With Christmas coming up its nearly time for the famous January sales. With lots of Christmas gifts being reducing as the festive period comes to an end.
It is a great time to go on a bit of a spree and pick up some gifts for yourself. As lots of people now ask for money for Christmas so they can spend it in the sales and get much more for what they pay, shopping the January sales is becoming more and more popular each year.
With that in mind, here are a couple of ways to prepare yourself for the sales, whether you’re shopping in-store or online:
In-Store
Find Out Which Stores Are Having The Best Sales And Priotorise Where You Want To Go
If you know the types of stores you want to visit, often you can research the sales they’re going to holding a couple of days in advance.
Some places offer prices as good as 50% off to get rid of Christmas stock. So visiting these places first might be the best way to ensure you get everything you want before it runs out.
Shops often have queues outside in the early morning, so it’s best to be prepared and go to your favourites first.
Head To The Shops As Soon As They Open Boxing Day
As mentioned above, people often queue outside their favourite stores on Boxing Day. So heading to the shops before they open is the best way to ensure you’re one of the first people through the doors as they open.
Make Sure You Take Any Gift Cards And Vouchers You Have With You
Lots of people are so excited to go shopping for lots of bargains, and they forget to take their gift cards and sale vouchers with them. Pack them a couple of days before you plan to go shopping so you can be sure you’re prepared and ready to go on the day. If you’re taking vouchers and gift cards for your kids, make sure you pack those too.
Online
Check What Time Your Favourite Sales Start
Online sales start at various different times depending on the stores, these are my favourites!
Some start as soon as 6 pm on Christmas Eve, others start either Christmas Day or Boxing Day Morning. Make a list of all the places you want to shop and the times their sales start to ensure you’re there ready and waiting. You’ll be surprised how quickly things sell out online!
I find that finding out when the sales start beneficial. Try checking retailers websites a couple of days beforehand, or visit this handy guide here.
Find Out If There Are Any Vouchers Or Discount Codes You Could Be Using
Although there will already be discounts applied to most of the stores you want to shop at. There may be other voucher codes or discounts you could be adding afterwards. Figuring out where you want to shop and then researching the discounts available is a great way to know you’re getting the best deal you can. Try using sites like NetVoucherCodes.co.uk to save even more money online.
If you can’t find any additional discounts on external websites, often there are banners on individual retailers. Many provide you with a code that entitles you to a free delivery or a further 20% off. Keep your eyes open for these!
Make Time Where You Can Sit In Front Of Your Laptop And Concentrate Properly
Whilst shopping on your phone is easy, often you can’t always scroll through fast enough or you miss vital information.
Having a laptop and nothing distracting you is the best way to ensure you get everything you want, without making any obvious mistakes. If you do want to use your mobile, try using retailers apps to minimise mistakes and to get the best possible user experience.
Be Prepared To Queue, Virtually Of Course
Online sales can be just as busy as the real ones, so make sure you’re prepared to queue. If you’re shopping at a number of different sites try having a few tabs open at once. That way, you’ll be able to queue for one whilst your purchasing from another.
If you’re struggling to get through in a queue, try opening up in several different web browsers, or on a couple of different devices. Often people will get through faster than others, so it’s worth having a few tabs open at once.
Are you going to be shopping in the January sales this year? Let me know your top tips and tricks for preparing in the comment section below!
*Collaborative post*
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