Shopping in the January sales can save you a lot of money – if you actually need the item. So, the first point here is: ask yourself if you actually need it. Use the 24-hour rule to make sure it’s something worth spending your money on. Give yourself at least 24-hours to decide – never buy something on the spot. You’ll be surprised how many times you change your mind and save a lot of money by not buying things! However, there are some bargains to be had in these sales. Follow these tips to make sure you’re getting a true bargain.
Cashback sites are perfect for getting an extra discount on your purchases when you buy online. Simply create an account, search for the retailer you want, and click through. It doesn’t cost you anything (unless you choose a premium tier membership for some) but does mean you earn a small percentage back on purchases.
While you might not always get cashback on sale items, always check cashback sites for their Ts and Cs – and unique codes, too. Many will have exclusive discount codes to add onto existing sale prices as well as giving you cashback. MoneyMagpie tried and trusted sites are TopCashBack, QuidCo, and Swagbucks.
Under retail laws in the UK, an item must be sold at a higher price for at least 28 days before it is offered at a sale price. This means that some retailers – particularly online – will falsely inflate a product’s price the month prior to a sale, so they can reduce it for the sale. That way, it looks like a bargain but in fact is not cheaper than the standard retail price.
