Tips for Surviving the January Sales

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The January sales can be brilliant, so many shops have amazing sales and if you know where to look you can get some great bargains. But lots of people avoid the sales because they want to avoid the chaos of hundreds of shoppers all searching for the same great discount.

I’m normally very organised and love shopping. But I feel if you don’t go into the January Sales with a plan you can become quite overwhelmed by all the choice and all the eager, panicked people. So here are 10 tips for surviving the January Sales:

1. Stay Calm

This sounds like I’m joking but I’m not, some people get really stressed out when shopping, especially when there are massive deals and things are selling out fast. Breathe, what was meant for you won’t pass you by.

2. Make a List

One of the best pieces of advice I can give you is make a list of what you want. It’s all too easy to get swept up in sales, whether you’re shopping in-store or online, and buy a ton of unnecessary things. If you make a list of what you actually need you’ll be a lot more focused.

3. Plan

Scour your favourite websites in the weeks coming up to the sales and make a note of anything that catches your eye or anything you’ve been meaning to buy for a while. Who knows, it might be reduced in the sales.

4. Be Comfortable

If you’re shopping in-store make sure you have comfortable shoes and aren’t wearing many layers. If you only have a jumper and jeans on you’ll be able to try on clothes much faster than if you’re wearing a skirt, tights, a top, a jacket and a scarf. Oh yeah, I take my shopping seriously.

If you’re shopping online at home, get some blankets and make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, this is meant to be an enjoyable thing.

5. Think of Presents

The January sales are a great way to get presents for people at a cheaper price. Now I’m not talking about going so far as buying your Christmas presents for next year (though that mightn’t be a bad idea?) but you can definitely get some birthday presents.

Or if there are any special occasions coming up, like a friend having their baby or a parent’s anniversary it can’t hurt to look for something while you might get a bargain.

6. Consider Shopping Online

Going into stores early and searching for a great bargain can be really exciting for some people. But really stressful for others, so don’t feel pressured to be in your car on the way to a shopping centre at 6am.

Instead you can just wake up, turn on your laptop and shop from the serenity and calm of your own bedroom.

7. Treat Yourself

The holidays can be overwhelming. There’s so much pressure to get everything perfect and visit annoying relatives and buy the best presents and cook the most amazing dinner of the year.

Then if you’re away from home or having a ‘first’ Christmas with in-laws or a new family it can be even more stressful. Treat yourself in the January sales with something just for yourself, that you’ve well deserved!

8. Assess your New Year Resolutions

Many of our New Year Resolutions are perfectly well intentioned and we fully mean to stick to them but usually find a hundred excuses not to. If you want to get fit use the January sales as a way to buy cheap exercise gear, fitness clothes, lunchboxes and gym memberships.

If you want to travel more keep an eye on the airlines for reductions on flights and check out hotel websites for offers.

9. Don’t Work Yourself Up

Sometimes we hear of these amazing deals in January and feel we have to go out and buy everything but the kitchen sink. Then if we don’t find what we were looking for we can tend to be disappointed, especially when our friends are bragging they got the last designer bag for half price.

10. Don’t Succumb to Pressure

You don’t have to spend any money in the sales. Walking through town and seeing ‘SALE’ plastered on every store window we can feel really pressured to join in on the shopping.

But lets face it, some of this stuff is crap. There’s a reason they’re selling those dresses at half price. If you don’t want to spend any money, don’t let the sales win.

Originally published January 5, 2017