Today, November 5th, marks the 50 day countdown till Christmas. If you haven’t already started planning, now is the time to get stuck into your seasonal shopping.

Every year, retailers flood the market with so many deals and discounts it’s hard to know where to turn, so if you want to be a truly savvy shopper and get the most out of Christmas 2021, here’s what you need to do.

James Andrews, senior personal finance editor at money.co.uk said: “Before you even start on your Christmas purchases, it’s a good idea to scour the web to see if you can find any discount codes to bring the cost of your purchases down.

“Some major retailers will offer you a 5-15% discount on your first purchase if you sign up to their email newsletter, which you can always unsubscribe from at a later date.

“Alternatively, if you’re thinking of switching your mobile provider, bank account or credit card, some brands will give you gift cards, discount codes or cashback as an incentive to switch.

“Even if you’re not a new customer, you might still be eligible for some rewards schemes, so it’s always worth scouting around before you start spending.

“It’s easiest to bag a bargain if you start your shopping early. Many shops announce their Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals in advance, so if you plan ahead you can make sure you take advantage of the biggest deals.

“If you’re running low on funds at the end of the month, so don’t have the cash to take advantage of Black Friday deals on the day – don’t worry. Several retailers run major discounts to shift their unsold stock right before Christmas, so if you hold out you could still be able to bag yourself a bargain.

“Another great way to save on your Christmas shopping is to cash in on any unused gift cards you have lying around the house. Shops can make millions from people spending money on gift cards that are never used, which is why they always have an expiry date on them. Make sure you redeem them before they expire so you don’t lose out.

“Reward schemes for retailers – such as the Advantage Card at Boots or the Beauty Card at Superdrug – offer points that you can use in store. If you’ve been scanning and collecting all year, you might be pleasantly surprised by how many rewards you have to spend.

“Finally, if you’ve been a bit too keen and picked up a gift you don’t want or need, it’s essential to know your refund rights.

“Online purchases come with a 14-day grace period, which means you can return an item even if you’ve just changed your mind on it. Once you’ve requested a return you have 14 days to send back the item.

“Most retailers won’t charge you to return an item, and if your item arrived damaged then it’s the suppliers responsibility to pay all return postage costs, not yours.

“Not quite everything can be returned, and you might find that some items are exempt from this grace period. Perishables, event tickets, personalised presents and sealed items you’ve opened are frequently non-returnable, so you should always check the terms of your item before you purchase.

“Anyone shopping online will probably be aware of Buy Now Pay Later schemes. Shoppers can be drawn in by the promise of no interest, no fees and no late charges but what seems like a one stop fix could lead you into a lot of debt.

“But spreading purchases out over several weeks and potentially a string of BNPL providers can make keeping track of your cash harder.

“It’s essential you read the terms of conditions on any service you sign up to, especially when you’re taking out debt. If you have any uncertainty about whether you can pay off what you’re spending, you should steer clear of buy now pay later schemes like Klarna and Clearpay.