Bargain Hunters Share 50p Hacks For The Cheapest Primark Buys
- Savvy shoppers from the LatestDeals.co.uk community share their tricks for saving money at Primark
- Advice includes checking the season label and being clever with gift cards
- Bargain hunters reveal how they have found shorts for 50p and tops for £1.50
High street shoppers will be all too familiar with the allure of bargain stores such as Primark. Often those of us who only intend to go in for one or two items will end up leaving with several bags of shopping - and a big dent in their bank balance
Fortunately, there are many ways to save money whenever you head into Primark, as bargain hunters at LatestDeals.co.uk prove below.
Choose carefully
It can be easy to get distracted by the first items which catch your eye, but picking what you want with care will save money in the long run. Julie Chandlen advised: ‘Focus on items such as the kids t-shirts, which can be as cheap as £1.30. Buy a size bigger and don't be tempted by branded or licensed merchandise.’ Rob Jo Satt agreed: ‘I have noticed the branded & licensed stuff has been creeping up in price a lot.’
Bee Grubb remarked: ‘When it comes to just normal clothes, I always make sure to check their £2.50 T-shirt range as they don’t just sell plain tees, they have patterned ones there too!’ Meanwhile, Breanne Huxtable recommended looking in specific areas: ‘They have the big tables dotted around the store and will have kids pjs on one, cheap t-shirts on another, shorts, joggers, jeans and so on. I have found the tops can cost £1.50 instead of £6 or above, and a top and PJs can be bought for £5 for 2 instead of £10 each. Similarly, thongs can be on these tables for just £1, t-shirts can be £2.50, and much more.’
Set yourself a limit
Budgets can easily be discarded or forgotten about when we’re in bargain shopping mode, as we gather up numerous items that we find a way to justify buying. However, there are ways to nip this habit in the bud. Lauren Keri Teague suggested: ‘Buy a gift card and set that as your limit. This will restrict how much you do spend and save you money over time as you won’t buy items you don’t need.’
Bee Grubb takes a similar approach: ‘I don’t give myself an overall budget but more a per item budget. I don’t necessarily like to spend more than £6-£8 on a single piece of clothing because they do have reductions so often.’ Meanwhile, Marie Betts Lester keeps it simple: ‘Easy really, leave your cards at home and just take as much cash as you can afford to spend......’
Go in with a plan
Wandering into Primark while you’re out and about is well and good, but the situation can quickly get out of hand if you haven’t got a plan in place.Siân Bryant offered some advice: ‘Go in with a clear idea of what you want to get and try not to get carried away with the things you don't need. It doesn't always work, but when I use this method I always get good wear out of the stuff I end up purchasing.’
Katie Streeter was thinking along the same lines: ‘Write a list of what you want and need and don't deviate! If you need a pair of jeans just go right to the section and bypass the tops and pajamas.’ Elsewhere, Shannon Isaac shared a trick: ‘I haven't done it myself, but I've had friends saying they have a gift card and every time they go just to get things they need they top it up by £10 or £20, and when the time's right there's a card full of money to spoil yourself.’
Stick with the sales
Every item in Primark can look like a bargain, but to save extra money make sure you hunt out the sales and reduced items where possible. Stacey Rope commented: ‘I only ever buy from the reduced items, unless I really need something full price.‘
Bee Grubb has come up with a method for making extra savings: ‘I always check reduced sections, especially on things like pyjamas. The separate sets, where you can buy the top and bottoms separately, can cost between £8 and £12 per item. However, I’ve managed to get individual items and matching items for between £4 and £5 per piece.’
She continued: ‘They often have one or two specific styles of their cheaper leggings slightly discounted, say for £2.80 rather than £3 for things like the slightly longer ones. If you’re taller they’re great, and I’m around 5’6 and get on well with them.’
Shop the seasons on sale
There are so many bargain buys in Primark, it can be difficult to choose. However, picking items according to their season can pay off big time. Queena L Alves remarked: ‘Buy tactically. Purchase winter clothes in the summer and summer clothes in the autumn.’ Mel Collins was in agreement: ‘I do the same, also buying sun cream in the autumn saves a fortune.’
Bee Grubb offered her insights: ‘Branded items tend to get reduced after a while e.g. Disney, tv shows and movie themed items. I've managed to get several jumpers, pj style joggers and tv shirts at the end of the season!’ Meanwhile, Fern Blackmore offered a top tip: ‘I’ve been told that there’s a number on the tag which shows what season and year the item is. For example, right now it’s SS21, so when AW21 items start coming out, keep an eye out for the SS21 items as they’ll go into the sale.’
Claire Louise recommended: ‘Go at the end of the season to prepare for the following year. Always get the kids summer clothes for the following year at the end of summer. You can get swimming suits and shorts in the next size up for as little as 50p sometimes.’
Don’t hesitate to return items
It can sometimes feel like a hassle to return items you don’t want, but doing so will save you money. Rachel Louise advised: ‘When you shop in a place like Primark where the clothes are a lot cheaper than other places, it’s easy to go home and have the ‘oh it doesn’t look very nice on me now but it was only cheap’ attitude and never return it. I always make sure I return items I didn’t like, even if it’s a £2 top!!’ Bee Grubb added: ‘ I take full advantage of their returns policy!’
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: ‘Primark will let its customers return items within 28 days of purchase, as long as it’s returned in a saleable condition with the original receipt provided. However, refunds and exchanges aren’t given for underwear, piercing jewellery, open or unsealed beauty items, gift cards, face masks or swimwear without an intact hygiene seal.’
Decide if it’s worth it
Sometimes you may believe your bag of bargains is essential, but it’s worth taking the time to think about it before heading to the checkout. Nicole Rose said: ‘I pick up everything I want and then go through it all before I go to the checkout. I decide if I really need or want each and every item and I often put quite a few things back!’
Tara Gill advised: ‘Look at the queue and decide.... Is it really worth it? I've walked out a few times despite having a full basket.’ Bee Grubb added: ‘ I don’t buy things for the sake of a bargain!’
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