SHOPPING for Christmas gifts can quickly add up, but you could hundreds of pounds by buying at just the right time.
Costs can change through the year, but we can reveal the dates you’ll find popular items for the cheapest price over the festive season.
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Anyone eyeing up a new games console this Christmas should get their skates on as they are at their cheapest in September, costing on average £203.
Leave it later and you’ll pay £56 more in December, according to data from comparison site Idealo shared exclusively with The Sun.
The figures are based on analysis of thousands of product prices over the gift-giving period last year and the average cost at hundreds of retailers.
Other tech items that are also worth buying now are smartphones, tablets, wireless speakers and drones, with savings of between £37 and £89 compared to a purchase made in December.
September, on the other hand, is the most expensive month for buying bikes and hairdryers. Waiting until October could save you over £100.
TVs and Espresso machines are also the priciest now. Wait until November and you could save a similar amount.
But it’s not always best to avoid buying gifts closer to the big day.
Laptops are at their cheapest at the end of the year and priciest in November, when you’ll pay over £100 more.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that you’ll pay the same as last year as retailers change the price of items regularly. How much you pay can also depend on the exact item or model you buy.
The best and worst times to buy give a good indication of when to shop, but you should always check around that you’re getting the best price available.
Katy Philips at Idealo told The Sun that comparing prices across a range of products can help you find a better deal.
She said: “At a time where saving money is paramount for some, being able to check multiple retailer costings at once can prove a hugely helpful resource.”
“We’re expecting buying habits of this Christmas to be very different from previous years, with further emphasis on home working and entertainment, as well as products that improve our health and wellbeing.”
How to find the best prices
Websites like Idealo, PriceRunner and PriceSpy can help you compare prices.
If you’ve got your eye on a certain item, it’s worth keeping tabs on the price so you know how much it usually costs and can spot when it’s a good deal.
Handy tools can also help you track the price history of an item you’re considering buying.
CamelCamelCamel tracks the price history of items sold on Amazon. You find the item you want on Amazon’s website, then take the URL and put it into the CamelCamelCamel website.
It will reveal the historical price of the item, so you can check whether you’re getting a good deal or not.
This price history website works in the same way but for Argos products.
It can also help you find out about recent reductions in different categories, so you can easily compare if prices have dropped.
Meanwhile, Alertr is a browser extension that helps you track deals at hundreds of retailers including John Lewis and Boots.
The tool will send you an email when items you’re tracking have dropped in price.
And it’s always worth searching for a discount code or voucher when it comes to making your purchase as you could get even more money off.
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