As the annual Boxing Day sales get underway, British consumers are being urged to keep a sharp eye on prices to ensure they are securing genuine discounts and not falling for misleading offers. The total spend across the UK is forecast to exceed a staggering £2.4 billion.
How to Spot a Real Bargain
According to data from the comparison website Finder, one in three Britons, equating to more than seven million people, intend to shop the post-Christmas sales in 2025. To navigate the frenzy successfully, experts advise taking proactive steps before hitting the shops or browsing online.
Rebecca Pike, a money expert at Finder, emphasised that tracking prices in advance is crucial for identifying authentic markdowns. "Signing up to retailer mailing lists can also pay off," she noted, "as early access and subscriber-only offers are often released before the public sales begin."
This vigilance helps shoppers detect if a retailer has artificially inflated an item's price before a sale or is comparing discounts against a recommended retail price rather than the actual selling price. Consumers should always compare the final checkout price across different stores to guarantee the best value.
Maximising Savings and Avoiding Pitfalls
Shoppers can get more for their money by strategically stacking discounts with cashback offers, loyalty points, coupon codes, or credit card rewards. However, it is equally important to read the fine print of retailer policies, as many Boxing Day purchases come with stricter conditions, such as shorter refund windows or no-return clauses.
Ms Pike also warned against impulse buying driven by the illusion of a good deal. "Stick to a list and have a strict budget in place," she advised, urging consumers to resist purchasing unnecessary items.
The Rising Threat of Post-Christmas Scams
Amid the rush for bargains, shoppers must also be prepared for a surge in sophisticated scams, as fraudsters seek their own post-Christmas payday. Research from the UK's leading banking association indicates that Britons have lost approximately £31 million to buying and selling scams over the past year, with nearly two-thirds having encountered a shopping scam.
The most common fraud involves fake order confirmations, where individuals receive a notification about an order they never placed and are prompted to click a dangerous link. Social media shopping scams, where sellers disappear after receiving payment, are also frequent.
Simon Birmingham, a senior banking association executive, warned that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to mimic legitimate businesses and ensnare more victims. "Double-check you're purchasing from a legitimate website," he cautioned, "and watch out for text messages about missed deliveries, as this is a common way for scammers to harvest personal or financial details."
