Can you save money when shopping this Christmas?

Black Friday (week) and Cyber Monday are now over. How do we get the best prices for our Christmas gifts this year?

It is still possible to find the bargains and save money!

Here are my top ten tips to help you save money and make sure you are getting the cheapest deal when shopping either online or in stores this Christmas!

10 top tips for saving money when Christmas shopping

• Make sure you have a list, even if it is just a list of names, budget and possible ideas. This will stop you panicking, over spending and buying unnecessary items!

• If you know you will definitely be buying from certain stores or before you shop online check out Zeek* where you can buy and sell gift cards. You could literally get free money! Discounts usually range from 2 – 10% off, depending on popularity of the store. Update 07/02/19 looks like going into administration.

• Look out for discount vouchers and codes. There are numerous websites out there, just search for the store you are shopping from with the words “discount” or “voucher code” and look through a few. For the bigger stores there’s usually something, even if it’s just a free delivery code!

• Use cashback sites such as Topcashback*, Quidco*, and Kidstart (Kidstart cashback goes to your nominated child’s bank account).  Sign up for free and use which ever one gives the biggest cashback! (Be aware that some may not work with additional discounts so don’t rely on this).

• Install Pouch which is a browser extension which was shown on Dragon’s Den. It claims to notify you any time you are on an online store for which there is a discount code.

• Look at the Google shopping tool, you may find other places for the items you are looking for.

• Use price comparison sites which aren’t just for financial products, such as Pricerunner and Idealo. These will cover the well-known and less known online stores for the price on the same item.

• Sign up for emails to get the best offers first, many will email you early with discount codes, so you can use before they go out of stock!

• Don’t be tempted to buy the accessories with the item from the same place! When the pop up flashes “buy the batteries” don’t do it just for ease. Any saving you make will get spent on the batteries, so buy them from somewhere else. Unless they are cheap!

• Remember you are always covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, where goods must be of satisfactory quality, be fit for purpose and match the description, whatever price you paid for the item!

Want to save money buying presents this Christmas? Know what to do if you receive an unwanted gift?

The @ComplainingCow shares her top four festive retail tips to make sure you're a savvy shopper this season https://t.co/4055Q0CYyl pic.twitter.com/A8tPX7vaBK

— ITV News (@itvnews) December 5, 2018

Presents after the event

Christmas presents, returns – your rights gives you everything you need to know about what you can take back when.

What to do with the ghost of Christmas Present? lots of ideas about what you can do with unwanted presents… more than just regifting!

How to Complain: The Essential Consumer Guide to Getting Refunds, Redress and Results!

Don’t forget How To Complain: The ESSENTIAL Consumer Guide to Getting REFUNDS, Redress and RESULTS! makes a great present!

*referral links which means when you sign up (for free) you’ll get a few quid and so will I. then generate your own referral code and share on social media and you’ll make a bit more!