The exchange of gifts is central to the Christmas and holiday season, and the season thus also incorporates a “holiday shopping season”. This comprises a peak time for the retail sector at the start of the holiday season, the “Christmas shopping season”, and a period of sales at the end of the season, the “January sales”.

But, what does this mean for you? Nothing but epic deals from all your favourite retailers!
The Christmas shopping season is the perfect time to shop great bargains and major sales.

Whether you’re searching for the perfect Christmas gift for everyone on your list or something nice for yourself because you deserve it, we’re here to make sure your holiday shopping is as affordable as possible.

Happy Holidays!

Typically, the Christmas shopping season starts with Black Friday on

and ends in

• Sign up to the LoveCoupons.com newsletter for Christmas season shopping news delivered straight to you!
• As the age-old adage goes, “the early bird catches the worm”. Start planning early - troll the news and the web for lists of retailers offering Christmas season deals. Bookmark those retailer’s websites, download their apps and create wishlists.
• Follow your favourite retailers on their social media. This tip pays off year-round, but it’ll especially come in hand during Christmas season when retailers ramp up promotional activity and offer last-minute deals. You want to make sure you’re first to see all the deals!
• Budget! It’s tempting to shop every offer your eye lands on, but do you really need another pair of jeans? Plan a budget and stick to it as best as you can.
• Price check before you buy - sometimes Christmas season deals aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. To judge how good the deals really are once it’s crunch time, you’ll need to track prices leading up to the Christmas season.
• Use online price comparison tools to make sure you’re really getting the lowest price out there. The item you want could be even cheaper elsewhere!
• Sign up to your favourite brand’s mailing list. They’ll send all their offers straight to you! That way you don’t have to go searching.
• Be aware of store policies, for example - many stores don’t accept returns on major sale items.
• If you can, skip in-store shopping and shop online. Many retailers will offer the same, if not more, deals online as well. Shopping in the comfort of your home can be a great way to avoid the notoriously boisterous crowds and the long queues to get into some shops.
• Enjoy it! Christmas season shopping might be overwhelming but it’s also a lot of fun. Get a friend or two to join you and make a thing out of it.

Let the holiday shopping begin!

Nobody wants to deck the halls with cyber fraud. Should you choose to do your Christmas season shopping from the comfort of your home online, here are some tips and tricks to make sure you shop safely, securely and smartly:

• Shop with trusted online retailers or do thorough research before making purchases from unknown retailer sites.
• Never provide your credit card information if you do not see the ‘padlock’ on the upper left-hand side of your address bar, or if the address begins with “http://” instead of “https://”.

• Keep your information private. If the retailer asks for too much information such as your birth-date and social security numbers, do not complete the transaction.
• After shopping Christmas season deals, it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on all your banking statements, checking them weekly rather than by the month, just in case something slipped to a hacker. Notify your cardholder service if there are any discrepancies immediately.
• Maintain good virus protection on your computer to prevent spyware and other hacks from accessing your information. Many trusted anti-virus services are available online for free so you can take advantage of convenient online shopping.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi to do your shopping, rather use secure connections.
• Be cautious of unsolicited emails and pop-up internet adverts with too-good-to-be-true offers. Use caution when a deal is drastically better than others and always double-check before clicking on ads.

Why stop there? Check out these other major shopping events!

• Boxing Day sales - the sales don’t end with Christmas day!  Check out the Boxing Day page at LoveCoupons.com for all the discounts and deals available.

• New Year - no longer strictly about clocking in a new year, New Year’s day is also about major discounted shopping! Check out the New Year page at LoveCoupons.com to get your hands on all the discounts and deals available.

• January sales - big sales and offers throughout the month of January. Check out the January Sales page at LoveCoupons.com for access to all the discounts and deals available.