The Great 'Counter Seasonality' Hunt

lynzpower

agreed jelly head theres lots of gift tags about at the mo that aree just red/ gold/ silver or polka dotty, next for example. Also some next Xmas ones have a kitten wearing a tiara ( whats that got to do with Xmas??) for bout 20p in nexts all over the place.

benedictadams

Does the best before date matter on Christmas puddings?

There are a lot which would be past their date by next Christmas but am tempted by a luxury rowan valley (i think) in Lidl which has an 2008 date

did anyone have it for Christmas 2006?

Peartree

Many of my friends seem to think they get bargains but they don't (not that I ever destroy their illusions). They're buying cheap things cheap which is not moneysaving. I feel moneysaving is about getting really good quality at a good price. That's the trouble with a lot of the big, overhyped sales, particularly the early January sales. All you're getting in a lot of cases is something that was overpriced before Christmas at the right price. You also end up buying something you don't really need because it is cheap. I agree with the earlier poster about some of the stuff that was in Next, etc. There was a whole pile of stock in there that was never in the store in December. It might have been in an obscure store for the requisite 28 days(?) but it certainly wasn't in my local store. There were some things I remembered trying on several sales ago! And if Debenhams can afford to have constant sales and blue crosses it makes me wonder about the quality of their products in the first place.

Also going miles and spending hours searching to get something a bit cheaper isn't a bargain. You have to factor in what you spend in petrol, parking and your valuable time. Of course if it's a nice day out that's different.

I really hate shopping, especially in crowds. However, I maintain a running list of things I need and look out for them at a good price all year round and just try to pick them up as I go along (with a bit of help from posters on this site). The late sales (as I said before, late January is a good time) and mid season type sales are often better than the mega-hyped Boxing Day type sales. The 'real' change of season is usually the best time, when the stores need the space for new season stock. Sometimes, with clothes, it means just buying something you won't get to wear that year and putting it away for the next summer/winter (which you've invariably forgotten by the time you get it out again so it's a lovely surprise).

Also, bear in mind that the price of electronic goods is ever reducing and seems to be go down in waves. There's the pre-Xmas price, the January sales price and then there's the new lower price for that technology that will come in anyway in February. (That's my theory anyway and I'm banking on it for the purchase of a new LCD TV at good price!)

I think the trick is that 'running list' of things you think you might need or want in the next year or so, if it's the right price, and never to go out to look for something when you need it (which is when you NEVER get a bargain). Of course that works well for things like black trousers or even garden furniture, but not when the washing machine has gone kaput! The other thing is to tell you're friends and family what's on your running list so they can look out for those 'ad hoc' bargains for you. (This can lead to strange phone calls in the middle of meetings, however, when your Dad calls to say 'weren't you looking out for cheap fence panels?'!). I also favour the really good value all year round - TK Maxx, Costco, QVC Outlet, etc.

In conclusion, I'd love to say that I always follow these principles. Unfortunately, I've got a fridge full of impuse bought post-Xmas cheese, a drawer full of chocolate and a handbag and suede jacket I don't need, all bought in the last week but HONESTLY they were bargains!

Peartree

chun831

For those bikers out there have just bought some really cheap motorbike gear from my local J&S Accessories. The deals are not as good online so it is worth a phonecall or visit in person if you are near one of the shops.
In particular cheap leather jackets and suits, perhaps the last of the 2006 stock.

clairehi

Peartree wrote:

I also favour the really good value all year round - TK Maxx, Costco, QVC Outlet, etc.

I agree, I loathe sales shopping and the advent of outlet stores and TK Maxx available all year round makes the January sales kind of redundant. I especially hate the Next sale as the shop is just like a jumble sale, and doesnt have anything normal you would actually want to buy!

Having said that, in this years sales I have bought new bedlinen and duvet from John Lewis (£80) two pairs of curtains from Dunelm Mill (£20) and splurged in the Boden sale - £150 for 2 pairs of trousers and 4 tops. But I really needed them - honest!

mirandamayhem

on the xmas cards and wrap note, does anyone know any online stores selling their stock off cheaply? I see boots are, but thought i'd wait for the 15th when they get cheaper, as postage is quite steep (and there's not a great deal of choice)

Kittykat_3

The White Company have up to 70% off seasonal stuff, Penhaligon's 50% and L'occitane up to 50% off. They are very expensive normally, but if you save them for birthday's or next Christmas, the receivers will be very impressed! It makes normally very expensive candles/bath stuff etc the same price as lesser quality products. I think the best clothes sale is in Laura Ashley (and yes I'm under 30!!!) but these are all year round, not just january.

I agree about Next - my biggest bug-bear is their over-priced suits (which happen to fit perfectly) but in the sale it is nigh on impossible to get the same size jacket and trousers!

wehavethepower

What about cheaper boilers and installation, and fireplaces and installation in Summer when they're not so busy? Just a thought, don't know if this is true!

Caixta

If you can get to Asda at Beckton in East London, they have almost a whole aisle full of reduced Christmas wrapping paper.

Rolls of basic wrapping paper: 2metres for 4p! Marked on shelf at 8p so I got a pleasant surprise at the checkout.
Gift tags: pack of 20 for 8p
Higher Quality wrapping paper: 38p for 8m rolls
Plus a few gifts, cards and ribbon, etc.

A manager saw me gathering up a few rolls and he congratulated me! He said that every year the branch seems to over-order on one particular line. This year it's wrapping paper, but last year was Christmas trees, he said. He also said that "at the end of January" what's left will be marked down to 2p. And after that it will go in the bin. (He agreed it's a terrible waste, but said they have orders to make room for new ranges. Pity they can't give it to staff, or some other deserving cause.)

By the way, this is a bit off-topic but sort of related: It's Chinese New Year in February and I always find that in the days leading up to it, Morrisons do really good promotions on soy sauce and other Chinese ingredients. We do a lot of Chinese cookery and so always stock up at that time. Soy sauce keeps for a couple of years. In other stores they do deals on woks and other related goods.

malcolmwilliamson

Can you tell us where you bought it from please grahawk?