Get those fingers ready… EOFY sales in Australia are ramping up, and are a prime opportunity to snag great deals and maximize your savings, as well as bulk up those point balances. With some strategic planning and savvy shopping techniques, you can make sure you get every dollar off as well as every bonus, perk or point possible!!

Here, I have put together a list of tips to keep in mind when shopping EOFY sales:

1. Do Your Research

Make a list of what you need before the sales start. This helps you stay focused and avoid impulse buys that you might regret later. Prioritize big-ticket items that will offer the most significant savings.

Take some time to research the items you want to buy. Make a list, and prioritise it on what you need versus what you want (not saying you don’t need it, just making sure you stick within your budget). You can even plan ahead for events, birthdays, and Christmas if you are able to if you find great deals!

Look into product reviews, compare different brands, and check the usual prices. Knowing the regular prices helps you recognize genuine discounts and avoid misleading deals. A lot of retailers like to use misleading markdowns. Checking what the prices have been over the last year is a great way to check this.

2. Use Google Shopping to Compare Prices

Google Shopping is an excellent tool for comparing prices across different retailers. Before making any purchase, search for the item on Google Shopping to see a list of prices from various stores. This helps you ensure you’re getting the best deal available.

It will also show what retailers had the item at RRP, as you will find this varies often. Google will often highlight when there are codes available for additional discounts.

Make sure you still check shipping costs, and any cashback or points offered, as this might change your preference based on the true check out value for you!!

3. Look for Price Matching

Many retailers offer price-matching policies, meaning if you find the same item cheaper elsewhere, they’ll match the lower price. Major stores like JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, and The Good Guys often have such policies. Make sure to check the terms and conditions on their websites.

4. Check Cashback Offers

Cashback websites like Cashrewards and ShopBack offer a percentage of your purchase back when you shop through their links. It’s a great way to save extra money on your purchases. Simply sign up, search for the retailer, and click through to shop as usual.

You can do this via their apps if you are using your phone, or install Google Chrome extensions that will pop up on the website when you visit showing the offer as well as the terms. I prefer this as it means even if I forget to look up the cashback I am reminded.

Get a $10 sign-up bonus for Cashrewards here.

Get a $40 sign-up bonus here for Shopback.

5. Earn Qantas Points

Many retailers offer Qantas Frequent Flyer points on purchases. Before you shop, check if the store is partnered with Qantas, you can do this on the Qantas Shopping website. This is separate from the points you would earn from using your credit card to pay, which brings me to my next point!

Sign up to Qantas Frequent Flyer here, for a $99 saving.

Instal Qantas Points prompter here.

6. Use a Points-Earning Credit Card

Paying with a credit card that earns rewards points can significantly boost your savings. Look for cards that offer bonus points for shopping at specific retailers or during promotional periods. Just be sure to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges.

My American Express currently had a bonus point offer I just had to activate and save to my card, meaning I was getting 5x points for this month.

Visa and Mastercard, and sometimes specific banks have card offers, make sure you check for these before you shop!!

7. Sign Up for Newsletters

Many retailers offer exclusive discounts to their newsletter subscribers. Sign up for emails from your favourite stores to get access to special offers and early notifications about sales. This can give you a head start on grabbing the best deals.

I know this can be annoying, I often set up rules for these emails to go into particular folders. And then if they’re really annoying I just unsubscribe once I’ve gotten the discount I wanted – sorry not sorry!

8. Utilize Store Loyalty Programs

Joining store loyalty programs can provide you with additional discounts, rewards points, and member-only promotions. Programs like Myer One, David Jones Rewards, and Woolworths Rewards can offer significant savings throughout the year, especially during EOFY sales.

A great example, I just bought a new suitcase at Myer. It was 40% off in the sale. Plus I entered my MyerOne card and earned points, I activated the 2 points per dollar on Qantas Shopping, plus I used my Amercian Express card which earned me another 1.25 Qantas Points per dollar. I also used a $10 voucher I had gotten for my birthday as a Myer One member!!

That is 5 ways to save on 1 purchase alone!!

Join Myer One here.

1500 Everyday Rewards sign-up bonus here.

9. Search for Discount Codes

Before making any purchase, search for discount codes that can be applied at checkout. Websites like RetailMeNot, Honey, and OzBargain are great places to find promo codes for additional savings. Sometimes, a quick search can uncover significant discounts.

Often discount codes are disabled during significant sales, but you never know. Also, signing up for loyalty programs often offers discount codes and vouchers for your birthday. As mentioned, I used my Myer one, so it’s worth taking advantage of this too!!

Also, look at retailers who offer discounts for app purchases. Often I have seen codes for first-time app purchases. So work out what device is the best for you to use for each purchase!!

Instal Honey Chrome extension here.

10. Take Advantage of Click and Collect

If you can, and it’s convenient, using click-and-collect services can save you shipping costs and help you secure your items before they sell out. Many retailers offer this service for free, allowing you to pick up your purchases at your convenience.

This is also good for big items that might have expensive shipping costs. I would only do this though if the time and fuel you’d spend collecting wasn’t more than the shipping! Don’t go out of your way if you don’t have to.

By incorporating these tips into your shopping strategy, you can make the most out of the EOFY sales and maximize your savings. Happy bargain hunting!!

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