The Best January Sales Bargains!

On the first day of the sales last year, 20,000 were waiting at Manchester's Trafford centre by 8am and 350,000 crammed into Birmingham’s Bullring! 

Here is our pick of the January sales in store and online:

• Debenhams have half price price dresses, up to 60% off furniture and up to 70% off shoes and boots in store AND online
• Boots have reduced items by 50% including gift sets (pick up a set of 9 Seventeen nail varnishes for £6) and toys (get My Little Baby Born Nappy Time for £12.49)
• New Look have up to 60% off in store and online
• Currys/PC World have a HUGE electrical sale where you can reserve online and pick up or have it delivered. We spotted the Samsung Glaxy Tab 3 reduced from £329.99 to £229
• Tesco Direct have a BIG sale in store and online with gadgets, laptops, furniture and homeware all reduced. We spotted the Kindle fire reduced by £30 to £169 and a HUGE £400 off a Silentnight Bed, now £399
• Next have reduced all their sale items by an extra 50% in store only
• Amazon have up to 70% off across the site (And don't forget our exclusive free $2.50)
• Argos have up to £130 off large kitchen appliances, up to £250 of selected TV and their Toy Sale is still running. Our pick- they have reduced their upright Dyson DC25 by £80 to £219.99
• ASDA George have a huge sale in store and online with up to 50% off. Pick of the online bargains include a pack of three long sleeved baby t-shirts for £3, a metallic bodycon dress for £9 and a textured men's dressing gown for £9  
• Superdrug have up tp 86% off in store, online you can pick up some better than half price bargains including Oral B electric tooth brushes reduced to £24.95  
• Homebase have a very straight foward 20% off EVERYTHING including sale items in store and online. The Nevada Oak dining set with a table and 6 chairs was £399.95 but with sale discount and the 20% discount it is now £199

But if you're heading to the High Street here are our golden rules for surviving the sales and finding the best bargains...

• Most importantly, HAVE A BUDGET before you start. Only paying in cash can help you stick to it.
• There can be a lot of Christmas debt still lingering at sales time so try not to get into anymore during the sales. Only use a credit card if you are sure that you can pay it off as interest soon adds up.
• If you must use a credit card then go for a cashback credit card or one with0% interest on purchases.
• Boxing Day sales can be manic so make sure you are ready to queue and wear comfortable shoes!
• Try and find somewhere off the beaten track to park or take public transport as it could take a while to find a space on busy days. Parkopedia is a great site that can point you in the direction fo the cheapest car parks
• Check what time your favourite stores open as some will open much earlier than usual!
• Go armed with a list of the things you need and where you’ll find them. If you can bear shopping alone then do that so that you aren’t being held up by friends. Get in and get out!
• In the days before the sales, some shops start writing sales codes on their labels and this will give you an idea of what may be reduced in the days ahead.
• If you are planning on buying clothes, trying things on in advance (even if you don’t know whether they’ll be in the sale) will save loads of time on the day and means that you can grab the dress and buy it before anyone else gets chance!
• Just because something has a HUGE discount, doesn’t mean you should buy it. Don’t buy for the sake of it.
• Check the returns policy as some shops can be quite strict. This is especially important if you don’t want to try things on. Some shops like Next close their fitting rooms in the first few days of sale.
• Take a bottle of water and snacks so that you don’t have to buy expensive food whilst you are out. Shops can get a bit quieter over lunchtime too
• This is the time to buy for next Christmas. Presents, decorations, cards, wrapping paper and gift sets are always reduced.
• Don’t forget, you can avoid the stress and enjoy the sales at home by shopping online too. It is also a GREAT time to get on eBay and sell those unwanted Christmas gifts!