We have all done it, walked by a store and notice a sale sign and just have to look (and shop) but are they all really good deals?  We have some tips and tricks to help you make the most of your Boxing Day shopping.

Research: We have all seen the signs that say 70% off but when you look more closely, the “regular” price is inflated to a never seen price.  Make a list of items you want to buy and their usual sale prices.

Store rely on the fact that once in the store, you are likely to buy and capitalize on that.  You will often find that clearance items are back up to close to regular prices with an additional percentage off, making them the same price they were reduced to previously.

Have some back up choices too.  While you may have a specific item in mind, if it sells out before you get to the store, know what item or brand you want to replace it with if you are not willing to wait for another sale.

Plan: With some stores offering shopping online as early as Christmas Eve and various opening times on Boxing Day, plan where you will go first to make the most of door crasher sales that are often the best deals.  Decide if those prices are worth the wait time and potentially missing out on other sales (and if they are worth setting that early alarm for on your day off).

Some stores will offer coupons as will some malls.  Make sure you print or save them ahead of time as data can be spotty when deep in the mall and you don’t want a huge line of angry shoppers behind you while you try and download a coupon.  Some malls will also be trying out their special personalized offers when you visit a store if you connect to their app and allow location access this year.

Be comfy & prepared: Let’s face it, shopping during big sale events can be stressful.  Parking is a nightmare and it is a prime time for thieves.  Plan your parking and make sure you lock your car with all items hidden from view.  Wear a cross body bag so you can carry shopping or grab that last cute sweater off the rack without worrying about a purse and wear comfy shoes for all of that walking.  Have breakfast because shopping on an empty stomach is a big no – no!

If using public transit, it can be chilly in the morning but warm in the stores or malls – layers you can take off will help rather than bulkier clothing you have to carry (or check to see if your mall offers coat check).

Shopping with a friend or family member will help too.  You can hit up two stores at once, or save a place in a line while the other runs back to grab an extra item.  Not too big a group though or you will waste time browsing and chatting!

Bring some cash.  Boxing Day is one of the busiest shopping days in Canada and it can put a strain on credit card and debit processing systems.  It is not unheard of for the system to go down, so some cash always helps.

Use rebates and loyalty cards: I remember shopping during Black Friday and watching someone buy a television at Shoppers Drug Mart and not use an Optimum card.  I stood there behind them thinking of my 20x offer sitting on my card which would have been $150 back in points.  With so many people not using points on their cards, it is also a good time to redeem loyalty points or just use the card to keep it active.

While the grocery rebate apps will not have many big ticket items, it is always a good idea to check to see what is available and if shopping online, check for online rebates at select stores to help you make the most of your shopping.

Get social: While SmartCanucks has an extensive list of Boxing Day sales, there are many smaller stores you may visit that we will not know about.  Follow your favourites on social media and watch for flash sales throughout the day.  During big shopping days, I like to add notifications for stores I plan to buy from so I don’t miss a sale – even if I have to delete some extra push notifications throughout the day.

Lastly, of course, check back with us throughout the day as we add more sales and be nice to store staff, they are working while you have a holiday.