KEIGHLEY, England, October 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Hard-up consumers are opting to rent DVDs rather than buy them as they cut back to get through the credit crunch.

Sales of DVDs were down 3.2 per cent between July and September, compared to the same period last year.

But DVD rentals increased by four per cent.

That's according to spending habits of half a million people using the UK's leading cashback shopping network http://www.froggybank.co.uk.

It also found that fewer books were sold, with a drop in sales of 2.2 per cent compared to last year.

Nadeem Azam is the marketing manager working with froggybank.co.uk's 62 staff.

He said: "When people have spare money in their pocket, they don't mind shelling out a few extra quid to buy a DVD or book rather than rent it.

"But as their disposable income shrinks they are more likely to turn to rental DVDs and libraries to make their money go further. We are expecting to see this trend continue for the next few months."

froggybank.co.uk is one of the most famous examples of cashback websites in the UK.

Shoppers log onto a cashback site before making online purchases from major retailers as normal.

The referral fee paid by the retailer to the cashback site is returned to the shopper.

On froggybank.co.uk, 100 per cent of the middleman's fee is given to the shopper. They can keep the cash, give it to charity, or use it to offset their carbon.

The network consists of 180 websites led by http://www.froggybank.co.uk/, the UK's first and only green 100% cashback site.

froggybank.co.uk recently released 101 tips to beat the credit crunch. You can see them at http://www.froggybank.co.uk/news/101-tips-to-survive-the-credit-crunch/.

The website has committed to work with PURE the Clean Planet Trust, to offset one million tons of carbon by 2012.

That's equivalent to the annual emissions of 180,000 average UK homes.

100% of the cashback paid by retailers can be turned into charitable donations that will support PURE. Shoppers can alternatively give the money to another charity, or keep some or all of it for themselves.

Notes to Editors

- You can find more information at http://www.froggybank.co.uk/press - froggybank's carbon offsets are provided by certified and verified carbon credit providers including PURE the Clean Planet Trust - froggybank.co.uk is owned by V A C Media Ltd, the biggest operator of consumer loyalty websites in the UK. The company operates 180 websites supported by 62 staff. - For any further information or interviews please contact Paul Green on +44(0)8452-303049, or email press@vacmedia.com

For any further information or interviews please contact Paul Green on +44(0)8452-303049, or email press@vacmedia.com