10 shopping SECRET hacks TO HELP YOU S
WITH CHRISTMAS AROUND THE CORNER, HERE’S HOW TO GET MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
BUY NOW, NOT LATER
With many products experiencing very low stock levels, if you see a good price on something you want and it’s available, you should jump on it, according to Anthony Di Francesco, the client service director from retail specialist Crossmark. “Delaying a purchase in the weeks leading up to the Christmas sales period will put your chances of securing the item at risk, leaving you disappointed and potentially out of pocket if the item’s price rises when it is restocked,” he says.
AUTOMATIC COUPON FINDER
Want to be in on the secret promo codes every time you shop online? There are automatic coupon finders you can download that will do the trawling for you. The Honey browser and Capitalone shopping extension automatically applies any code it finds to save the shopper the most money. Find them at joinhoney.com and capitaloneshopping.com.
ADD TO CART AND IGNORE
You’ve signed up to a shopping website and added your buys to your shopping cart. Want a chance to save money? Leave it for a few hours. The retailer will see you’ve dithered and beg you to come back via email, often with a discount or free shipping so you complete the transaction.
SOCIAL MEDIA SAVERS
Turn your daily scroll into a moneysaver by following your favourite brands on Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Often they will post exclusive deals, promos and sales so you’ll be the first to get in on the latest. Simply looking for a bargain? Search hashtags such as #warehousesale and #closingdownsale for incredible price reductions!
EARN CASHBACK
Want real money back in your account when you spend? Shopback is an online loyalty program that has joined forces with big names like The Iconic, Myer, Dan Murphy’s and Petbarn to give you money back on purchases that you can transfer into your bank account. Similarly, Cashrewards is an app which offers cashback deals from retailers such as ASOS, Woolworths and Freedom. Visit shopback.com.au and cashrewards.com.au
COMPARE THE COMPETITION
Want to be sure that you’re getting
the cheapest price? Sure, you can do a Google search and trawl different sites, but you could also try using Shopbot, which compares millions of online and bricks-and-mortar shop prices. You may be in for some very big discounts! Head to shopbot.com.au
GET IT FOR FREE
Join swap and sell social media groups in your local area, or check websites like Freecycle to see if what you want – from plants to brand-new, unwanted goods – is available in your area for free. Often, the only thing you need to do is pick it up.
HEAD TO THE MARKETS
Want a bargain unique gift? You can often find flowers, jewellery and candles for a fraction of the price at local markets. A bonus is the gift will be one of a kind, and you’re helping to support a local businessperson.
SIGN UP FOR EMAIL ALERTS
Even if just for a few weeks, sign up for email alerts from your favourite retailers so you can be aware of sales and giveaways. Some companies will reward you with a one-off discount to do so, and loyal members will often reap the benefits at checkout time, with offers like free shipping. You can always unsubscribe after you have bought what you need.
ASK FOR A DEAL ON EXTRAS
When purchasing a big-ticket item such as a computer or TV, you may need extras like external hard drives or HDMI cables to go with it. If you are buying from a bricks-and-mortar store, be sure to know in advance everything you need for your device and set-up. All these extras can help your bargaining power – so make sure you ask for a deal.