll find some great New Year deals from the likes of Plusnet, BT, the Post Office, TalkTalk, Sky, Orange, XLN Telecom, AOL, O2, Tesco and Primus. Oh, and Virgin Media too.