Tips for Getting The Most Out of Sale Season

The festive season is right around the corner and it means two things – Santa will be here soon, and so will discounts! The sales that happen at this time of year allow you to gift your loved ones or yourself, often at a fraction of the item’s original price. 

These are our tips for getting the most bang for your buck this sale season.

1. Narrow Your Search Terms

Whether you’re looking for online sales or finding out which physical stores have amazing and unmissable deals, you’ll need to do a lot of searching on engines like Google or social media platforms like Instagram.

 To find all of the best sales and make your searches as effective as they can be, you’ll need to narrow your search terms down to the most used keywords.

 Here are some search terms that may help you find what you need.

• “Christmas sale”
• “Holiday sale”
• “Gifts under $20” (substitute the amount you want to spend)
• “Winter sales”
• “Christmas clothing sale”
• “Discount on X” (and add whatever you’re looking for as ‘x’)

You could also try adding brand names or the kind of clothing/accessories/ home goods etc you are looking for to get refined results.

2. Make a Priority List

Sales are exciting, but they can be overwhelming if you don’t go in with a good idea of what you’re looking for. Without a plan, you could quickly surpass your budget without even noticing! It is for that reason that we suggest making a list of all the items you need or want for whatever reason (it is likely to be long) and then whittling it down to the things that you want or need the most or trending items you desperately want to own. 

Buying things just because they are on sale can lead to waste, financial issues, and a mindset of consumption for consumption’s sake. Instead, prioritize items that:

• Bring you joy that won’t wear off after that dopamine hit following a new purchase.
• Have a function and make some aspect of your life better or easier.
• Are made with high-quality materials by ethical manufacturers.

3. Set a Budget and Stick to It

It’s important to set a budget whenever you shop for anything, but it’s especially important when sale prices are in effect and you’re excited to get your hands on some new products. 

To get good value for your money and keep yourself financially stable, you should set a non-negotiable budget for shopping the seasonal sales.

If you are buying gifts for yourself, you might start with $100, and see how far that stretches depending on what you need.

4. Remember That Sets Offer Great Value for Money

Many brands across various industries offer amazing gift sets at this time of year; think MAC, fresh, NYX, bath and body works. If you’re looking for skincare, body care, or makeup, you’re likely to find many enticing deals that offer way more value for money than buying the products individually. You might even be able to get your hands on special limited-edition items that aren’t available individually or at any other time of the year. 

Examples: Fresh has a huge sale on where you can buy a skincare gift here for as little as $12.50.

Bath and Body Works are selling cute little festive crackers containing a hand cream and hand sanitizer for only $9.95.

5. Wishlist Before The Sale

If you’re shopping online, nothing saves time like creating a wishlist before the sale begins. Brands sometimes advise the discounts they are offering and on which items ahead of time, but even if they don’t, wishlisting the items you want will make shopping faster while the sale is ongoing. No need to hunt for what you like because everything you want has been saved in one place! Quick, easy, and stress-free shopping will come your way if you think ahead.

6. Plan Your Time Well

Many sales are in incredibly high demand, so we advise that you plan your visit to the store or your online shopping excursion ahead of time. Being first in line can apply to both physical and online sales, especially if many people are after the same item in a color or size that the majority of shoppers prefer. 

If the sale starts at midnight, we recommend you transform into a night owl for one evening and shop the sale as soon as it starts to have access to all the sale items that you want. If the sale is at a physical store, arrive a little earlier than it starts and wait in line for admittance if need be. Pack a little bottle of water and some snacks in case the line is very long.

7. Subscribe to Mailers for Early Access

Many brands will offer early sale access to those who are on their mailing lists. If you love a particular brand and are hoping that they have a sale around the festive season (they likely will), find their mailing list and sign up just in case. Early access may mean more products to shop or even a special price just for subscribers.

Shop Sensibly

Our last piece of advice is to shop well using these tips but also do so sensibly. Enjoy the process of wishlisting, keyword searching, and buying gifts for your loved ones that they will really like using.