If you are still paying full price for a raft of goods and services, then you have too much money to spare.
The abundance of coupons, shop-a-dockets, deal-search sites and retail loyalty cards means there is no excuse to miss a bargain.
Here are just three ways you can effortlessly save a bundle when you buy Christmas presents or shop any time of the year.
Deal searches
Websites such as finder.com.au provide a deal-search service for free. Just sign up as a subscriber and they will email you the details each time they come across a fantastic savings opportunity.
At the time of writing, the site was promoting 15 per cent off Bose audio products at Myer, flights to Bali from $239 return through Flight Centre, 20 per cent off the spring collection of fashion label The Iconic, and hundreds of other deals across more than a dozen shopping categories.
But you have to be quick. Many deals are available for a limited time and others are on offer for just 24 hours.
Gone fishing
Bargain bin site catch.com.au turns up the pressure by featuring a ‘clock’ that counts down the minutes to when a deal expires. It also regularly features novelty sales such as ‘$10 day’ and hundreds of half-price discounts on popular brands, including Finish dishwasher products, Scanpan cookware and Windsor Smith shoes.
Unfortunately, at the time of viewing, the site had run out of 30-piece Ferrero Rocher chocolate boxes, long before the countdown ended. They were selling for just $5 – a 76 per cent markdown.
Shop a Docket
Don’t be tempted to say ‘No’ next time a supermarket cash register operator asks if you want to take your receipt. Grab it with both hands and peruse the Shop a Docket offers from hundreds of big brands printed on the back.
If eating out is a rare treat because of the expense, Shop a Docket will become your best dining companion. It constantly features deals from your local popular restaurants, such as Crust Gourmet Pizza and Noodle Box, to more boutique eateries.
Deals include 50 per cent off a second meal at Hog’s steakhouse in Orange, NSW; a free meal at Montezuma’s Mexican restaurant in Parkdale, Victoria; half-price meals at Cairns Cruising Yacht Squadron in Portsmith, Queensland; at Fleurieu Family Bistro in Goolwa South, South Australia; and hundreds of other locations all over Australia.
Most of the offers are available for a few weeks, allowing you time to plan your dinner date.
If you absolutely cannot stand accumulating supermarket dockets, you can always go on the company’s site and search for offers in your postcode area, or join for free and receive alerts each time a deal becomes available near you.
Not feeling hungry? Shop a Docket also highlights bargains from other providers, including car mechanics, hair and beauty, health and fitness, trades, travel and accommodation.
With Christmas fast approaching, there has never been a better time to grab a bargain.
Do you rely on deals and discounts when you go shopping? What is the biggest saving you have ever made with a discount offer?
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