Sales once again bring to light the traps to avoid, both your own and those of others, to take advantage of offers without surprises. From false discounts to impulsive purchases, your wallet can suffer if you are careless. Consumer associations insist on spending control and a minimum study of offers as great advice.
Although normally the discounts came after Three Kings, today they are in stores even during Christmas shopping. Between advances and continuous price cuts, the season, or at least its beginning, is fading.
More days to buy that open the door to errors. One of the key points is self-control, not going overboard with disbursements. "Avoid spending more than those allowed by the family economy, especially in times of economic crisis and high inflation as we are experiencing," the Spanish Consumer Association (Asescon) emphasizes. According to their own survey, Spaniards will spend an average of 164 euros in these winter sales. Watching what you are spending, not getting carried away by impulses and avoiding shopping for leisure are key to adjusting to each person's pocket. Setting a budget is a good option.
Moderation does not require difficult recipes. Facua-Consumers in Action calls for evaluating three things before closing a purchase: if the price is really reasonable, if the product is needed and if it is an acceptable whim that does not increase the debt.
After months of fighting inflation, taking on debt is an alternative that is going further, which increases the risks. According to data from the financial products comparator Banqmi (from iAhorro), up to 40% of Spaniards will finance their sales purchases with a credit card, based on a survey with 1,433 people. The trend has grown since 2021, with 9 percentage points more in this period. Among its respondents, the purchase intention is somewhat more moderate, with 96.45 euros of average spending, moving with the figures of recent years, with a dip of 93 euros in 2021. Exceeding these figures implies spending above normal .
Antonio Gallardo, comparator expert, insists on reviewing how to pay. “The problem does not come from using the card, but from how it is used. Especially if debts accumulate because they postpone payments in very small installments, which triggers the payment of interest in a product that on average exceeds 18% APR, according to the latest data from the Bank of Spain." It is the system in the one usually caught by revolving cards, which perpetuate payments and drown with interest. If you choose to split, Gallardo recommends that it be in amounts "as high as possible to finish paying the debt as soon as possible."
The big mistake is over-indebtedness. Asnef, the National Association of Credit Financial Establishments, points out in a note that before requesting a credit or loan, you must analyze each person's budget to know what level of debt can be assumed; choose one appropriate to each person's circumstances; know its conditions (APR, TIN, return period, late payment interest, commissions, amount of installments); and avoid unregulated entities. Even assess whether payment protection insurance for unforeseen events is worth it. All to "avoid falling into over-indebtedness, especially in an inflationary context like the current one."
Apart from exaggerating spending and debt, caused by oneself, there are factors to take into account among the discounts. The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) focuses on preventing consumers from being taken advantage of. Thus, one of the key points is that the discounted products must have been part of the store's regular offering for at least one month. You would not have to see products with defects, deterioration or outdated that were surely stored in a warehouse.
When looking at the label, the old price and the discounted price, or the discount percentage, must also appear. Furthermore, in the store, discounted products must be differentiated from those that are not to avoid confusion.
Where there are no reductions or changes is in the guarantees and rights of the consumer, it is insisted. They are the same as any other time of the year, regardless of whether the product is on sale. In any case, it doesn't hurt to check the store policies. If you make online purchases, remember that you have 14 days to return the item if the purchase is not satisfactory. And times like these are breeding grounds for cyber scams, such as pages that pose as large chains and end up in the theft of bank details.
Another piece of advice that everyone usually repeats is common sense: don't throw away the ticket. Any claim, exchange or return will require submission. If the product is in perfect condition, the OCU warns that the business could choose to provide a voucher or exchange it for another item.
Clothing and footwear are kings among spending categories. For larger purchases such as appliances or technology, it is recommended to use comparators to see the price evolution in recent weeks and avoid false discounts. On discount dates such as VAT-free day or Black Friday, it has been shown that most offers are misleading, even with price increases.
