SHOPPERS will be gearing up to bag a bargain during the Boxing Day sales – but some items are worth looking out for more than others.
Retailers drop prices on all kinds of products with discounts available on everything from electronics and toys to clothes and furniture.
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But the annual event can leave you feeling a touch intimidated and unsure where to even begin.
There are some areas you’ll get a better deal than others though, according to Karen Green, B2B sales expert and previous buyer for Tesco and Boots.
She spoke exclusively to The Sun about the four items that have the best discounts on Boxing Day – and goods to avoid.
What to look out for
Gift sets
Gift sets are usually a more cost-effective option than buying the same items individually.
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Martin Lewis’ MoneySavingExpert has previously revealed how to get £141 worth of Boots No7 skincare for just £42 this way.
But if you’ve got the patience, and steel, it’s worth keeping an eye on any sets online and in-store on Boxing Day, when you’ll be able to get even more money off.
Karen explained: “If it’s a bargain now and it’s reduced after Christmas then it’s even more of a bargain.
“Retailers will usually reduce them by 20% to 30% and by the end you’ll get around 70% off overall.”
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Karen said all gift sets are worth looking out for, but in particular Boots’ No7 can go for heavily discounted prices.
Festive finds
If you’ve got the space, it’s worth buying anything that could be used next Christmas in the sales this year.
Keep an eye out for cards, decorations or trees across all the retailers as they will slash prices by around 50% to 70%, Karen said.
Not just that, but festive food items that will stay in date like Christmas puddings are worth a go as well.
Karen added: “I would always be shopping online and going in-store to see if they’ve got some local deals too.
“They are all going to discount hard. But the important thing is to not change where you would shop, unless you want to upgrade.”
End of season and older gadgets
You can get some hefty discounts on old or end of season tech such as TV’s, mobile phones and laptops in the sales.
So unless you’re looking for the latest model of iPhone or Apple computer, it’s worth keeping your eyes peeled.
Karen said: “I always buy year old Apple Macs that are not the newest model and might get a 30% reduction.
“Sometimes TVs are up to 50% off too. If you’re not fussed about the newest thing it’s quite a good place to save money.”
Winter clothes
Retailers will all want to push stock that is due to go out of date or didn’t sell well in Autumn on Boxing Day.
That means big and bulky winter coats that won’t be needed within weeks, party clothes and ski or hiking wear.
You can get discounts worth up to 60% on certain items, depending on the retailer.
Karen said: “Retailers aren’t going to want to store the winter coats, so look for classic items, ski wear and hiking wear.
“Ski wear is in the same league as electronics. If you have a look at last year’s ski wear, you can often get a good deal.”
What not to get
Fitness equipment
Boxing Day sales are a chance for businesses to shift stock that is no longer at the forefront of shoppers’ minds, but that means be wary of anything that will be – like fitness equipment.
Everyone will be making new years’ resolutions to get fit, so avoid anything like Peloton bikes, a new set of dumbbells or new trainers.
Karen said: “Retailers will push up prices, so you’ll be better off waiting until later in the year.”
That said, some gyms will try selling you discounts on class passes or introductory offers on membership during the sales, which are worth keeping an eye out for.
Frozen turkeys
It’s a given that plenty of supermarkets will have excess stock of frozen turkeys left over after Christmas.
You’ll get some excellent prices too. But ask yourself if you really want to keep hold of it for that long.
If you do buy one, you might end up not using it at all, or forgetting it’s in your freezer completely.
Karen said: “Retailers will be clearing them out, but on the other hand you might not even need one.”
How else to save money in the sales
It’s not just about keeping an eye out for the best products – there’s other ways to save money in the sales this Boxing Day, Karen said.
First, it’s worth “walking away” from your online basket, which money saving expert Martin Lewis has urged shoppers to do before.
It involves placing items into your digital basket, then leaving them there for a few days.
Retailers will then often try and entice you into making the purchase by offering you incentives.
They can come in the shape of a voucher for 10% off, or even free delivery on your purchases, Karen said.
Next, it’s worth making a list of what you actually want to buy in the sales to avoid being sucked into any impulse purchases.
December is already an expensive month and you don’t want to be putting a dent in your pocket needlessly.
Next, check if you can get an item cheaper elsewhere, even if you’ve found it at a heavily discounted price.
You can use price comparison websites like trolley.co.uk for supermarket buys, and Pricespy for other purchases.
Pricespy lets you track the cost of a particular item over the previous months and years too, so you can figure out how the price of an item compares to a different stage of the year.
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Lastly, be willing to wait it out and risk losing an item if you want to get the heaviest discounts.
If you are thinking of making a big purchase, every minute you stop yourself from buying something could mean it goes down in price further.
