Shoppers set to spend £1.6BILLION before Christmas – here’s our guide to picking up a bargain
CHRISTMAS shoppers taking advantage of last-minute discounts are preparing themselves for a frantic weekend of spending.
Brits are expected to spend an estimated £1.6 billion on "Super Saturday" or the last Saturday before Christmas, according to research by VoucherCodes and the Centre for Retail Research (CRR).
December 23 will mark the first time in 11 years that the last full shopping day before Christmas has landed on a Saturday, and coincides with many workers receiving their pay checks the day before.
Worldpay expects supermarkets to be the biggest beneficiaries, raking in £631 million, while department stores are set to take as much as £113 million and clothing and footwear stores up to £90 million.
In fact, supermarkets are so busy that Morrisons has already completely run out of delivery slots, while Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda and Waitrose only have "limited availability".
Some branches have even stopped taking "click and collect" orders as they struggle to meet demand from shoppers.
Retailers will be slashing prices on everything, from clothes to electronics, homeware to handbags, with discounts of up to 80 per cent at Debenhams and House of Fraser.
And retailers are pinning their hopes on a last minute rush in what has been a difficult time for the high street.
As troubled firm Toys R US staved-off the threat of administration after reaching a last-minute deal, consultancy firm Begbies Traynor predicts a marked rise in insolvencies in the new year.
Research by the firm shows 43,677 UK retailers are showing signs of “significant” financial distress as consumer spending slows.
FESTIVE FRENZY When do the Boxing Day 2017 sales start and which retailers are offering the best deals?
Boxing Day sales will also last into the new year, with further price cuts expected in January as shops rid themselves of old and Christmas stock ready for new seasonal lines.
The Sun Online has already done a list of participating retailers and the discounts customers can expect in January.
You can also follow your favourite shops on Twitter or Facebook and sign up to their newsletter to get the latest on any offers.
Another easy way to save money is to check websites like and before you place your order.
Cashback websites literally pay you to shop.
All you have to do is click through their links and the money is added to your online account, usually within two weeks.
How do I sign up and get cashback?
IT’S easy to start earning casback on your bills and purchases. Just follow these simple steps:
- Sign up to a cashback website. Topcashback.co.uk and Quidco are two of the best. Click the ‘Join now’ option and enter your email address and password.
- Make sure you click the free / basic membership option, otherwise you’ll be charged. If you want premium membership, both websites charge £5 a month for this. The premium membership will reward customers with bonus cashback, ad-free shopping and quicker payouts.
- Find a deal that you want to purchase, whether that’s a home insurance policy, a new laptop from Currys, or a Tesco grocery shop. Instead of going directly to the retailer, you can access the shop through a link in the cashback website, and any purchase made will be registered with the cashback site.
- You still receive your item directly from the retailer, and the casback earned will be added to your online account. Once it’s there, you can withdraw it and transfer it to your bank account, or you can turn your cashback into a gift voucher or code to spend at a retailer.
- Bear in mind that it can take a few days or even weeks for the cashback to appear in your account on the website.
And if you don't get what you want on Christmas morning - or you didn't get the right presents for you kids, you'll want to know about refunds and returns.
Most retailers have their own returns policy and will let you return items for an extended period over Christmas.
But remember to keep the receipts when you're doing your last-minute shopping this weekend.
Returns and refunds
DON'T worry if you make a hash of your presents as most retailers offer a refunds or exchanges on unwanted Christmas gifts.
- Remember that retailers are only legally obliged to give you a refund if the item is faulty or not fit for purpose.
- Usually you'll only have 28 days to return non-faulty goods but shops often extend this period over Christmas.
- Most retailers will ask you for the receipt and/or the card you use to pay for your goods if you want a refund.
- In some cases you might need to produce the original packaging too so it's worth checking the retailer's website for the terms and conditions or give customer services a call before you set off to the shops.
- If you can’t get hold of the receipt and you’re taking an item back simply because you don’t like it, the retailer is under no legal obligation to give you a refund – but it might offer you a credit note or exchange it.
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