From email alerts to codes, Coupon Queen Maddy Tooke reveals how to pay less on your next shop with these clever hacks
YOU can squeeze even more out of the sales with some clever hacks.
Here, Coupon Queen Maddy Tooke shares her tips for paying less.
EMAIL ALERTS
IF you want something from a specific brand, sign up to their email newsletter and while you’ll get some spam, you’ll also get VIP invites to sales to beat the virtual queues, as well as deals and voucher codes.
ADD TO BASKET
SIGN into your online shopping account, add something to your basket then close the page. You might receive a “forgotten something” email from the company and if you’re really lucky they’ll include a discount code to tempt you to complete the purchase.
PRE PAY DAY
THE best bargains, discounts and voucher codes are released just before pay day, especially for homeware. Shops know most people are skint by the third week of the month, but the deals all seem to magically disappear by pay day. Put some money aside and scoop all the bargains at the end of the month.
COMBINED DEALS
THE money-saving triple is combining a sale with a voucher code AND getting cash back on top, but it can be tricky due to terms and conditions. However, cashback sites quidco.com and topcashback.co.uk do also have discount codes that can be used in conjunction with cash back.
For example, get £70 off when you spend £1,200 at Hughes with code SALE70, £40 off when you spend £800 with code SALE40 or £25 off when you spend £180 or more with code SALE25, order through quidco.com and earn 16.5 per cent cash back on top. Combine with the current summer sale to save even more. Codes expire August 31. See bit.ly/hughescashback.
SHOP AROUND
HOMEWARE costs vary greatly between retailers so make sure you are not paying over the odds. For example, wayfair.co.uk has an Astoria Grand 1 drawer bedside table for £469.99, but the same one is available from lockstockandbarrel-uk.com for only £295, saving £174.99.
Shopping around can be time consuming but one tip is to copy and paste the manufacturer stock picture into Google Images and every website that uses that picture will pop up. You can also type a product description into Google Shopping and stockists will be listed. See bit.ly/lockstockbedsidetable and bit.ly/wayfairbedsidetable to compare prices.
LOYALTY SCHEMES
SIGN up to free company loyalty schemes. Ikea family membership entitles you to special discounts in-store, such as 20 per cent off selected outdoor furniture and 25 per cent off the Solblekt summer homeware collection until July 31. Membership also gets you a free hot drink from Monday-Friday when the store restaurants re-open.
DEAL SHARING
COMMUNITY deal sharing page hotukdeals.com is a great place to find discounts and sales. Members vote deals hot or cold so you can easily see the hottest homeware offers and sale. The community has so many members that it’s constantly being updated and if you’re after something specific, the search function is perfect.
SAVING CODES
BIG purchases can mean big discounts with the right voucher code. Sales are also listed, often with the end date too, so it’s always worth having a browse. For example, get £30 off orders over £300 from made.com with code MADEFAB30 from vouchercloud.com. Expires July 31 – bit.ly/madevc.
SHOPPING ASSISTANT
HONEY is a great smart shopping assistant you can download to Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Opera and it automatically searches the internet for promo codes to use on that webpage. Honey tests the codes and whichever gives the biggest discount gets applied to the shopping basket – see bit.ly/honeycodes1.
Great offers on now
NOT sure where to bag the best bargains? We have dug out some of the greatest offers on now.
- JOHN LEWIS: Offering huge discounts on home departments, including up to 70 per cent off lighting and kitchen accessories.
- LA REDOUTE: French chic doesn’t stop with clothing and La Redoute is cutting up to 40 per cent off its rather stylish gardenware and homeware ranges.
- MADE.COM: The crafty furniture site has up to 40 per cent off, including on its signature modern sofas.
- DUNELM: This is an Aladdin’s Cave of treasures – and even more so when its sale is offering up to 50 per cent off.
- VERY.CO.UK: The online department store has huge savings across all parts of the business, including up to 50 per cent off home and electricals.
- ARGOS: The one-stop catalogue shop is offering customers very attractive savings of up to 50 per cent on its homeware selection.
- SOFA.COM: Offering far more than just sofas, the website has up to 50 per cent off furniture, as well as some big cuts on homeware and accessories.
- NEXT: Always first in line when it comes to sales, the store has up to 70 per cent off homeware. Next please!
