hotukdeals reveals its top tips for saving money on Christmas gifts

London, Tuesday 22nd November: hotukdeals, the UK’s biggest deal sharing community, has revealed its top tips for saving money on gifts this Christmas.

 

According to Rubicon Project’s UK consumer survey, the anticipated spend per person for Christmas 2016 is set to be £748 per person, up from 2015 when anticipated spend was £732*. Danny Munday, general manager of hotukdeals, suggests these small changes and tips to help reduce that amount this holiday season:

 

1.     Set yourself a budget – Make a list of all the presents you need to buy and the amount you want to spend and then set the target of getting under threshold by finding deals on gifts for that person.

 

2.     Bank the savings - If you've made a saving on a present don't think that you've now got an increased budget for your next gift. Reduce your overall budget by that saving and move on to the next present.

 

3.     Set deal alerts - Set up deal alerts via smartphone apps such as the free hotukdeals app for the items you're struggling to find at the prices you want to pay. As soon as your item is available you'll get alerted by notifications or emails, so you never have to search for or miss the deals that matter to you.

 

4.     Compare prices and check reviews – Use comparison sites or ask forum members for advice on prices and product quality. Members of hotukdeals are deal-savvy and know the price history of hundreds of products and will share their experiences of items to help ensure you’re getting the best deal. You can also check trusted websites for product reviews to ensure it’s what you want.

 

5.     Make the most of the sales – Black Friday and Cyber Monday are generally the last sales events before Christmas, so make sure you keep your list of gifts to hand during this period – but remember to check the deals are worthwhile by checking prices and reviews. If you miss the sales don’t worry – there are always savings to be made by using deal sharing communities, forums and price comparison tools.

 

6.     Stack the savings - You should always check whether there are codes or vouchers available, which you can use on your purchases. If you find more than one code for a retailer see if they stack to make extra savings.

 

7.     Look for inspiration – Use websites like hotukdeals to find the hottest deals and things you hadn’t thought of such as freebies that can make great stocking fillers.

 

8.     Check for hidden costs – When shopping online always check for hidden costs such as shipping or VAT, which can increase the price. Also check return policies in case you find a different present or the recipient needs to change it due to sizing etc.

 

9.     Use trusted retailers – When shopping online use approved retailers, so you know you can rely on your money being spent on products that will get to you and aren’t fakes. If you’re unsure ask community members on forums who will share their knowledge and experiences.

 

10.  Beware of scam sites – Before purchasing from sites on social media platforms or interacting with them, check that the pages are authenticated. If you’re unsure, check forums where consumers discuss possible scam pages, so you reduce your chance of purchasing fake items or unwillingly sharing your data.

 

11.  Pay safe and earn rewards – When shopping online it is safer to pay with credit cards that protect you on purchases over £100 for free, unlike debit cards. If you do use a credit card use one that offers rewards such as vouchers or air miles to save against other items.

 

12.  Check delivery times – When purchasing Christmas presents online check estimated delivery times so you know they will arrive in time to avoid purchasing extra gifts to make up for the late arrival.

 

13.  Consider a courier - Quite often it’s cheaper to book a courier rather than use Royal Mail for sending gifts. Size up and weigh your item and check courier comparison sites for the best price.

 

For all the latest deals, please visit www.hotukdeals.com

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