21-04-2025
Eight things you should never pay full price for
Laura McGuire
Published: Invalid Date,
SAVVY shoppers can save serious cash when hunting for bargains -- and there are eight key items that you should never pay full price for.
The rising cost of living has left many Brits cautious with what they spend their hard-earned cash on.
But keeping up with the latest trends or stocking up on essentials does not have to cost a fortune if you know where to shop.
Take a look below and see how you can save.
Books
Bookworms know that keeping up a reading habit can become pricey.
If you head into Waterstones or any other high street store you can expect to pay between £16 to £20 for a new release.
But if you are keen to save on cash why not head to your local library, and sign up for a card.
It's free to do and you have unlimited access to audio and paper books.
The only time you may have to pay is if you are given a fine for returning a book late.
If you are keen to hold onto your books for longer, also check second hand stores and Vinted.
One vendor on the second-hand selling platform is selling a bundle of Colleen Hoover, for £4.90.
The collection includes the popular It Ends With Us novel, which is selling for £9.99 in Waterstones.
Better yet, when you're done reading you can sell them on and make some extra pocket money.
Toys
Parents in the UK fork out an average of £175 on their children's birthday presents.
But you don't have to pay full price on gifts if you are savvy.
Mums and dads often flog their children's toys on Facebook Marketplace when they have outgrown them.
How to bag a bargain
SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain…
Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with.
Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks.
Sales are when you can pick up a real steal.
Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on.
Sign up to mailing lists and you'll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too.
When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use and are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer.
Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping.
Bargain hunters can also use B&M's scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out.
And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you'll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.
One seller is flogging a Barbie Dream House for £40 on the site, when Argos is charging £170.
It is also a great place to pick up garden toys like Wendy Houses, which can cost well over £100.
The Sun spotted a Little Tikes play house for sale for £15, when it costs £289 on Very.
Expensive shampoo
Beauty lovers will know how costly it can be trying to keep up with the latest trends.
Hair masks, shampoos and conditioners from high end brands can cost a small fortune, but there is an easy way to get them for less.
Vinted is not only for buying second-hand clothes and books - some people also sell unwanted beauty goods.
You can find unopened bottles of KI8 hair masks for £9, when Debenhams is charging £58.
And that is not all, you can also find unopened gift sets of Kérastase shampoo for £20 when they can retail for up to £50.
Just be sure to ask the seller if the product has been used before or not, or use a filter to only be shown goods that are new.
Trainers
Buying new Nike or Adidas trainers can cost well over £100, but there is a hack to save cash.
People lucky enough to have size 6 feet or under can shop from the junior section at high street stores like JD Sports, Footasylum and Sports Direct.
For example, JD Sports is selling a pair of Women's Nike Air Force 1 Low for £110.
But if you head to the junior section the exact same pair is selling for £70. That is a saving of £40.
It is not guaranteed that every pair of adults trainers will be available in the junior section.
But it is always worth having a look to avoid paying full price.
Sweets
Getting your sugar fix does not have to cost a fortune if you know where to look.
Use price comparison sites such as Trolley or Google Shopping to avoid paying full price on goods.
You simply type in the product you are looking to buy and it will show you what store is selling it for the best price.
Take the Easter Rowntrees Mini Egg Block chocolate bar, for example, it is scanning for £1.50 at Poundland and Tesco but Asda is selling it for £1.32.
TVs and other tech
Forking out on new televisions and laptops is not cheap.
But if you time your purchases right you can save and avoid paying full price.
If you're planning a big purchase why not hold off until Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day.
Last Black Friday, Currys slashed the price of a Panasonic TV-55Z95A from £2,999 to £1,999.
Toothpaste
The price of toiletries has skyrocketed, but you can score a deal if you're savvy.
A tube of Colgate Max Fresh Cooling Crystals Toothpaste costs £3 at major supermarkets.
But if you buy in bulk from places such as Amazon, you can save.
The online marketplace is selling a six-pack for £14.
That is a saving of £4 compared to if you bought the product individually at a supermarket.
Perfume
Treating yourself to a new bottle of perfume does not have to cost a fortune if you know where to shop.
Today, a bottle of designer perfume can cost well over £80 but if you opt for a dupe you can save a decent amount of cash.
Zara has become a haven for scents that smell exactly like their pricey counterpart.
For example, its Gardenia perfume costs £15 but is said to smell very similar to Black Opium by YSL, which costs £160 at Boots.
That is a saving of £145.
If you don't want to shop at Zara, Essence Vault also sells dupes for designer scents.
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