The Best Shopping Hacks

With time so precious and anyone you ask how they are, responds with ‘busy’. You need to be on the look out for the best deals without having to work too hard for them. Let’s be honest finding time to hit the stores with a little one in tow fills most of my clients with dread. Kicking back in your pyjamas with a cuppa and Google at your fingertips I promise you can shop to your hearts content without navigating a busy shopping centre car park or having to drag a screaming child off the Thomas the Tank ride. 

THE BEST SHOPPING HACKS

  1. REWARDS PROGRAMS ARE YOUR FRIEND

    • Nearly every retailer now has a rewards program and some of them deliver in spades. Online you can research each program to understand if it will be valuable to you. The best are those that offer you a reward for spending a certain amount on each shop. In most cases they are complementary although a few might charge a nominal fee like Adairs who charge $19.95 for a two year membership although guarantee a set discount on full price and sale items regardless of the total spend. 

  2. BE PATIENT

    1. Gone are the days when a sale happened twice a year and the Boxing Day sales would stop a nation. If you have a eye on something, my message to clients is often too wait. It seems like every week a targeted sale or an overall discount sale is on at most retailers. Be prepared, try on the items beforehand so you know your size and then jump online to make the purchase once the sale starts.

  3. CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY

    • Sign up with key retailers, which means you do need to share your personal details, although without fail everyone offers a birthday discount or voucher and this is a guaranteed win.

  4. SIGN UP

    • Sign up to the retailers mailing list. They often will offer an incentive firstly to join the list and then you are kept informed of the latest range and more importantly will be first to hear about  upcoming sales, store events and special offers. Do the same and follow them on social media, this is the first place they will post about a flash sale or partner collaboration they have on the way. 

  5. ADD TO SHOPPING CART AND LEAVE 

    • What? I hear you say. This is one clever trick, if you leave items in the cart or basket and then choose to leave the website, providing you have signed in or logged in, they will follow up to see if you want to finalise the sale and may offer a discount to entice you back. Vista Print are one provider that does this each time.

  6. BEST DAYS TO SHOP

    • Studies show that Wednesdays through to Friday are the most popular days for retailers to commence a sale or offer a discount code, therefore the best days to browse to your hearts content.

  7. SEASONAL SHOPPING

    • This is an old school hack, although buying off season can save you dollars. If you know you are heading on a summer holiday later in the year, wait until the end of season sale or when they have transitioned into the next season as you are guaranteed to save precious dollars. The risk can be the exact piece you may want, may no longer be available. 

  8. CLEAR YOUR BROWSING HISTORY 

    • This hack is a true winner. It is important to clear your browser history and cookies or you can use an in-private browser window because a website can see if you have already been looking at certain products. If you have ever jumped online to compare prices for flights or accommodation you might notice the price starts to increase. Spooky, although someone is watching! 

Remember to always shop responsibly, because purchasing an item on sale and never using it or wearing it - is not a bargain. No matter what you tell yourself. Stay stylish and happy shopping, the economy will thank you.

Images: Scanlan Theodore

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