Boxing clever
Sales on St Stephen’s Day? Save your sanity and go bargain hunting now!
AH, what could conjure up the true spirit of Christmas more than the much-anticipated sales. All the queuing, jostling and elbowing to get to that much-desired coat, only to find it’s not left in your size.
I’m being facetious of course. I can’t think of anything worse than bracing the freezing weather at cock crow to take on Dublin city (or any city for that matter) and throwing myself into sale mayhem.
While some may look forward to the challenge of grappling for bargains, I’d rather be at home in bed. The longest journey I’ll be making on Stephen’s Day is to my couch with a large box of Roses to watch back-to-back Christmas movies.
You see, times have changed. Eager shoppers no longer have to lie in wait for their ridiculously expensive object of lust to be slashed in price on December 26. New shopping trends have spurred stores on to reduce price tags well before we start tucking into the mince pies and swigging sherry in a bid to elevate sales.
This is good news for lazy shoppers — and for those who just want to enjoy their Christmas, without having to traipse around town with a turkey hangover.
If you look, you can take advantage of pre-Christmas discounts now, and make gift budgets stretch a little further (giving you more wardrobe funds in the process).
It’s a clever move for brands trying to shift surplus stock, but it also offers savvy savings for customers who normally have to shell out full price in the run-up to Christmas. See, everyone’s happy! There are exceptions, however. Brown Thomas, for example, holds out on its hugely popular designer accessories sale until St Stephen’s Day — but you can still get up to 50% off seasonal clothing.
Meanwhile the rest of the High Street has already begun a bidding war on their trophy items to entice customers to spend those festive funds. Debenhams, Arnotts, H&M and House of Fraser currently have up to 40% off select items. But while sharp elbows and early morning queues are no longer part of the deal, be warned — sale stock is still flying out of stores very quickly.
There are just 10 shopping days left before Christmas so move quick and you’ll clinch a crop of bargains.
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