Affordable Luxury: How To Shop The Boxing Day Sales
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It’s almost the end of the year. Thank you so much for all your support and for becoming a part of this community!
If this is your first visit, welcome to Be Your Own Date - a space dedicated to all things self-care and wellbeing. Sounds good? Well, you are definitely in the right place! If you haven’t already done so, I encourage you to take a look at my other posts; I hope you’ll like them and find them useful too! I am building a collection of thoughtful articles, tips and resources to uplift you and get you thinking.
📣 And if, like me, you invest in affordable luxury this is definitely the right post for you! Save, bookmark and share my take on how to shop the Boxing Day sales in style without it costing the earth.
How to shop the Boxing Day Sales | Graphic by Amy-Jo Lynch
As I write this post, I am listening to my favourite nostalgic and festive tunes. Everything from Blondie and Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, to Wham! and Mariah Carey. Now, this can be a very controversial subject, but what’s your favourite song to blast out loud and sing along to over the festive break? I firmly believe that Wonderful Christmastime by Sir Paul McCartney tops the list. Yup, that’s right! Let me know in the Comments section below if you disagree.
Affordable luxury
In this post, I share my approach to shopping at this time of year, keeping me focused and leaving little room for buyer’s remorse. I think that it is so important to be able to shop guilt-free and to feel good about wanting to reward ourselves, which may include spending our hard-earned money. I really do consider most things through a wellbeing and self-care lens!
I am all about affordable luxury when it comes to shopping, whether I’m seeking new clothes (new and second-hand), something for my home, tools and resources to enhance my productivity at work, or dinner with my loved ones (hello, restaurant voucher code!). I’m also thinking about those pieces that you have seriously considered this year, but could not justify spending money on at the time. My all-time favourite brand for clothes, shoes and accessories is Whistles. Oh, how I love to shop there, especially during the sales or with a promotional code - I cannot get enough of their simple, chic and luxe pieces! If you fancy exploring this British premium brand, you will receive 15% off your first order for full-priced items only using this link.
How to shop the Boxing Day sales
For starters, consider these 5 simple steps before shopping the Boxing Day sales, particularly when making purchases online. My fellow personal finance enthusiasts and list lovers will not be disappointed!
Step 1 - Set a budget.
Step 2 - Plan your spending and create a list.
Step 3 - Put some dedicated time aside for your shopping trip(s).
Step 4 - Research promotional codes, though be mindful that some may not be used on sale items or in conjunction with other promotions, but at least you will receive a discount!
Step 5 - Shop via the TopCashback or Quidco sites, where you can find discounts and opportunities to receive cashback on your purchases at a range of stores online.
One of my current money goals is to save for a dishwasher - preferably on sale - through my side hustles (also known as side income). This refers to the extra money that you can make in addition to your regular income; therefore, creating more than one stream of income, which is an important part of developing financial stability.
Tip: Take some time to stop and think ahead: what are some of your money goals for next year?
Buying Christmas gifts can be ridiculously expensive. If you can wait until Boxing Day, there are so many great deals to unearth, offered by large retailers and smaller, independent stores. Bear in mind, that the 26th of December is often when the sales begin across stores - online and in-store. This approach - delayed gratification - can also foster a greater sense of control over your spending and personal finances more broadly. For me, this time of year is all about relaxing, indulging in delicious food and drink, reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the new year ahead. Most importantly, it is an opportunity to connect and spend quality time with loved ones. But being able to give gifts and buy things for myself is a lovely feeling too!
That said, I think that it can be far too easy to get caught up in all the reduced prices and plethora of things that are advertised on TV, magazines, newspapers and social media. It can feel quite daunting at times, and one way of getting around this is to set a realistic budget (step 1) and, more importantly, stick to it! Visit (or revisit) my Budgeting Checklist for support. And if you feel like being even more detailed, write a list of what you would like to buy before you shop (step 2); you can even separate your wants from your needs to help prioritise your spending. You may also find it helpful to categorise each item under different headings, for example, 'food', 'clothes', ‘toiletries’ and 'tech'.
Now, as much as I love my lists, I also recognise that listing all your ideas may take out some of the fun of shopping during the festive season, so how about allocating a set amount of money for spontaneous purchases, as long as they are, in fact, affordable and within your budget. OK, that’s enough about budgeting, you get my drift!
Quality over quantity
As you know, I prefer to focus on the quality of items over the quantity where possible. This can be a little more costly at the outset, but if you think about it in the long term, it makes sense because these items are probably more value-for-money if they will last longer. On the other hand, just because something is more expensive, it does not necessarily mean that it is of better quality. Ultimately, I would encourage you to celebrate your personal style AND save money! Take a look at this post for some inspiration, How to Look Good on a Budget (11 Style Secrets).
Now that I have shared some of my preferences with you, it is time for you to get comfy, ready for your own shopping trip. Look out for promotional codes and free delivery codes (steps 3 and 4). Oh and don’t forget to use TopCashback, Quidco or your preferred cashback site, before you make your purchases if you are shopping online (step 5). You got this!
Tip: Some credit and debit cards offer discounts and cashback at certain stores online and in-store, so take a look at those options too if this is something that interests you.
Reflecting on the year…
When I created Be Your Own Date, I wanted to support you in your own self-care and wellbeing journey, but most of all I just wanted an outlet to express my creativity. A space to be heard and to be authentic on my own terms, without any expectations. So if this platform brings you joy, is informative or helpful in any way, I am extremely satisfied! This platform is growing into something that I am really proud of and I am really keen to continue to build a community here.
Fun fact: Did you know that you can put your twigs in water, leading to beautiful leaves sprouting all over? Game changer! Take a look at the video above…nurture and flourish...a good lesson stepping into the New Year.
Wishing you a peaceful and restful break.
Tell me, where do you like to shop during the Boxing Day sales? Let me know in the Comments section below and connect with me on your socials.
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Disclaimer: I want you to feel better about your finances, but I am not a Financial Adviser. This content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
