Vicky Parry had been eyeing up a waxed cape in Zara throughout the colder months, picking it up several times but never justifying the £59.99 price tag. Last week, she spotted it on the sale rail for £11.99 and took it home.
That was not her only bargain. A few days earlier, she had bought a pair of quality men's leather boots in the John Lewis sale for less than £40, when they had originally been priced at well over £100.
Buying out of season is nothing new, but her experience is a reminder that summer is a good time to pick up winter essentials, especially with energy prices due to rise.
Why most of us shop at the wrong time
Most people do not think about buying a coat until the weather turns cold, or replacing boots until they leak, or looking for knitwear until the first chilly morning. Retailers know this, so when autumn arrives demand returns, discounts become harder to find, new season collections arrive at full price and the best sizes disappear quickly.
By buying before you actually need something, the balance of power changes. Instead of shopping because you have to, you shop because the price is too good to ignore.
The savings can be remarkable
The Zara cape was not an old design that had seen better days, but simply last season's stock making way for the next collection. The John Lewis boots were not seconds or damaged, just needing shelf space. By October, boots of that quality would be much more likely to sell close to their original price.
Shopping ahead often means buying better quality for less money. Parry would much rather own boots that originally retailed for over £100 but cost her under £40 than spend the same amount on a cheaper pair that might not survive the winter.
Retailers worth checking now
Parry suggests looking at the following places over the next few weeks:
- Zara: sale rails can be a goldmine for coats, jackets, boots and statement pieces; her £11.99 waxed cape is proof.
- John Lewis: seasonal sales can dramatically reduce the price of quality leather boots, winter coats and accessories.
- Mango: ideal for stylish coats, knitwear and leather boots, particularly once summer sales are in full swing.
- Marks & Spencer: worth browsing the clearance section for classic winter staples that will not date.
- Mountain Warehouse: good for waterproof jackets, walking boots, fleeces and insulated coats while demand is low.
- Sports Direct: branded puffer jackets, walking boots and winter footwear are often heavily reduced before autumn arrives.
- Next Clearance: useful for families looking to spread the cost of children's winter wardrobes.
- Schuh: seasonal reductions can make quality footwear brands far more affordable.
- TK Maxx: stock changes constantly, so regular visits can turn up unexpected winter bargains.
- Vinted: summer can be one of the best times to buy nearly new winter clothing as people clear out wardrobes.
The biggest saving isn't always the discount
The greatest benefit is not necessarily saving 50% or 60%, but avoiding what Parry calls the panic purchase. Every year, the first cold snap reveals broken zips, outgrown children's coats and leaking boots. Without time to compare prices or wait for another sale, people buy whatever fits and whatever is available. Planning ahead removes that pressure completely.
Your budget starts to catch up
Parry says her spending now feels much more manageable. Instead of buying school uniforms, winter coats, Christmas presents and everything else within a few hectic months, she spreads those costs across the year. If she sees something she will genuinely need in a few months' time at an exceptional price, she buys it. Little by little, her budget has caught up.
Think one season ahead
She is currently keeping an eye out for winter coats, leather and walking boots, waterproof jackets, children's winter clothing, hats, scarves and gloves, thermal base layers, electric blankets and hot water bottles. And the same trick works in reverse: when summer ends, she will look for bargains on barbecues, garden furniture and outdoor entertaining.
Thinking just one season ahead has probably saved Parry hundreds of pounds over the years. It is not about filling your wardrobe with things you do not need, but about buying things you were always going to buy anyway, just at the moment when retailers are most keen to sell them.
That £11.99 Zara cape reminded her of something she says she will never forget: sometimes the easiest way to save money is not cutting back, but simply changing when you shop.
