How to make sure you're getting a real bargain in the Boxing Day sales
MILLIONS of bargain-hunters are expected to hit the shops to find the best discounts on one of the biggest shopping day of the year.
Boxing Day is celebrated on December 26 each year and is a national holiday in the UK.
It's also the day when retailers are slashing prices on everything, from clothes to electronics, homeware to handbags, as shops rid themselves of old and Christmas stock ready for new seasonal lines.
Retailers including Next and Debenhams will be opening their doors early - at 6am and 7am respectively - for early risers eager to pick up bargain ahead of the crowds.
Womenswear, menswear, homeware and kids are all part of the deals at Next.
While Debenhams will be offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on thousands of products.
Customers can also save up to 70 per cent on selected homewares and "buy one get another half price" on over 6,000 indoor furniture at Argos, while Superdrug will be offering savings of up to 80 per cent on selected lines in stores and online.
Keep calm and eat eggs: The experts’ guide to Boxing Day shopping
HERE are some tips to make sure you survive the busy Boxing Day sales
- Eat eggs: It’s important to eat well if you’re going to shop well. Protein is a good option rather than overdoing the carbs which will guarantee an energy slump. Sun nutritionist Amanda Ursell recommends two boiled eggs and a piece of granary toast. She says: “Research shows that two eggs first thing keep you full in the morning ahead, which means you won’t be lured in by the smell of croissants when you pass coffee shops.”
- Get a list app: Polly Hadden-Paton, Director at youneedapa.com suggests downloading the app wunderlist. She says: “It’s easy to use and you can tick things off as you buy.”
- Stick to your budget: Experts at Which? say: “By writing down how much you plan to spend on presents it becomes much easier to resist impulse spending on unnecessary extras.”
- Reserve ahead: If there’s something specific that you’re after, Polly advises calling the store to reserve items before you go out there as it will save a lot of time browsing (if the collection queues aren’t too long!)
- Wrap it up: take advantage of any shops that offer a gift wrapping service to save you a job later on.
- Stay hydrated: Amanda says: “Even mild hydration leaves you feeling tired, stressed and likely to lose your rag when battling your way through fellow Christmas shoppers and waiting at the till. Keep some water in a bottle with you while shopping and sip regularly, even if it means having to hunt for the loo more often than usual.”
With Christmas now behind us, it's time to start thinking about the real meaning of the season - shopping.
FESTIVE FRENZY When do the Boxing Day 2017 sales start and which shops are offering the best deals?
Here's a quick run down of the biggest bargain we have found:
Disney Store
Argos
Superdrug
Argos
Halfords
Game
Argos
Sainsburys
Our tips for finding the best deals
Before heading to the shops make sure you've done your research and found the best deals online.
Websites like PriceSpy, PriceHistory and CamelCamelCamel will give you historical data on prices so you can be sure what you're buying is a winner.
You can also follow your favourite shops on Twitter or Facebook and sign up to their newsletter to get the latest on any last-minute discounts.
Another simple way to save some cash is to check websites like TopCashback and Quidco before you place your order. Cashback websites literally pay you to shop.
FESTIVE FLOGGING How to make money from the Christmas presents you don't want
All you have to do is click through their links and the money is added to your online account, usually within two weeks.
And if you don't get what you want on Christmas morning - or you didn't get the right presents for you kids, you'll want to know about refunds and returns.
Most retailers have their own returns policy and will let you return items for an extended period over Christmas.
But remember to keep the receipts when you're doing your last-minute shopping this weekend.
You can read our full explainer on it here
Returns and refunds
DON'T worry if you make a hash of your presents as most retailers offer a refunds or exchanges on unwanted Christmas gifts.
- Remember that retailers are only legally obliged to give you a refund if the item is faulty or not fit for purpose.
- Usually you'll only have 28 days to return non-faulty goods but shops often extend this period over Christmas.
- Most retailers will ask you for the receipt and/or the card you use to pay for your goods if you want a refund.
- In some cases you might need to produce the original packaging too so it's worth checking the retailer's website for the terms and conditions or give customer services a call before you set off to the shops.
- If you can’t get hold of the receipt and you’re taking an item back simply because you don’t like it, the retailer is under no legal obligation to give you a refund – but it might offer you a credit note or exchange it.
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