A little site called Groupon pioneered the brilliant idea of harnessing the collective buying power of total strangers to create group discounts (group coupon = groupon). They launched about a year and a half ago in the States and have been growing at a ridiculous rate since. Now, with Groupon London ready to launch any day now, it’s time to figure out what group couponing is all about.

Groupon features a daily deal on something to do, see or buy at an unbeatable price. If enough people sign up, you get the deal! It’s easy and it works really, really well. For example, today’s deal in Los Angeles was a 60 minute massage for $39 (Approx £26) – more than half off. You can sign up for Groupon London here.

Can’t stand the suspense and want to try group couponing NOW? Try Groupola.com from the founder of MyVoucherCodes.co.uk. It launched last month in eight UK cities and plans to expand. The model is the same. Today’s London deal is £45 for a West End show and a meal at a West End restaurant. Not too late to get in on it now!

My recommendation? Sign up for both sites and seeing what kind of deals they offer if they cover your area. It’s another great tool to add to your budget mum toolkit!

The best of the week from VoucherHub.com, MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, Savoo.co.uk and VoucherCodes.co.uk.

UK Office Direct
10% off your first order
Code: CAT10
Expires 31^st December 2010

B&Q
15% off everything
Printable voucher
Expires 30^th January 2010

Crave Maternity
10% off
Code: NEWMUM
Expires 28^th February 2010

Cheeky Wipes
£5 off Cheeky Wipes kit
Code: recommend

Mothercare
10% off
Code: AF9
Expires 29^th May 2010

The Hut
Extra 10% off toys
Code: TOY10
Expires 31^st 2010

Firetrap
10% off Spring Summer 2010 Collection
Code: NEWJAN10
Expires 31^st January 2010

Woolworths
£5 off
Code: ZQ311
Expires 31st January 2010

New-Look
£10 off
Code: LOVE50
Expires 28th January 2010

Thorntons
20% off Orders Over £25 at Thorntons
Code: VCVI
Expires 24^th January 2010

Wallis
10% off and free delivery
Code: WLEVF
Expires 26^th January 2010

Elemis
15% off first orders
Code: AFF1001
Expires 31^st January 2010

Homebase
15% off
Code: FURN15
Expires 28^th January

T.M.Lewin
£10 discount on basket values of £100 or more
Code: AFLSLE

Additions Direct
15% discount off everything
Code: xx585

The best of the week from VoucherHub.com, MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, DiscountCoder.com, Savoo.co.uk, NetVoucherCodes.co.uk, VoucherCodes.co.uk.

Kaleidoscope
New customers enter the code at the checkout to get 10% off all purchases.
Code: PP2P
Expires Sun 31 Jan 10

Oli.co.uk
10% off and free delivery for first time Oli.co.uk customers.
Code: RHTP
Expires Mon 08 Feb 10

Kodak Shop UK
15% off Digital Cameras
Code: Kodak15
Expires Sun 31st Jan 10

DK Travel
Download Your Own Free Bespoke Travel Guide
Code: Free

Very.co.uk
30£ off on when spent over 60£ for the first time on very.co.uk
Code: ZG103

Oasis
10% off
Code: VCCOUK0110
Expires Sun 17th Jan 10

Strawberry fool
Discount: 10%
Code: TEN25
Expires 31 January

Yellow Moon
Discount: £10 off and free delivery
Code number: M10JAN
Expires 1 February

The Baby Catalogue
10% off
Code:  I-MVC01
Expires Sun 31th Jan 10

Funmum.com Maternity
Free Delivery and Returns
Code: FMMVC3101
Expires Sun 31th Jan 10

Tumble Tots
15% off Books, Games and Puzzles
Code: 2010jansale
Expires Sun 31th Jan 10

Boden
10% off plus free postage and returns
Code: LN3P
Expires: Sun 28th Feb 10

La Redoute
£10 off first order when you spend £20 or more
Code: 3339
Expires: Wed 31st Mar 10

Barratts
10% off all orders
Code: WINTERDISCBSB
Expires: Sun 31st Jan 10

TM Lewin
£10 off when you spend £100 or more
Code: AFLSLE
Expires: Sun 28th Feb 10

Pet Supermarket
10% off
Code: sale010
Expires Sun 31 Jan 10

Simply Piste
£5 off when you spend over £50
Code: JAN50
Expires Sun 31 Jan 10

Totally Funky
10% off for orders over £25
Code: TEN25
Expires Sun 31 Jan 10

Laskys
10% off all Sony Readers
Code: 10READER
Expires Wed 20 Jan 10

Littlewoods
£15 off when you spend £25 or more on your first order
Code: ZG127
Expires Tue 02 Feb 10

Love your uggs but don’t like the fashion statement they make in public? Check out these gorgeous, warm, comfy boots I just discovered from Kau!

Get 25% off your purchase with code kaumama through 28th February.

Kau London’s handcrafted boots are manufactured in New Zealand using traditional, organic methods that support the local agricultural community.

You can customise yours in three different heights, seven colour options, two sole types and three linings, letting you pick and mix to create the perfect boots for you. Just note: If your specific order is not in stock it can take up to 28 days to ship them.

All boots have a reinforced heel support and removable cushioned sheepskin innersole plus a shock-absorber to make them super comfortable. And they are naturally water resistant.

Looking for a way to make your Waitrose habit a little bit less guilty? Looky what I learned by my weekly email newsletter from Martin’s Money Tips!

Pick up The Telegraph (£1.80 on Sat, £1.90 on Sun) on any Saturday or Sunday until Sun 24 Jan and you’ll find a voucher for £10 off a £50 spend at Waitrose. The offer’s valid in UK stores, and each voucher will be valid from the date that it’s printed until the following Friday.

