Be ‘sales’ savvy
To get the most out of the January sales, draft a battle-plan before your shopping onslaught begins.
Synchronise your watches with Lisa Williams.
When the sales banners go up and the red price tags appear, it’s easy to get carried away. But a little bit of advance planning will mean you don’t end up coming home with bags full of items you’ll never use or wear. Here’s our guide to what to buy and how to buy it.
BEFORE YOU SHOP
:: Keep a running list of items you like or need, but you can’t afford at full price. Then you’ll know exactly where to look when the sales start.
:: If there’s a particular shop you’d like to visit, find out in advance when exactly its sale begins. Some retailers hold ‘early bird’ openings or sneak previews for loyalty card holders. If you sign up for a store card, however, make sure you read its terms and conditions and that you don’t spend more than you can afford.
:: Do your homework by reading consumer reviews for any homewares or electronic items you’d like to buy in the sales. Also, look out for future trends. If you know what kind of colours are likely to be big next year, you can look out for items in these colours on the sale rails.
:: Find out if any of the items you’re after will be available online. Some shops will have more of a selection online than in-store and, if they offer free delivery, you’ll save on transport and parking costs.
:: If you are heading out to the shops, draft a battle-plan for the day. Work out where to park or get off the bus, which order to visit the shops in, and when and where to stop for a refreshment break and sit-down. You need to keep your energy levels up for a successful day of bargain hunting!
AT THE SHOPS
:: You have a shopping list so stick to it! As tempting as that party frock or quilted jacket is when it has a big, bright 75% off sticker on it, buy ‘off list’ at your peril!
:: If you’re buying clothes, make sure you try everything on so you know they fit and suit you before you fork out.
:: Don’t let an attractive price lure you into buying something you don’t really like. A half-price coat isn’t a saving if you never wear it, after all. Ask yourself whether you’d still like the item if it wasn’t reduced. If the answer’s ‘no’, steer well clear.
:: Before you splash out, ask the shop for its returns policy. Your rights to return or exchange are the same whether the item is in the sale or not, but certain damaged items may be non-refundable. Also, some shops offer only exchanges or credit notes, so if this is the case, make sure it’s a retailer from which you could happily buy something else. Similarly, different shops have different time-limits for returns, so make sure the cut-off point is realistic for you if you’re likely to want to return your purchase.
:: Be assertive. If the item/size/colour you want is unavailable, ask the sales assistant to check stock at nearby branches and, if it’s in store, ask if they’ll hold it for you.
BACK AT HOME
:: You may want to collapse on the sofa and put your feet up, but being organised at this stage is also crucial. Most pressing is to try on any sale clothes you’ve bought. You may decide you don’t like them now you’re away from the shop buzz, or that it doesn’t match your existing garments as well as you thought.
:: Be honest with yourself. If there’s anything you’re not going to use or wear, take it back while you still know where the receipt is.
ITEMS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN THE JANUARY SALES
:: Trendy items are on the sale rail for a reason, so look instead for everyday basics. Wardrobe essentials such as jeans, blazers and shirts are worth buying up in the sales.
:: Look out for toiletry gift sets. Once you’ve liberated them from their festive packaging, items such as face creams, nail polishes or perfumes might come in handy this year.
:: January sales are great for picking up cut-price bed linen, towels or duvets. Stick to bright whites which never go out of fashion and which can be mixed and matched with brighter items.
:: Stock up on next year’s Christmas cards, wrapping paper and ribbons at knock-down prices. Simple red or gold gift bags or paper can even be used throughout the year for birthday presents or Valentine’s Day.
:: Check out the food hall of big department stores for fancy food or booze with a shelf-life. A Christmas cake can be frozen and re-iced for Easter, and many biscuits, brandy and bubbles will taste just as delicious once the tree’s been taken down.
:: Stocking filler DVD films and box sets will be cut-price come January, so buy up some classic comedies and US imports for emergency birthday presents throughout the year.
:: Think outside the box. Don’t just pile into the town centre, but stop by the garden centre for discounts on plants, watering cans and vases, or the home improvements superstore for furniture, tools and table lamps.
:: Buy clothes and shoes your kids can grow into. Children’s clothing is more timeless and practical, so items bought in the sales will be good for next winter too.
Written by: Lisa Williams
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