After Christmas comes Boxing Day (December 26). With so many deals and discounts, it can be very easy to confuse during the annual sales event.

Boxing Day: 7 Tips For Smart Shopping

Here are some tips on how to shop smart and avoid wasting money this Boxing Day.

1. Know what you want or need

On Boxing Day there are many offers on items that you simply don’t need. The best way to avoid becoming distracted by all these deals is to have a pre-prepared list of all the items you intend to buy.

You need a financial budget to avoid spending your money on unuseful items.

If you are shopping online, it’s wise to save the items that you’d like to purchase to your cart the night before.

Also, some websites have boards where you can save items, so it’s important to use these to narrow down what you need.

These tips will make your shopping experience a lot easier and you will save money and time.

2. Comparing deals

Comparing deals is typically easier to do online. Some websites show you price drops and also the price history of items on Amazon.

When comparing deals, don’t forget to also look at customer reviews to see if they have a good or bad experience with the item you intend to buy.

3. Product guarantees

If shopping for household items, it would be sensible to compare the different guarantees retailers are offering.

For example, while Amazon may offer a cheap price deal on a vacuum cleaner, it may be better value for your money to buy the product from a retailer that offers a better product guarantee compared to the one offered by Amazon.

It’s better to know that the product you buy is protected for longer from any issues further down the line.

4. Research price history

The item you want may be on sale, but it could have been available at the same price (if not cheaper) at other times during the year.

Be sure to check the price history of your chosen product to determine if you are getting a bargain.

Web tools like CamelCamelCamel will give you insight into how much Amazon products have been sold for previously. PriceRunner is also an excellent tool if you want to target wider retail coverage.

5. Don’t trust the sales terminology

Important! Don’t trust the sales terminology. A classic term to watch out for is ‘price promise’.

Be wary of products that are advertised with ‘was prices’, e.g. ‘was £70’. Retailers sometimes use old RRPs (recommended retail prices) as ‘was’ prices, meaning they reflect the value of the item when it was first released and not its current value.

Also, Amazon displays every single price reduction as a discount – even if the price drop in as little as 1p.

6. Research social media and newsletters

Flash sales and discounts tend to get advertised on social media, so make sure you are following your favorite retailers on Boxing Day.

Brands such as PrettyLittleThing, Missguided, and Boohoo do have a track record of making big sales announcements on their Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

To further ensure you don’t miss out on a great deal, sign up for the newsletters of your favorite retailers.

These will send you email alerts of the latest sales updates, and there will even be a link that will take you straight onto the product page.

7. Check the returns policy

If you’re not happy with the product(s) you buy, you must not delay in claiming your money back.

If you’ve bought something online, The Consumer Rights Act 2015 states you have 14 days to return an item you don’t want.

For in-store purchases, you can return items for a refund or exchange only if your retailer has a returns policy (almost all shops have one these days).

During the festive season, many shops do tend to offer extended return periods, but again it’s best to check the policy of your chosen retailer.

Dealing with a faulty item? You have 30 days to get a full refund on this.

Also, you can get a replacement or the item fixed, as shops have a requirement of six months to repair or replace faulty products.