Pick up a bargain in the January sales!

Rosalind Kent reveals how to get the very best deals this January.

With Christmas done and dusted, the month of January traditionally brings austerity and dieting.

The silver lining to this cloud is the prospect of the January sales (many of which began in December!) where we can pick up our spirits with a bit of retail therapy.

Due to the heavy snowfall before Christmas we can expect extensive sale offers in the New Year as retailers try to recoup their losses.

Shopping

With the 20% VAT increase coming into effect today (4 January), you might have been advised to make big purchases before Christmas at the lower VAT rate.

There is an argument for waiting though. Prices are expected to go down further in the sales, perhaps off-setting the tax increase. Big retailers, in the spirit of competition, could offer to absorb the increase. Keep your eyes open for ‘We’ll pay your VAT’ promotions as shops compete for your attention.

Check voucher code websites such as Vouchercloud, vouchercodes.co.uk and myvouchercodes for deals and discounts.

However, even without these codes there are some notable sales around at this time of year. Whether you are looking for new clothes (you can never have too many!) or to make home improvements, here are some examples of the kinds of discounts you can expect:

Remember, with sale items you have the same consumer rights as if the item were full price, so don't be afraid to return defective purchases.

Dining out

We all feel broke after Christmas, but it’s too depressing to sit in every night in January eating beans on toast. A nice meal out can break the monotony of a cold January evening, and needn’t break the bank.

You can get discounts and 2-for-1 offers from fast food outlets, coffee shops, restaurants and hotels by using voucher code websites such as Vouchercloud, Square Meal and Toptable. Many voucher and discount sites have Smartphone Applications (Apps), making them even more convenient. So, whether you want a quick coffee or a five course meal there will be a code for it!

And don’t forget to check our Frugal Food blog which runs through the best deals every week!

Holiday deals

If you are fortunate enough to have a few quid left over after Christmas you might want to banish those January blues by jetting off on holiday, weather permitting (read Snow travel chaos – your rights for compensation).

Airlines and travel agents are all competing for business, so there could be some great deals out there.  

Look at websites such as Expedia, Lastminute.com or Yahoo Travel. You can search for flights, hotels and car hire and put together your perfect holiday at a price that suits you. Don’t forget to look at their package holiday options as these companies can sometimes negotiate deals with airlines and hotel chains so can offer competitive prices (although make sure you shop around fully to ensure you're getting the very best deal). Package holidays also offer better consumer rights than if you booked the separate components of a holiday yourself.

Find out more in The seven top websites for holiday bargains.

If you don’t fancy going abroad, why not make a trip to your nearest big city to take advantage of some of the sales? Have a look at Laterooms.com to see if you can get an amazing deal on a room. 

If you have a Tesco Clubcard use your points to stay in a variety of hotels in the UK, such as the Best Western, Hilton or Marriott chains. Your vouchers are now worth three times their value, so £10 of vouchers is worth £30 which can quickly add up to a night or two away in a nice hotel.

Healthy deals

There are deals to be made on gym membership in the New Year as companies vie for customers’ attention. Thegymwebsite can help you track down offers in your area, and don’t forget to check  voucher code websites to find free trial days, reduced fees and discounts on all the big name gyms.

For a bit of pampering, go to Spafinder where you can find deals all year round, as well as some great January offers. Look at deals on Wahanda.com who are also offering new customers £5 off a spa, salon or beauty treatment.

For a totally free way to plan healthy and nutritional meals you could use an App called Whole Foods Market Recipes. This is essentially a healthy recipe App but it also lets you create shopping lists and plan meals according to specific dietary requirements. Couple this with a calorie counting App like MyFitnessPal and you have the ideal tools to get fit and eat well in the New Year.

Good luck!

More: Top 10 sites for bargain-hunters | Nine things you should never buy last minute