Savvy Shoppers Share 9 Tips To Save £100s On Christmas Gifts
- Christmas is an expensive time of year but with some planning and smart shopping you can save £100s
- Savvy shoppers reveal their tricks for cutting costs on gifts for all ages, whether you’re buying for kids or adults
- Tips include browsing charity shops, using cashback apps, filling in surveys and entering competitions
While some of us may be able to put aside money for Christmas shopping, others may find it hard to make ends meet once the festive season is here. Whether it’s presents for the kids, a thoughtful gift for a friend or even finding wrapping paper which doesn’t cost the earth, sticking to a budget can feel impossible.
Tom Church, Co-Founder of money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk, said: ‘There are so many savvy shoppers who have tips and tricks for making their money stretch during the holiday season. I had to share my favourites in this guide to hopefully help others who are feeling the pinch this year.’
Buy 20p Bargains In Charity Shops - Great For Gifts
We may associate Christmas shopping with going to our regular high street stores, but charity shops are a treasure trove of bargain gifts. With a little rooting around, you can find high-quality presents for a fraction of the price.
Kez Dancy, a mum of two from Highbridge, Somerset, said: ‘Every year at Christmas, I wrap up some books for my kids and we open them as part of an advent calendar. I get the books for around 20p in charity shops in January.’
Tom added: ‘You can easily make an advent calendar using books from charity shops right now, or find cheap books to gift your children or loved ones this Christmas.’
Katie Keilkowski, 34, from Harrow, Middlesex, made her son Chase an incredible 24 Days of Christmas basket for just £10 using items from her local charity shop and her chemist.
She told the Latest Deals, Extreme Couponing & Bargains Group: ‘Thought I’d share my little 24 days of Christmas basket I made up for my little toddler. So cheap to make - little Paw Patrol mini collectables for £1 each and Peppa Pig and Thomas the Tank Engine books all 20p from my local charity shop.
‘I bought him the big brand advent calendars last year and not wasting my money again this year. They were a load of rubbish. He loves reading so I know he will get plenty of joy from these bits. Not everyone’s taste but I like it.’
Download Cashback Apps - Save £150 A Year & Get £100 Of Clothes
Cashback apps are a quick and easy way to begin making savings. Kez said: ‘Cash-back apps can be used in all major supermarkets and are much more convenient than couponing.
‘I saved up £150 through the year using these amazing apps. You use the app by scanning the product's barcode, and it gives you money back. I’ve saved hundreds by doing it.’
Nadine Barrett, from Bracknell, added: “I always shop online through cashback sites and earn money on lots of shopping, insurance policies, holiday purchases and more. I get £100 of Primark clothes yearly via TopCashback earnings.’
Tom added: ‘Cash back apps like Quidco, Shopmium and TopCashback are beneficial for getting the most out of your shopping. To use them, simply download the app and browse.
‘For example, on Shopmium, you will find plenty of deals for money off products in selected supermarkets, while Quidco will have cashback deals when you meet requirements while shopping with certain retailers.’
Enter Lots Of Competitions - Win Christmas Presents & Save
Kez enters online competitions, mainly on Facebook, to win prizes that she can use for Christmas presents.
‘All you need to do to enter some competitions is share a Facebook post, and when it’s that easy, I can’t scroll past.’
Geri Gregg, from Chester, also enters lots of competitions - 15,000 a year, to be exact! She shares how she picks up Christmas gifts for free: ‘December is the holy grail for competitions. They’re known as Advents, where many companies run large campaigns with 12 or 24 days of giveaways.
‘I've won a whole range of prizes over the years. I think my favourite so far was winning a £200 Tesco gift card and a large bundle of games. A Budweiser limited edition fridge has probably been my most expensive win!
‘Competitions are everywhere! They are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, in magazines, books...there are ones that require a purchase to be made first, you can text to enter some, or just pop your details in.
‘I like to use the website ThePrizeFinder for a chunk of the web entry competitions. I prefer the social media ones as they’re free to enter but can result in a ban if you enter a lot very quickly!’
Nadine said: ‘I also love entering competitions. Even the excitement of potentially winning gives me a buzz and there are so many great competitions out there to suit everyone's tastes.