Save hundreds on your home in the summer sales
SUMMER sales are not just for clothes. This is a great time to shop for homeware, as big brands slash prices. In the wake of lockdown, some stores are offering discounts of up to 70 per cent to clear stock.
But when shopping for big-ticket items for the home, it can feel like a jungle out there . . . especially with all the tropical prints around. Here, CLEMMIE FIELDSEND seeks out the hottest homeware sales and finds the best bargains.
Absolutely abstract
EMBRACE colour and graphics with an abstract look. Take tips from Fearne Cotton, left, by mixing angular furniture with vivid colour to lift any room. If you’re not keen on too much primary colour, choose scatter cushions with bold graphics.
- Towels, were £38 now £19, houseoffraser.com – you save: £19
- Geometric cushion cover, was £15 now £9, laredoute.co.uk – you save: £6
- Blue light, was £45 now £31.50, debenhams.com – you save: £13.50
- Yellow chair, was £59 now £29, cultfurniture.com – you save: £30
- Orange and beige print rug, was £129 now £79, made.com – you save: £50
Industrial revolution
MIX the old and the new with industrial-inspired interiors. Dark wood, supple leather, rich velvets contrasted with pops of colour and sleek furnishings will give your home a whole new look. Follow the style of Davina McCall, left, and clash natural materials with man-made metals.
- Stool, was £70 now £46.62, argos.co.uk – you save: £23.38
- Blue kettle, was £79.99 now £39.99, currys.co.uk – you save: £40
- Orange storage boxes, were £80 now £40, habitat.co.uk – you save: £40
- Purple sofa, was £1,375 now £825, next.co.uk – you save: £550
- Tripod clock, was £135 now £65, bhs.com – you save: £70
Modern movement
UPDATE your home with all things modern. Be inspired by Sam Faiers, left, and look for luxury, from soft silky fabrics to gleaming marble. Take the trend to the kitchen and add shiny metals to polish off your house.
- Cage light, was £25 now £17.50, wilko.com – you save: £7.50
- Armchair, was £549.99 now £352.49, wayfair.co.uk – you save: £197.50
- Pink satin cushion, was £12 now £9.60, dunelm.co.uk – you save: £2.40
- Copper pot, was £70 now £56, Linea at houseoffraser.co.uk – you save: £14
- Blush chair, was £230 now £115, argos.co.uk – you save: £115
Tropical touches
BRING the outside in like Stacey Solomon, left, and fill your house with the tropics. Palm prints are key but don’t forget your home comforts – neutral rugs will keep any room light and airy and mirror the fresh colour of your leaves. Add finishing touches with fruit furnishings.
- Woven storage box, was £15.99 now £7.99, zara.co.uk – you save: £8
- Wooden edged mirror, was £25 now £20, very.co.uk – you save: £5
- Pink, green and grey wallpaper, was £16 now £12 per roll – you save £4, Ilovewallpaper.co.uk
- Pineapple pot, was £25 now £18, houseoffraser.co.uk – you save: £7
- Cane bed, was £550 now £385, laredoute.co.uk – you save: £165
- Geometric rug, was £99 now £79.20, laredoute.co.uk – you save: £19.80
Strictly Scandi
BEIGE is best when it comes to giving your home the Scandinavian look. Mix wood with rattan and wicker and energise your rooms with plants, just like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Nature is at the heart of this trend, but faux plants can last years.
- Glass lantern, was £40 now £20, amara.com – you save: £20
- Edged dining set, was £25 now £5, wilko.com – you save: £20
- Faux plant pot, was £30 now £21, debenhams.com – you save: £9
- Wicker pouffe, was £119.99 now £79.99, zara.com – you save: £40
- Teal sofa, was £399 now £299, made.com – you save: £100
Most read in Fabulous
English eccentric
GO British to give your home a makeover. From fancy florals to white and wicker, you can bring a country cottage feel to your property regardless of your location. Or imagine yourself as Myleene Klass in a sprawling pile with an ornate chandelier.
- Floral duvet spread and two pillowcases, was £70 now £55.95, joules.com – you save: £14.05
- Chandelier, was £50 now £35, matalan.co.uk – you save: £15
- Wall art, was £30 now £24, debenhams.co.uk – you save: £6
- Tea pot, was £48 now £24, PiP Studio at johnlewis.com – you save: £24
- Console table, was £125, now £62.50, argos.co.uk – you save: £62.50
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