Thrifty single mum blags ALL her £400 of Christmas gifts for free using coupons and cashback sites – including a Fitbit
A THRIFTY single mum has managed to blag all her Christmas presents for free using coupons and cashback websites.
Annemarie Gregory, 40, used to splurge £400 on presents - but hasn't spent a penny on Christmas shopping for the past four years, by using cashback websites whenever she shops.
The civil servant, from Blackpool, Lancs, even managed to treat her daughter Isabella, 12, to a special trip to London's Harry Potter studio tour with the money she saved - as well as getting her a free Fitbit for Christmas.
Overall, she reckons she's saved "hundreds, if not thousands of pounds" and says she struggles to pay full-price for anything these days.
Annemarie said: “I’ve saved hundreds, if not thousands of pounds over the years.
"I would normally spend about £400 at Christmas on gifts for my family, but now I spend nothing.
“I use cashback websites, where you can make money back on things you buy, for anything and everything - even takeaways.
“Even if I only save a couple of pence, I think it is worth it. Every penny saved will go towards something else, and it soon adds up.
“I get a real buzz from it because it’s money I normally wouldn’t be saving.”
I would normally spend about £400 at Christmas on gifts for my family, but now I spend nothing
Annemarie Gregory
Divorcee Annemarie explained that, while she has always had an eye for a bargain, she started to take couponing more seriously around five years ago, checking for bargains online first thing every morning.
She uses sites such as Martin Lewis Money Saving Expert and Facebook groups like Ashleigh Money Saver to find the best deals.
Annemarie also raked in on loyalty cards and had her first free Christmas in December 2015.
She said: “I do a lot of shopping in the January sales, then stick everything in the attic ready for the following Christmas.
“I also have a Boots advantage card, which I save points up on throughout the year, then use them to buy gift sets for presents.
“Then I will look at supermarkets that have deals on, make a note and make sure to go there.
"I also use websites like , which offers discounts on loads of things, to try and pick up bargains.
“Amazon also post lightning deals early in the morning, so you have to be quick. I once got a gaming keyboard for £7 down from £35.”
Even if I only save a couple of pence, I think it is worth it. Every penny saved will go towards something else, and it soon adds up
Annemarie Gregory
Annemarie swears by shopping through cashback websites like TopCashback, rather than going directly to retailers.
By shopping there, she gets money back on everything she buys - which she either puts aside for Christmas or converts into vouchers, to give as gifts.
She said: “I’ve saved all this money basically for free, just doing what I would normally do, but buying through cashback websites instead of going direct.
“I’ve been able to save up throughout the year so I can spend the money on Christmas.”
Over the past year, Annemarie's made £150 through TopCashback alone.
She said: “I withdrew this via the TopCashback reward wallet, which gave me an extra 10 per cent bonus on a gift card, which I could then give to my daughter.
“The rest I withdrew as Love2Shop vouchers, which can be used at loads of different high street stores. I got a six per cent bonus from the site for doing it this way rather than withdrawing the cash.
“This year, my daughter has asked for a Fitbit, which would normally cost over £100.
“I can use my cashback saving of £10, and then I found a discount code to get another £10 off.
“I’ll then spend the money I’ve saved throughout the year on the rest of it, so I’m essentially getting it for free.”
It is a bit of an obsession - I think it’s quite addictive
Annemarie Gregory
Annemarie will buy next year's Christmas cards in the January 2020 sales, at a 70 per cent discount, and search for gift sets to be used as presents.
Last January, she bagged a beauty product gift set worth £50 for just £11.50, as well as a Nintendo Switch games console, New Look gift card, baby clothes and a Yankee Candle - all paid for with loyalty cards.
“I also pick up little reduced gift sets to make hampers for the homeless collection at the local food bank,” she said.
“I have a Debenhams card, so I will always look there for a dress for my Christmas do. This year I found one for £36 discounted from £45. I used £23 I’d saved in vouchers so got it for £13.
“Now the only thing I have to buy is the Christmas dinner. It makes a huge difference.”
Annemarie’s top tips
1) Sign up to the Top Cashback website and remember to go through it whenever you are planning to shop
2) Use voucher code websites and check newspapers offering codes
3) Follow discount groups on social media and check them first thing in the morning
4) Hit the January sales and stock up.
5) Don’t be afraid to ask sales assistants if you see things on the shop floor – they might be in the process of discounting them
Annemarie is keen to stress she's "savvy rather than tight" and says her family love her bargain hunting obsession - because she sniffs out deals for them too.
“I get annoyed if I think I’ve missed out on something even if it’s just a couple of pounds,” she explained.
“It is a bit of an obsession - I think it’s quite addictive. I probably spend about an hour a day looking online for discounts, but you do have to be savvy.
“Sometimes I will see something has gone down from £50 to £25, but then I know it will go down again so I’ll wait.
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“If I buy something at full price, and the following week it’s in the sale, I will take it back and get it refunded at the original cost price then buy it reduced.
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“A lot of it is being in the right place at the right time.”
At the opposite end of the spectrum, this mum spent £400 on festive extras for her son BEFORE Christmas — including his own tree and three advent calendars.