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21 online shopping hacks & tips

Tricky one this... Christmas is near and many still have things to buy, so while we want to show you tricks and tips to help, we don't want to buy into the retail fervour that leaves too many paying for the big day with a debt-ridden January.

So, do a budget - a list of what you need and can afford to buy - and stick to it. Don't let discounts target your spending impulses. Then, methodically use the tips below to buy what you plan to with less hassle and cost.

1. Abandon ye shopping basket all those who enter... Log in to your online shopping account, add what you want to the basket, then fail to finish and within 48 hours some companies often send you codes to tempt you to come back and complete the shop.

The most common firms reported to us seem to be Argos, Currys and Morrisons - see our list of retailers which offer abandoned basket discounts. As Suzanne told us on X: "I do this often. Has worked recently with Mint Velvet, Jigsaw, Harrods and Cos - up to 20% off."

2. Get 1% back on everything you spend (can add up to £100s for some over the year). The Lloyds Ultra credit card pays you 1% uncapped cashback for a year (paid each Jan), perfect for this high-spend period. Do all your normal spending on it, making sure, of course, you pay it off IN FULL each month to avoid the 12.9% rep APR interest. It's also a top card for spending abroad, as there's no foreign exchange fee and you get the cashback when away, too. 

See our top cashback credit cards guide for a full review and more alternatives (some good ones for higher spenders).

3. TIMING MATTERS I: Some consumer rights don't last too long. By law, buy things online and unless they're perishable or personalised, you've 14 days from delivery to notify them you've changed your mind, and 14 days after that to send it back for a full refund. So, if you're buying goods for Xmas that may need to be sent back, it's worth thinking about when they'll be opened compared to when you bought.

Even more importantly, whether in-store or online, if items are faulty you've 30-days to take them back for a full refund (after that, it's repair, partial refund, or replacement). So if you've bought something expensive, or techy, leaving it sitting too long in a wrapped box could cause you problems.

As Martin says: "It may lose some of the romance of Christmas, but if you're buying someone an expensive gift, it is worth opening it and checking it's not faulty while you're still within the time limit to return it, just in case."

PS: To see if you know all your shopping rights, watch Martin's Shopping Rights IQ video on YouTube.

PPS: With gifts, technically only the purchaser, not the recipient, has legal rights. But a gift receipt tends to transfer that right to the recipient. (Didn't get one? Try writing on your regular receipt that it's a gift as this may prove evidence enough).

4. Discount couriers can slash the cost of sending parcels. If you're sending someone a parcel (as opposed to getting a store to deliver it), there's still just about time to do it cheaply for Christmas. Use discount courier parcel delivery to get the big firms to deliver for less than you'd pay direct.

5. FREE Christmas gifts, spend time not money. Why not give a gift via our free printable Christmas gift cheques? It's often more meaningful, more fun and doesn't reduce your bank account. Simply pledge to do something on it when it's presented back to you. Whether it's babysitting for a friend, breakfast in bed, cook them a feast, or give them a foot or other massage. Imagination's the limit.

11. TIMING MATTERS II: Last ordeeerrrsss - go quick for cheapest delivery. It's almost time for the last dates to get pre-Christmas delivery without an added fee. TOMORROW (Wed) is the last standard order date for retailers such as Currys, JD and Asda George. After that, if you want things delivered in time, expect to pay more. See our full last free or cheapest delivery dates, including the likes of...

Amazon | Argos | Asos | Boots | Currys | John Lewis | M&S | Nike

12. Shopping for a big expensive item? Use a shopping comparison site. You can do it for small ones too, though it's more important the more expensive is, as a percent or two price difference can be real money. We like PriceSpy and PriceRunner, though there's also the ubiquitous Google Shopping.

13. How to slash the cost of buying a new mobile phone. Our Cheap Mobile Finder tool allows you to find the cheapest deals from over 60 retailers and resellers. Plus, why buy new? Our Refurb Finder can find cheaper handsets including a year's warranty. 

14. Consumer self-defence: pay at least 1p on a credit card if you're buying something costing over £100. Buy goods costing from £100.01 (and under £30,000), and even if you pay just 1p on a credit card - the rest any other way - the card company's jointly liable with the retailer for the WHOLE amount. It's the veritable financial superhero, especially if a firm then goes bust. Read last week's briefing on Section 75 protection.

PS: Spending £100 or less, or on a debit card? You can claim for faulty or undelivered goods under the less well-known chargeback scheme.

15. Give charity gifts this Christmas. Why not agree to give to good causes in someone (or perhaps everyone) else's name? From vaccines to beehives, our charity gifts guide is packed with suggestions. These are just a couple of them to give you an idea...

16. Haggle big discounts online. While buying online is usually cheaper, the one advantage of buying in store is you may be able to haggle. Yet there may be a way around this - if you get a window offering a live chat (as opposed to an automated chatbot), don't dismiss it. See how to haggle with online chats. 

17. Can't find a discount code? Try department store codes. Don't just check the site you want to buy from for a discount code - online stores that sell a range of brands often have a workaround. For example, La Redoute stocks Adidas, Converse, Levi's and more, and has up to 40% off selected items plus free delivery using the code 'FREEDEL' until 11.59pm tomorrow (Wed). See our list of 10 multi-brand online stores this works with.

18. Hunt out online outlet stores. Lots of big names, such as Asos, Ninja and even Tesco, offer substantial discounts on unsold lines through online outlets. Our Outlets deals page lists over 20, for huge clothing, homeware and other discounts.

19. Buy through cashback sites & apps. Check if you can make merry by buying via a top cashback site and getting money back. Plus the easy, free Airtime app tracks your spending at 200+ retailers and pays 1% to 15% cashback, which you can redeem as credit on your mobile bill (for O2, EE, Vodafone, Three and more). You can use both these together, and with a cashback credit card (see point 2 above)

20. How to buy second-hand in a first-class way. Grab goods for a fraction of the original recommended retail price - and it's planet-friendly. Though you're cutting it fine for delivery by Christmas now, so if possible pick up in person or liaise with the seller about quick postage. We've tips to track down uber-bargains in 30 Vinted tips, eBay buying and Facebook Marketplace.

Philippa told us on FB: "Probably 50% of my kids' presents are bought from Vinted or a marketplace. If I think of something they will like, I look there first and only if I can't find one in good condition will I buy it new. They are young and don't care if it comes in the packaging or not."

21. Predictions of deals yet to come, including Argos, BA & Virgin Atlantic sales. Scrooge may've needed ghosts to see into the future - we just track the marketing patterns of major firms over the last decade to do the same. We're quite a way through now, but the Christmas Deals Predictor still has a few highlights left.

For more... our Cheap online shopping tips can help slash the cost.