‘I use these to share with my family and friends as well as treat myself. I had a Michelin restaurant lunch for me and my sister on my birthday which meant I didn't have to spend money going out to eat as I usually do.’
Write To Companies & Haggle With Shops - Get 10% Off
Kez has saved money by writing to companies and praising products she loves.
Companies have then sent her free samples of the products or money-off vouchers for future shops.
Tom also recommends trying to negotiate a better deal. ‘If you’re not keen on paying full price for an item, nothing is stopping you from negotiating with a member of staff. The worst they can do is say no. Cashiers often have the power to give 10% off if you ask at checkout, so it can’t hurt to give it a go.
‘Sale items get tried on the most. This means there’s the highest chance of it being stained with make-up, or damaged. So check the clothing more than normal. If you see a mark you have a choice: leave it, or try to bag an extra discount at checkout. Often, cashiers have the power to give a further discount of up to 10%.
‘While it isn’t a direct negotiation, if you leave the item you want in your online shopping basket for a day or two you could receive an incentive from the shop in the form of a discount. From speaking with members, I’ve learned that Boohoo can offer 10% off, then 15%, and then 20%. Ocado can give you vouchers if you sign up for an online account but don’t spend, and Photobox will give you a whopping 50% off! It’s not guaranteed, but it’s worth a try.
‘When you make it clear you’re in the market to make a big purchase, staff members will often have the ability to negotiate a discount up to a certain amount. They will want to ensure they make a sale, so it’s well worth testing the waters and seeing how much they are willing to bend on the original price.
‘Haggling takes a certain level of confidence, so if you’re not quite ready to do it yourself it’s worth having someone with you to show you how it’s done! Hopefully, once you’ve seen them successfully negotiate a discount, you’ll be inspired to give it a go yourself.’
Enter Surveys To Make Money - Reduce Cost Of Christmas Groceries
Nadine said: ‘Another tip is to earn money through surveys online. I do these when I have spare time, like if I'm waiting for an appointment, commuting, watching TV and so on.
‘You can build up points for vouchers or cash and use these to buy gifts, supermarket shops to reduce your food bill or exchange them for treats.
‘Plus, Tesco also has Tescoviews where you can give them feedback and each month you earn a fixed number of points. What’s more, you’ll be in with a chance of winning a £1000 gift card - that could last you an entire year in groceries!’
Deepak Tailor, Founder of LatestFreeStuff.co.uk, said: ‘You can choose to either earn money for giving your opinion, or share thoughts in exchange for freebies such as gift cards or samples. Many surveys only take a few minutes to complete - perfect for when you have some spare time!
‘Sites such as Future Talkers, UpVoice and Creative Kitchen are regularly on the lookout for people to complete surveys in exchange for points, earn gift cards and give their opinion.’
Tom added: ‘Did you know that supermarkets offer points just for sharing your thoughts? If you’re a regular in Sainsbury’s, try out Nectar Canvass, or if Tesco is your local store then take a look at Tesco Shopper Thoughts. It’s a quick way to get some extra points and you never know when they’ll come in handy!’
Grab Voucher Codes - Get Free Cinema Tickets & Amazon Fire Stick
Nadine said: ‘I also search for voucher codes to save money on products, whole shops or delivery costs.
‘You can find these by following your favourite brands on social media or becoming a member of communities like Latest Deals where people share these kinds of discounts.
‘Just some of the bargains I’ve got include free cinema tickets, a dress for £7.80 which was worth £28, which I bought with a sale and discount code combined, free products as a product tester, and an Amazon Fire Stick bought with Argos vouchers exchanged from Nectar points.’
Tom added: ‘If you’re looking for discounted food and gifts, there are plenty of vouchers to be found online. The Latest Deals vouchers page is a great place to find discounts. Plus, if you sign up for Tastecard you get a free trial lasting up to 60 days, plus either 2 for 1 meals or 50% off food.
‘Meerkat Meals is similar - if you take out a qualifying Compare The Market product, you can claim a year of rewards such as 50% off pizzas from Papa John’s.
‘You can also grab vouchers easily on Amazon. Not many people know about this page, but it’s a portal to many of the vouchers you can currently claim on Amazon. Browse through the Amazon Vouchers page to find deals which can save you 70% or more on products you’re looking for!
