IF you’re thinking ahead to warmer weather, then it pays to be a bargain hunter like self-confessed discount queen Francesca Fox.
She runs the The Financial Fox she has revealed how you could save hundreds by picking up patio sets and BBQs in the spring.
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As if you wait a few more weeks until it’s warmer, retailers are likely to have started ramping up their prices.
She’s shared her shopping tips for finding big discounts on garden furniture now, ready for summer.
The 33-year-old lives in Gloucestershire with her boyfriend Massimo, 39, and daughter 11, and has an Instagram page of the same name, brimming with cost-cutting ideas.
The money-saving supremo told The Sun: “You don’t need to fork out a fortune.
“There’s some simple ways to get your hands on some fabulous garden goods for a fraction of the price.”
Check out bargain stores such as Ikea and B&M
If you’re looking to give your garden a makeover on a budget, you can pick up a patio set from as little as £50 from Ikea, according to Francesca.
“This cheap and cheerful Tarno table and chairs is a steal,” she said. “And if you’re short on space, it could be a great option, as you can fold it away.”
She adds that B&M is a great shout for outside furniture.
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“The stylish Milano four-piece set, including sofa, two chairs and coffee table, is priced at £120,” she said.
“Keep an eye out for sales, too, as at Wilko, the Outsunny Rattan Bistro set, made up of coffee table and two chairs, is currently reduced from £140 to £125.”
Also check out what’s on offer at the likes of Argos, Dunelm and The Range.
Keep an eye out for unexpected price drops
Eagle-eyed shoppers eager to spruce up their outside space this spring, should be on the lookout for major discounts.
Earlier this month, B&M shoppers rushed to buy a wooden bench which had been seriously reduced from £100 down to just £2. And there was a similar stampede for the Lay-Z-Spa when savvy B&M shoppers spotted this on sale for just £30, a huge £470 less than the original price.
Francesca said: “The key is to keep tabs on Facebook groups such as ‘B&M Bargains, Extreme Money Saving Deals and More’ and also ‘Latest Deals, Extreme Couponing & Bargains.’ You then need to be ready to act fast.”
Price-tracking websites
Before you buy anything, always check to see if you can find it cheaper elsewhere.
“There are some great sites where you can compare prices across thousands of retailers,” said Francesca. “Some of the best include PriceRunnerUK, CamelCamelCamel, PriceSpy and Idealo. These sites also offer price alerts when an item you’re interested in drops in price.”
Say, for example, you want to buy a hammock, you can use PriceSpy to log the history of how much it costs at over 6,000 different retailers.
“This includes Argos, Amazon, eBay and supermarkets,” said Francesca. “You can also use PricesSpy to find out where the item is in stock. Idealo can rank retailers from the cheapest to the most expensive, while CamelCamelCamel can be a useful tool for comparing the prices of products specifically on Amazon.”
When making any purchase, don’t forget to factor in delivery costs.
Clearance websites
Francesca recommends taking a good look at clearance sites.
“There are some good deals available on Argos Clearance at the moment,” she said. “The George four-seater Rattan Garden Bistro Set is down to £145. And the Peacan Metal Sun Lounger is reduced to £95.”
When doing your research, also check out Amazon Warehouse Clearance.
“There are lots of nice garden furniture sets at affordable prices,” she said. “If you’re after patio furniture, check out the Harbour Housewares navy blue three-piece set, made of up folding table and two chairs, priced at £75.99.”
Francesca adds that some of the best places to go to get garden furniture on clearance are Facebook Marketplace and eBay.
She said: “You can often get yourself a great bargain on eBay by looking at local items to pick up, as not many people will bid on these.”
Take advantage of cashback and vouchers
Francesca suggests checking if you can get some money back on your garden bench or gazebo, by going to a site such as Quidco, TopCashBack or Honey before you check out.
“Retailers may offer cashback as a fixed amount, sometimes up to £50 on a particular item,” said the money-saving whizz. “Alternatively, you may be offered a percentage of the purchase.”
While you’re at it, be sure to visit voucher sites too, such as VoucherCodes, MyVoucherCodes and VoucherCloud.
“Download the Chrome browser extension, Honey, and it will run through all available voucher codes when you go to check out,” she said.
Current deals on Vouchercodes.co.uk, include a free £5 Amazon voucher with orders over £45 from Dunelm, and a free £5 Amazon voucher with orders over £35 at Homebase.
Bag an extra voucher by abandoning your basket
Another nifty tip when buying garden goodies is to load your ‘virtual basket’ and then ditch it before you complete the sale.
“If you abandon your online shopping basket, you can tease the retailer into giving you a code,” said Francesca. “The store will track your purchase and will want to encourage you to buy.”
Time your shop
Or, for an easy way to bag a great deal on a patio set, BBQ or garden bench, try being an early bird.
“It’s all about timing your purchases right,” said Francesca. “Ideally, you want to buy garden furniture and other accessories out of season. That means shopping from October to early March.”
Garden furniture sets can often get expensive from April onwards.
Check out second-hand stuff
Francesca also recommends checking out furniture re-use charities.
She said: “You may be able to pick up some fabulous garden bits and bobs at rock-bottom prices. Head to your local store to see what they’ve got.”
Some charities will upcycle items, such as using recycled paint to make an indoor item of furniture suitable for the outside.
Francesca added: “Buying from a furniture re-use charity can be a great way to pick up essentials to jazz up your garden without burning a hole in your wallet, plus you get to do your bit for the planet.”
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