How to bag the best bargains: Top tips on getting the most out of the cash in your pocket

A NEW report has revealed that household spending is up by 3% in a year. That might not sound much, but over the course of 12 months, it can mount up.

And retailers are falling over themselves to get their share of your cash, both on the high street and online.

Experts say it’s the most cut-throat retail environment imaginable. So here’s our invaluable guide to keeping more of your pounds in your pocket.

Do your online shopping on a Monday. Web retailers can tweak prices by the day or even the hour, depending on demand. New research has found that Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are the dearest days. By clicking “buy” on a Monday you can get items up to 18% cheaper. Flights, by contrast, were typically about 13% more expensive on a Friday.

Stamp down on the postage. Amazon has free delivery on orders over £20 but if you’re just short, you can end up adding more than necessary to take it over the qualifying amount. Enter the amount you have so far in your basket at supersaverdeliverytool.com and it’ll find cheap items on Amazon to take your basket over the £20 mark. When we entered £18.99 as our total it gave us a wide range of cheapies, including a pack of two large rubbers for £1.03 and a protective case for an iPod for £1.11.

Check you haven’t inadvertently selected the pricey next-day delivery option. We ordered two novels to get the over-£10 free delivery on books on a Sunday night and they were with us the next day anyway.

Sort out your car insurance at least seven days before your renewal date. New figures show that customers who shop around and then renew early can save 8% on the premium. That can be £41 on an average policy, but waiting to the last minute will shave just £12 off. It’s because insurers reckon those who do it early are organised people who are less likely to miss payments.

Don’t forget good old haggling. It might take a bit of front but even bigger chains will often knock money off if you ask them to, especially for “big ticket” items like fridges or washing machines. If they won’t budge on price, try negotiating free or reduced delivery.

Don’t shop without a woman. A new study found that a female was an asset. A Boston College research team found that men favoured a macho approach, while women would veer towards the compromise solution that was more sensible and resulted in a better deal.

However, men – shop for clothes on your own! Women often enjoy buying clothes more than men. That’s why men’s departments are often at the back of shops or on upper floors – so couples have to walk through the women’s section before reaching where they are actually headed to. Shop bosses hope it will lead to impulse buying.

Get stacking. Look to “code stack” different offers to end up with the best possible price. As an example, Sainsbury’s WAS recently selling £10 bottles of prosecco for £7.50. Buying six online in a shop of £60 or more triggered another 25% saving. And a code for new online shoppers took off a further £18 – bringing the price down to just £2.63 per bottle.

Use the instant messenger chat boxes that pop up on websites to get discounts. When it offers to help, ask what might be offered in the way of money off – 10% savings can be had for just typing a short sentence to an online customer service agent.

Look for pencilled marks on the price tickets on in-store items. Just before an item goes on sale, including discontinued big ticket white goods items, staff mark the ticket indicating an imminent price drop.

Loyalty cards can be hit or miss but if you buy a lot of toiletries it can be worth signing up for a Superdrug Health And Beauty Card or a Boots Advantage Card. Both do special deals for cardholders – Superdrug’s are usually on a Thursday and recent offers include 20% off all make-up accessories. As a cardholder, Superdrug also gives you free delivery without a minimum spend if you prefer to shop online.

Still got a holiday planned for later this year and need to book airport parking? Check out skyparksecure.com, which searches out the cheapest deals available once you’ve entered your arrival and departure dates and times. Also, try filling out your booking details of other airport parking websites but don’t complete the sale. Try again 10 minutes later and it is often cheaper.

Sign up for websites like topcashback.co.uk which offer cashback deals when you buy through them. With savings on everything from holidays to clothes to mobile phone deals, it’s always worth checking out if there’s any cashback available on the items you’re intending to buy. Also check out the “no purchase offers” on some cashback websites, that allow you to earn money without buying anything – for instance, you might get cashback for browsing, filling out an online questionnaire or getting an insurance quote.

Really want to make a big purchase but feel you can’t afford it? Wait 72 hours. Psychologists believe that after this length of time you’ll know if you really want it or were just being tempted by the thrill of actually making a purchase.

Buying train tickets? Buy in advance – before you get on the train – and sweet-talk the staff to get you the best deal possible. One of The Sunday Post team got a great deal recently. Travelling on the east coast line, they got a ticket to Eskbank instead of Edinburgh and saved more than a tenner on an open return. We’ve no idea how it works – Eskbank was further away than Edinburgh – but works it does!

Visiting London for a West End theatre trip? Check out comparetheatretickets.com for great deals.

One of our most basic instincts is to feed ourselves when we’re hungry – and research has shown that hunger hormones are among the most influential in our bodies. Don’t shop when you’re hungry. Not only are you more likely to splash out on comfort food, but you’re more likely to make other bad shopping choices and impulse buys.

Are you one of those people feel annoyed when you see Christmas decorations and gifts in the shops before Hallowe’en? Psychologists say it ties in to our belief that Christmas is about spending and a “brakes off” attitude that makes us splash the cash – and not just on being an organised Christmas shopper. So make sure you go with a list and spend as little time at the shops as possible to resist!

If you’re in a shop that isn’t carpeted, avoid any areas with mats. Shop bosses use them to make customers feel more comfortable in areas they want people to spend more. You often see them in fruit and veg departments where things have a short shelf-life and a high profit margin.

Fallen out with someone or furious about the state of the nation? Avoid shopping – researchers say you spend more money when feelings are running high. Grrr!

Consumer expert Philip Graves says the older you are, the more likely you are to be taken in by adverts or a salesperson. Ask a younger family member for advice or to go with you.

Looking for something specific to wear but not sure where to get it or how to find the best bargain? Try doing a search on shopstyle.co.uk before you buy. It will show you everything from cheap-as-chips bargains to designer numbers.

Helping youngsters take control of their money can set them up for the future