‘Use the filter to sort by discount percentage and find the biggest deal first - for example, I managed to get a whopping 70% off a shoulder heat wrap, paying £7.20 instead of £23.99! When you’ve found a product you like, simply click on Collect Voucher and go to checkout. Your discount will automatically be applied.’
Make Your Own Hampers & Selection Boxes - Get Better Value For Money
Jodie Scott, 25, an assistant from Nottingham, was fed up with buying less than generous selection boxes, so she decided to make her own.
The mum of two told LatestDeals.co.uk: ‘I came up with the idea because I was sick of buying selection boxes with about three items in them and my children not liking them!’
Jodie spent just 10p each on discounted boxes from Wilko, and set about creating her own personalised selection boxes to make sure each person she was gifting got their favourite sweets. She bought chocolates and £1 multipacks of sweets from Sainsbury's and Home Bargains.
‘The products used are multipacks of sweets, as they are the best value and best for small children as small children with too much sugar is never a good mix! Not every box is going to be the same, as some of them will be filled with chocolate.
‘I'm happy with the ones I've done so far - I think they're a lot more personal, and hopefully, people will like them. Each box cost around £1.50 altogether.’
The Latest Deals Facebook community also chipped in with their DIY hamper ideas. Nicola Weeks advised: ‘When I’m on a tight budget I usually make a lot myself then do hampers for most of the family.’ Philippa Finch agreed: ‘I buy sweets, snacks and pop from a wholesaler and make hampers up, which also helps their budget. I give them out on Christmas Eve and they love seeing what's inside.’
Jemma Smith likes to get creative: ‘I make survival bags and put different things in them. Like a tea bag with a note saying we can make time for a cuppa, a chocolate heart with a note saying ‘you're always in my heart’ etc. So cheap and everybody loved it.’
Sam Green follows a theme, saying: ‘I usually do toiletry hampers. Lots of people on my list appreciate those. I include deodorants, shampoo, hair spray, body wash, bubble bath etc. Then I get a box and wrap it in cellophane, adding a bow at the end. It’s simple but they look nice and people will use the items everyday.’
Find Bargain Shops For Toys - Save £100s
Danielle Green, from Buckinghamshire, managed to snap up bargain toys using the website Toys For A Pound for her daughters Lola and Lily, aged two and four.
She bought everything from slime and stuffed toys to board games and bedroom ornaments and even managed to nab branded goods too. Many of the items she bought were worth double or more on the high street, meaning Danielle saved over £100 on the toys too.
Tom added: ‘There are plenty of bargain shops both online and on the high street. By spending some time browsing them all, you’ve got the best chance of finding presents your kids will love. Poundland, Primark, B&M and Home Bargains are all good places to start, and online you’ll find places like Kids Stuff For Less, Buy Charity, Oxfam Shop and The Entertainer.
‘It’s worth being smart when you encounter sales in-store and online. Just because you've bought a toy in a sale does not make it a good deal. First, you have to compare the prices. Retailers love to whack prices up just before a sale and then offer a "discount" back to the normal price. LatestDeals.co.uk has price comparison data on over 1 million toys which is free to use.’
Reuse As Much As Possible - Look Ahead To Next Year
Not only is reusing products and materials environmentally friendly, but getting into this habit will also save you plenty of money each Christmas. Claire Chadwick, from Newton Aycliffe, said: ‘Every year, I save all the gift bags I receive and pack them away ready to use the following year. As long as the gift bag still looks presentable then it is always reused - I honestly don’t know the last time I ever had to buy a gift bag!
‘I store them stacked in size order inside a larger gift bag - this helps to keep them safe, secure and all in one place so you know exactly where they are when you unpack them the following year.
‘Another thrifty trick I use is to turn my old Christmas cards into gift tags. At the end of the festive season I cut the fronts off all my cards and cut round the designs to create a stash of unique and individual gift tags to use on my presents the following year.
‘Simply punching a hole in the top corner and threading some ribbon or string through can make a really effective and personal gift tag to add that special extra touch to your gift.
‘To save money on gift embellishments, I save ribbon and string throughout the year from other packaging, gifts and clothing. I then roll them up and store them neatly in an organza bag so they are all in one place and I can easily see what I have. Recycling and reusing items in this way saves me so much money.’
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