Seven shops doing Christmas advents offering freebies and discounts as M&S axes popular giveaway
SEVEN major retailers have launched Christmas advent calendars offering shoppers the chance to grab discounts, freebies and more.
The big day is just weeks away but you can win everything from free prizes to bonus loyalty points between now and then.
Lidl, John Lewis, Morrisons and Pets at Home have all unveiled something for shoppers.
It comes after M&S axed its popular “12 Days of M&S” digital advent calendar after launching it just two years ago.
Here are all the retailers running advent calendars this year.
How each calendar-themed offer works varies, with some online-only and others in-store.
Some involve customers opening digital doors each day to reveal discounts, prizes and more while for others you have to make purchases in your nearest branch.
Of course, with any of these offers, if they involve you making a purchase, make sure you only buy something because you were going to anyway, otherwise you’re not really making a saving.
Lidl
Lidl is running its digital advent calendar game between December 1 and December 24 for Lidl Plus members.
Each day, a gift box appears in your app which you tap to reveal a discount coupon.
Each advent calendar gift box will appear for just that day and cannot be tapped once the day has passed.
Things up for grabs include free chocolates when spending a minimum amount in-store and discounts on products.
Shoppers are told how long a gift box coupon is valid for after clicking on it.
You can play by downloading the Lidl Plus app off the Apple App Store or Google Play.
John Lewis
John Lewis is running a digital advent calendar between December 1 and December 24 for My John Lewis loyalty members.
Shoppers get “Treats of Christmas” each day by clicking on the gift icon in their mobile app.
A new reward is unlocked every day at midnight, and you’ll have to open it on the day or it will expire.
Treats must be redeemed online within 24 hours or within three days in-store.
Shoppers can get free gifts and discounts from brands such as Shark, Marc Jacobs and Lego.
There are also 10 £5,000 gift card vouchers up for grabs.
You can download the John Jewis app off the Apple App Store or Google Play.
IKEA
IKEA is running its advent calendar between December 1 and December 24.
The Swedish retailer is revealing what each days’ discount, freebie or competition is each day on its Instagram story.
Yesterday, customers could get a 25% discount on dining chairs and stools while today there’s a competition to win a £1,000 gift card.
The retailer’s most recent Instagram post has further details on the gift card competition, with shoppers having to following IKEA on Instagram, like the post and tag a friend in the comments.
The offer is also only running between today and December 5.
Morrisons
Morrisons has launched a “12 Days of Christmas” offer for customers signed up to its Morrisons More loyalty scheme.
However, the game is invitation-only so you can only play if Morrisons has contacted you.
The campaign is running for 12 days between December 1 and December 12.
Each day, shoppers will get free treats, More Points on their next shop, discounts off products or the chance to win £1,000 worth of More Points.
Customers only have 24 hours each day to open the advent calendar windows on their apps with offers then added to the “My Offers” section.
Prizes expire at different dates so you should check the terms and conditions of yours each day.
You can download the Morrisons More app off the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Aldi
Aldi has unveiled a Big Advent Giveaway, with one shopper each day between December 1 and December 24 able to get the cost of their shopping covered for free, up to £100.
Shoppers have to email a copy of their receipt, dated the same day as the day of entry into the competition, to aldicompetitions@citypress.co.uk.
Entries have to be submitted between 8am and 11.59pm each day.
One winner will be randomly selected each day and contacted before December 27.
The winner will receive the cost of their Christmas shopping in Aldi vouchers up to the value of £100, with vouchers being sent by email.
Sainsbury’s Magazine
Sainsbury’s Magazine is offering shoppers the chance to get 12 different prizes each day between December 1 and 12.
Prizes up for grabs so far include a 50cl bottle of Cointreau, a bottle of Remy Martin VSOP 70cl and two sidecar glasses.
Shoppers today can win an Engine Gin party kit.
The competition is open to UK residents only and any winners will be contacted by December 18 with prizes sent within four weekx.
You can enter the competition each day via https://www.sainsburysmagazine.co.uk/12-days-of-christmas.
Pets at Home
Pets at Home is also launching a digital advent calendar, but from December 4.
Details are thin at the minute but you should check out the retailer’s website from Wednesday – https://www.petsathome.com.
How to save money on Christmas shopping
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save money on your Christmas shopping.
Limit the amount of presents – buying presents for all your family and friends can cost a bomb.
Instead, why not organise a Secret Santa between your inner circles so you’re not having to buy multiple presents.
Plan ahead – if you’ve got the stamina and budget, it’s worth buying your Christmas presents for the following year in the January sales.
Make sure you shop around for the best deals by using price comparison sites so you’re not forking out more than you should though.
Buy in Boxing Day sales – some retailers start their main Christmas sales early so you can actually snap up a bargain before December 25.
Delivery may cost you a bit more, but it can be worth it if the savings are decent.
Shop via outlet stores – you can save loads of money shopping via outlet stores like Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts.
They work by selling returned or slightly damaged products at a discounted rate, but usually any wear and tear is minor.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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