Hit those sales and get ahead

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?

No, I’m not terribly behind the times... I’m talking about getting ready for the 2015 festive season.

After leaving things to the last minute in 2014 – my daughter’s “big” presents, bought online, arrived two days after the main event – I’ve decided to be prepared this year.

Crackers, wrapping paper, decorations and a fair few presents have already been snapped up in the sales, which will save no end of stress, not to mention cash, come December.

Oxford city centre shops have plenty of sales at the moment promising anything up to 70 per cent off. Delve a bit deeper and you can find even bigger bargains, especially on those festive goods.

The first wave of bargain hunting by those intrepid souls who braved the stores between Christmas and New Year has passed and those who waited a bit longer are rewarded with further reductions.

There may be more to come but judging from previous years, this weekend may be the last one when you can find a good selection of sizes still available on clothes sale goods. Leave it much longer and it will only be size 6s and 22s who can snap up a bargain.

But it’s not just clothes and shoes which are on sale: homewares, gift sets, toiletries and cosmetics... there’s hardly anything that you need to pay full price for.

So grab your purse and head for the shops but don’t forget the golden rule of sale shopping: No matter how cheap it is, don’t buy it unless you are going to wear it or use it.

It’s not a bargain if it sits in the back of a drawer forever.

Happy hunting!

Go crackers and snap up the bargain buys

ANIMAL CRACKERS

Our family has a tradition of wearing onesies on Christmas Day... well, until the guests come round.
And this year we’ll be getting in touch with our inner animals courtesy of the Primark sale.

The store in Westgate always has a wide range of reasonably priced fashions but at the moment they are practically giving things away.

There are dresses reduced from £17 to £7; coats down from £25 to £10, tops at £2, skirts at £3 and plenty of other bargains to be found found for men, women and children.

Sometimes it’s worth checking on price reductions. The £14 onesies I found weren’t marked down on their tickets but there was a sign on the stand saying £12 reduced to £7. A helpful assistant checked for me and I left happily with four of them costing a total of £28, less than I’ve paid for one in the past.

SWEET TREATS

A chocolate Santa isn’t just for Christmas... as long as it’s within its eat-by date it will taste just as good any time of year.

But it’s not just festive novelty items which have been marked down.

At Thornton’s, in the Westgate Centre, 300g boxes of continental chocolates were reduced from £12 to £4.80. And it’s not just shops which are trying to entice those who may be trying to tighten their belts in more ways than one to flash the cash. Yo! Sushi in George Street is boasting 50 dishes at £2.50 each.

CHRISTMAS IS COVERED

Cards, decorations, crackers, fake trees... you name it and it can be found at a discount.

At Paperchase, in Queen Street, earlier this week, there were these crackers down from £12 to £3.60 and decorations reduced from £6.50 to £1.95, along with plenty of bargain Christmas greeting cards, wrapping paper and tags.

At nearby Bhs there were gift sets aimed at the Christmas market at 50 per cent off like a Mojito Cocktail Pack down from £12 to £6.

BLING IT UP

If you’re not fussed if someone recognises your outfit as ‘last season’ – and if you are, the sales really aren’t for you – take the opportunity to buy a new party frock or accessories to sparkle in 2015.

Anything shiny, shimmery or glittery is likely to be greatly reduced, so it’s a great time to buy a knockout dress at knockdown prices.

Monsoon, in Queen Street, is one of the shops offering 70 per cent off on selected lines – with many more items at half price.

This party dress was reduced from £169 to £50.70.

At Oasis, in Saint Ebbes Street, there are costume jewellery bargains to be found, including a £28 necklace which is now selling for £5.

WRAP UP

Now is the time to grab a winter coat or jacket at half the price or less than it would have cost a few weeks ago.

Winter woolies have also been drastically reduced, like this jumper down to £7 in H&M.

At Miss Selfridge this fake fur coat was reduced from £99 to £40 but I found my bargain of the day in Debenhams in Magdalen St.

There are cuts in most departments and all its sale designer womenswear is at least half price. I picked up a Betty Jackson blouse reduced from £55 to £16.50 and, from the same designer, a winter coat down from £140 to £42.

At that point I realised I was in danger from straying from my goal to get prepared for next year and saving cash, and heading towards having a good old splurge, so I put the plastic away and went home.

However, if you have the spare cash, it’s a great opportunity to give your wardrobe a boost.

You can always tell yourself it’s not about what you are spending... it’s how much you are saving.

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