Six vouchers are being printed in total over three weekends, and there’s a max. of one voucher per transaction.

The vouchers can’t be used on tobacco, stamps, mobile top ups, e-Top ups, lottery purchases, gift vouchers, cash back, petrol or car park charges. They also can’t be used online, or at motorway service stations and petrol stations. The offer ends on Fri 29 Jan.

If you’re planning on using three of the vouchers during January, enter the receipt details from the three shops on Waitrose’s offer page to get two more vouchers for £10 off a £50 spend. These will also be valid in store, and will be usable in February. Find your nearest Waitrose.

Thanks for the tip, Martin!

SnugBaby.co.uk is offering VoucherMum.com readers an exclusive 10% off voucher. Just enter code VOUCHERMUM through the end of January to take advantage!

SnugBaby offers a range of lovely baby accessories and specialises in beautiful, soft UK-made mei tai baby carriers. The carriers are suitable from birth to toddlerhood and come in a range of fantastic designs. They feature an innovative self adjusting seat area to make them comfortable for even the smallest babies, without sacrificing security and support for either parent or baby. The carriers are tested to British Standards.

Carrie, SnugBaby’s founder, started the company when she set out to find a soft baby carrier that was comfortable for both her baby and herself. A great mum success story!

It’s no big secret I’m a massive fan of using voucher codes. These days I never make an online purchase without checking for one. But it wasn’t always so! I only became committed to using voucher codes a couple of years ago when I first discovered voucher code websites.

Since that time, using voucher codes has become more and more popular–but there is still some education to be had! In honour of the new year, I’ve collected all of my best voucher code-finding tips in one post.

1. Check the voucher websites. There are loads and loads out there. To find a list of the ones I like, just check one of my weekly voucher roundups. I’m particularly fond of VoucherHub.com because it’s based on voucher-sharing (anyone can submit a code) and user feedback makes finding useable codes easy.

2. Get on Twitter and Facebook. So many merchants are now giving exclusive codes away to Twitter followers and Facebook fans. Emma Bridgewater, for example, sometimes tweets 1-day only voucher codes.

3. Sign up for email alerts and newsletters. Get the most current voucher codes (and sales updates) directly from retailers by getting on their email lists. Lots of the voucher websites have newsletters too.

4. Check the retailer’s website. Argos, for example, lists current codes on its site for any clever shopper to find. You might have to dig around on the site map to find the right page, but lots of stores do this. You can also just call customer service and ask if there are any current codes.

5. If all else fails, Google. Search for the name of the store and the words voucher code. You’ll have tonnes of results, which makes the process a bit slow–so I do this last and when I’m desperate!

Now get out there and save some money!

These are the best of the week (in my view!) from VoucherHub.com, MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, PriceCuts.co.uk, Savoo.co.uk, NetVoucherCodes.co.uk, VoucherCodes.co.uk, EveryDaySale.co.uk, MoneySupermarket.co.uk and VoucherCodes.com.

Karen Millen
10% off
Code: vc1209
Expires Sun 20th Dec 09

Benefit Cosmetics
Free Delivery
Code: DEILVFRE
Expires Thu 24th Dec 09

Argos
Save 20% on Christmas Trees, Lights and Decorations
Code: XMAS20

Topshop
£5 off order
Code: TSFIRST15

Oasis
22% off
Code: 20vc09
Expires: 22/12/09

My Mini Monsters
20% off
Code: PREGNANT20
Expires Sun 31st Jan 10

Lloyds Pharmacy
20% off
Code: ADC33
End Date: 19/12/2009

Leekes
10% off
Code: 10XMAS 09
Expires 21/12/09

Warehouse
Discount of 15%
Code: REVOLUTION

Figleaves
15% off
Code: figvcuk2
Expires Sun 20th Dec 09

Kodak Gallery
25% OFF Personalised Cover Photo Book
Code: UKHS7-PCPB
End Date: 13/12/2009

Littlewoods
15% off anything
Code: xx587

National Express
10% discount
Code: COUNTEN

Dorothy Perkins
Exclusive 25% off all orders over £50 at
Code: DPVOUCHA
Expires Mon 21st Dec 09

The Body Shop
Exclusive 20% off and Free Delivery
Code: VCXMAS20
Expires Tue 22nd Dec 09

Baby Curls
10% off
Code: XMAS
End Date: 31/12/2009

Dim-T is bringing back their popular 2 for 1 promotion on main courses in January.

To get your personalised voucher, go to www.dimt.co.uk, click on the 2 for 1 promotion and enter your details.

This will put you on the mailing list, but they don’t send very many emails—and when they do they are about great offers like this one!

Also in January and February, Dim-T will be offering Take Away Noodle dishes at £4.75 for orders placed Monday to Friday between 12pm & 5pm at all sites except for More London.

The brilliant ladies at sk:n clinics have provided us with a special offer, exclusively for VoucherMum.com readers.

Even if you’ve partied to the max over Christmas, a professional exfoliation treatment will make you look like you’ve been in bed by 10 every night. According to sk:n, a powerful exfoliation can double cell turnover, erase fine lines and shed years off your face in as little as an hour.

Nationwide chain sk:n clinics are offering VoucherMum.com readers a Manuka Honey deep cleansing  facial at a discount of £35 (worth £79). Quote ‘vouchermum’ when booking and you will automatically receive your discount.

The treatment includes a microdermabrasion or glycolic peel followed by a gorgeous, skin rehydrating and deeply nourishing manuka honey mask. Everyone will want to know your secret!

To find your local sk:n clinic visit www.sknclinics.co.uk or call 0800 028 7222. The offer ends 31 January 2010.