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03rd Apr 2017

5 clever shopping hacks that will actually save you a lot of money

Trine Jensen-Burke

Brought to you by Electric Ireland Rewards

Now, who doesn’t want to have their cake and eat it too?

As in; shop till you drop while also saving your hard-earned dough (you know; so you can spend it on some more shopping…?)

Lucky for you, we have rounded up some fairly savvy shopping hacks that will help you do just that.

1. Book your flights and holidays at the right time

According to travel experts, the best time to book a holiday is on a Tuesday morning at 10 am. Why so exact, you ask? Because that is the moment most airlines release their last minute deals for the following weekend – often sending competitors scrambling against each other for the best prices, and your business.

Bookings comparison website Skyscanner also says travellers hoping for a bargain should aim for anytime before 11 am.

What you also need to keep in mind, is that many airlines use what is called ‘dynamic pricing’ – meaning they can check to see if you’ve visited before and what you looked at – using browser cookies – and then apply the supply and demand method, meaning the price of your flight or holiday will go up the more you look at it.

However, if you are clever, wipe your browser history and cookies after every time you have looked at deals, and this won’t happen.

2. Be savvy

Virtually filling the little trolley, yet not making it as far as check-out is a habit we are all guilty of – but probably not even knowing how clever it can be.

But did you know this is actually rather smart – at least if you are looking to save some money? Because, unless you are in a rush, leaving items in your cart will often prompt retailers to send you a discount code or offer free shipping just to persuade you to go through with the sale.

Just remember to stay logged into your account when you add item to your virtual cart, so the retailers know it’s still you.

3. Be clever about delivery charges

Many online retailers will let you have your purchases delivered to storage “hotels” like Parcel Motel – at a sometimes much lower delivery fee.

The bonus? Not only will this save you money, but it is also far more convenient, in that you don’t have to wait at home for the delivery van or even risk missing it.

4. Take advantage of smart rewards programs

Many stores and online retailers alike offer smart reward programmes to help you save on your purchases. This is a no-brainer, certainly if the store in question is one you use frequently and regularly.

For instance, as part of Electric Ireland’s partnership with the SuperValu Real Rewards programme, you can now earn extra points simply by paying your Electric Ireland energy bills.

5. Sign up for newsletters

Signing up for different stores’ newsletters is a great way to get your hands on some discount voucher codes (they tend to send them out at least monthly). As well as this, being on store’s e-mailing lists also most often ensures that you get first dibs when their sales start – which is always a good thing.

And if you like saving money – you’ll love Electric Ireland Rewards at SuperValu. Earn SuperValu Real Rewards points simply by paying your Electric Ireland energy bills (1 point for every €3 payment). And when you shop at SuperValu, you’ll also collect 1 SuperValu Real Rewards point for every €1 you spend.

That’s not all! Bonus Time is back until the 30th April: when you accumulate 250 SuperValu Real Rewards points you can redeem them against a €5 voucher to save on your electricity or gas bill with Electric Ireland. Woo hoo!



FREE STUFF:

This April you can avail of a free Lindor Milk Chocolate (200 Grams) worth €6, just one of the exclusive treats you’ll get when you sign up to Electric Ireland Rewards.

For more information or to sign up visit: electricirelandrewards.ie.

Brought to you by Electric Ireland Rewards.