Frugal Friday

Highlights this week include 30% off the Man Booker Prize longlist, hotels from £19 a night and deals on the new Wii Sports Resort game.

Regular shopping guru Rachel Robson is off this week, so I've stepped in to try and fill her shopping stilettos.

There's a running joke in the lovemoney.com editorial team that while she's crazy about fashion and homewares, I'm just a little too obsessed with gadgets and gizmos.

So while we have our usual round-up of the best bargains, discounts and deals, this week's Frugal Friday has a distinct technology twist. You know what they say. While the cat's away...

Books and gadgets

Literature lovers will be delighted to know that Borders has 30% off the Man Booker Prize longlist, announced this week. That's almost a third off all 13 titles, including Summertime by former winner J.M. Coetzee.

In addition, it's your last chance to grab 50% off everything at five Borders stores up and down the country.

Stores in Blanchardstown in Dublin, Llantrisant, London Colney, Oxford Street, and Swindon are closing down in early August, so grab some bargains while you still can.

Fancy yourself as a domestic god or goddess? At £12.50, Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey is half price at Amazon, and should give you some food for thought this weekend.

If you want an insight into how our financial system grew into the goliath it is today, the Ascent of Money by Niall Ferguson now comes in a cheaper paperback edition, and is 40% off at Amazon, at just £5.99.

If you've got your eye on a bargain iTouch or Nano, but don't fancy bidding for one on eBay, Apple's refurbished range could provide the answer.

Prices start from £105 for a first generation iTouch, saving 22% on the RRP, to £245 for the latest 32GB version, saving 13%. You can also get your hands on an 8GB Nano for £79 - that's 26% off.

Apple assures all buyers that it tests and certifies all its products, and gives you a one year warranty for peace of mind.

And if you're a student or teacher at college or university, don't forget the Apple Education Store, which gives staff and students discount on a range of Apple products.

You can also get 10% off energy-saving gadgets and appliances at Nigel's Eco Store with code ECOAUG9. Offer ends 8th August. (Here's a lovemoney.com review of some of these gadgets.)

Film, box sets and games

Next up, DVD bargains:

Elsewhere, Tesco is holding a VAT free promotion on all in-store chart CDs, DVDs and games.

Until 9th August, you can get 15% off hits such as the new Wii Sports Resort game, cult DVD The Watchmen and several Michael Jackson CDs.

And if you don't fancy popping out to Tesco, but want to get Wii-ing with Nintendo's latest offerings, Simplygames.com is offering the Wii Sports Resort with the new Wii Motion Plus Accessory for just £37.59, that's 25% off.

Travel

If a stay-cation is a firm part of your summer agenda, a range of budget hotels are set to make it a lot more exciting...

Both Travelodge and Premier Inn have started a budget hotel war, both offering cut-price rooms up and down the UK.

Travelodge has rooms from just £19 a night - provided you book at least 21 days in advance, while Premier Inn has just launched its biggest ever sale, with 750,000 rooms from just £29 a night, including weekends.

Fashion and beauty

It's wedding season, and many of you will be wearing dapper outfits this summer to watch your friends and family get hitched.

But if you don't fancy recycling that office suit again, Burton is offering a free shirt, shoes and a tie when you buy a suit from £99. So why not get suited and booted for under £100!

Elsewhere, the sales are starting to wind down to make way for the new season. But final reductions also mean big discounts, and some stores have upwards of 75% off many items. Here's the best of the rest:

• Barratts: Up to 50% off selected footwear. Free delivery if you spend over £50 if you use the online code MOV5B.
• BHS: Up to 70% off all departments.
• Coast: Up to 70% off selected fashion.
• Debenhams: Receive £10 in vouchers when you spend £40 or more (£10 voucher comes as two £5 vouchers to be spent in two separate transactions of £25 or more). Alternatively, you'll receive 10% off online for one transaction of £25 or more. If you enter the online code PN5P you will also receive 10% off! Both of these deals are valid until 9 August.
• Faith: Up to 70% off selected footwear.
• French Connection: Up to 75% off selected fashion.
• Hobbs: Up to 70% off a range of fashion, footwear and accessories.
• Jigsaw: Up to 35% off selected fashion.
• Karen Millen: Up to 75% off a range of clothing and accessories.
• Kew: Up to 45% off selected fashion and accessories.
• Laura Ashley: Up to 50% off home and fashion - plus an extra 10% off everything.
• Next: All sale items are half price or less.
• Oasis: An extra 20% off sale items. And up to 75% off beachwear!
• Office: Clearance sale with shoes from just £5.
• Schuh: Up to 70% off a range of footwear. Free delivery if you spend more than £14.99.
• TM Lewin: Up to 75% off selected fashion.
• Topshop: Up to 50% off a range of fashion and accessories.
• Urban Outfitters: Up to 75% off selected fashion.
• USC: Up to 70% off selected lines. Plus 15% off orders over £100 with the code 15over100. Valid until 31 August.

Eating out

Bored of eating that same takeaway all the time? Our latest frugal food round-up has some top restaurant deals to spice up your food life. Read more

Freebie of the week

If you're looking for something to entertain the kids, but don't want to break the bank, why not head down to Alton Towers, where kids under 12 go free with every fee-paying adult, courtesy of Visittheheart.co.uk. Print off the coupon and present it when you pay to qualify.

For more ideas on how to have a cheap day out, check out Alison Hunt's Thrifty theme park article.

Offer of the week

Fancy trying The Financial Times newspaper for four weeks - for only £1? Sign up here.

Mobile phone deal of the week

If you're looking for the latest Smartphone, but don't want to join the iPhone bandwagon, you can get your hands on HTC's slickest offering, the HTC Hero on Orange for £79.99.

The phone comes with 600 minutes and unlimited texts for £20 a month (much lower than the £30 month minimum you'll have to fork out for an iPhone), although you'll have to sign a 24 month contract.

Remember, Orange customers can also take advantage of Orange Wednesdays, where you can get 2-4-1 on midweek cinema tickets and meals at Pizza Express.

However, the company offering this phone, Mobiles.co.uk, is notorious for adding on mobile phone insurance and a 'gadget helpline' premium at the checkout. So make sure you cancel these policies as soon as you get your new phone.

Competition of the week

Finally, this week's competition:

Have a great weekend!

Don't forget: although all prices and discounts were correct on the day this article was published, offers this good are subject to change and often sell out quickly.

More: Get paid to shop / New protection for you when buying tickets