How to win at sales shopping

2nd December 2024hollie.earlam Share:

Where to start, when to stop, what on earth to buy?

Sales shopping can fill us with as much dread as it can excitement. When it’s done right, though, you can stock up on the essentials, free yourself of months of last-minute panic shopping and, of course, get a lot more for your money.

Make the most of our summer and winter sales with our latest tips, tricks and key mistakes to avoid, distilled from decades of successful sales experience.

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Make a list in advance

It’s like supermarket shopping. How would you ever remember everything you need to buy (or everyone you need to buy for) without writing a list?

You don’t need to meticulously plan out what to buy everyone, but by taking note of every kids party, graduation and silver wedding anniversary that’s coming up you’ll have a good sense of what you need and the sorts of gifts you should be looking for.

This way, you can buy specific gifts for specific occasions and won’t risk panic-buying, wasting stuff (and money) in the process.

Buy for specific people

Is there a loved one graduating this year? Another retiring? Is there a friend that just needs a pick-me-up?

The beauty of a sale (aside from the savings) is that it provides an incentive to stop and think about the things you need - and the things you don’t ‘need’.

If you can afford it, think about the presents that aren’t ‘must buys’ that will brighten people’s days. Our recent gift-giving survey found that 91% of people prefer receiving gifts when they’re least expecting it!

Stick to the staples (sometimes)

There can be so much fun and frivolity in sales shopping it’s easy to overlook the (slightly) less interesting things you might need at home, from storage bags to snack pots.

A sale is a great time to save money on everyday essentials - the things that by the time you realise you need them (e.g. when you’re already halfway through clearing out your wardrobe) it’s too late! If you need it anyway, you may as well get it on sale.

Add to your favourites

Don’t risk abandoning your favourite items because you forgot about them half-way through your shopping!

It’s easily done when you’re scrambling for the best UK deals but adding to your favourites is a quick and convenient way around this - putting everything that’s sparked an interest in one, easy-to-read place.

This way, you can read over the list before checking out - and weigh up the best deals, what you need and what you’ll regret not buying most. It’s all part of the fun.

Don’t get carried away

There’s lots of different reasons to shop in a sale - especially when there’s as broad a range of products as Rex London.

But it’s important to only buy what you can afford and not to make impulse decisions that you may regret - we don’t want that anymore than you do.

If you’re unsure about something, take a break, distract yourself and come back later.

Stay calm and shop sensibly - but don’t be afraid to have a bit of fun along the way!

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Shopping for gifts in a sale

There’s so much going on in a sale it can be difficult to know where to start - gifts aren’t a bad place, though. They’re something you have to buy at some point anyway, and research shows we prefer shopping for others than for ourselves.

We’ll leave you with a few final tips on sales shopping for gifts - so you get more for your money, and everyone else gets really great presents this year.

Think back to conversations

We’re often thinking about a friend or loved one’s needs or interests when choosing a gift, but one thing we tend to overlook is our conversations. Have they moaned about how their partner’s decorated the living room? Or are they worried about not spending enough quality time with the kids?

These everyday chats provide an insight into gifts they didn’t even know they needed - and serve as a springboard for ideas when you’re searching for gifts in a limited sale. It’s as simple as it sounds!

Consider the occasion

It sounds obvious - but when you’re planning ahead with a long list of people to buy for, it can be easy to forget that the specific occasion can be a massive clue for the sort of gift you might buy.

From nostalgic photo frames for wedding anniversaries, to stylish home-decor for 18-year-olds about to leave home for the first time, you can personalise a gift based on the occasion, as well as the recipient.

If you’re struggling to find a gift in the sale that feels personal, take a step back and think about why you’re buying a present in the first place - it might help give you the answer you’re looking for.

Buy gifts that complement each other

If you’re looking to buy more than one gift (a sale is the perfect excuse to do so), it never hurts to think of them as a bit of a collection.

One 'practical' and one 'fun' gift is a popular way to go (practical doesn’t have to be boring, it can be anything from biscuit tins to make-up bags).

By getting a friend or family member something they’ll actually use, it frees up the fun for the second gift, which can be as weird and wacky as you like!