21 online shopping hacks & tips

Tricky one this... Christmas is near and many still have things to buy, so while we want to show you tricks and tips to help, we don't want to buy into the retail fervour that leaves too many paying for the big day with a debt-ridden January.

So, do a budget - a list of what you need and can afford to buy - and stick to it. Don't let discounts target your spending impulses. Then, methodically use the tips below to buy what you plan to with less hassle and cost.

1. Abandon ye shopping basket all those who enter... Log in to your online shopping account, add what you want to the basket, then fail to finish and within 48 hours some companies often send you codes to tempt you to come back and complete the shop.

The most common firms reported to us seem to be Argos, Currys and Morrisons - see our list of retailers which offer abandoned basket discounts. As Suzanne told us on X: "I do this often. Has worked recently with Mint Velvet, Jigsaw, Harrods and Cos - up to 20% off."

2. Get 1% back on everything you spend (can add up to £100s for some over the year). The Lloyds Ultra credit card pays you 1% uncapped cashback for a year (paid each Jan), perfect for this high-spend period. Do all your normal spending on it, making sure, of course, you pay it off IN FULL each month to avoid the 12.9% rep APR interest. It's also a top card for spending abroad, as there's no foreign exchange fee and you get the cashback when away, too. 

See our top cashback credit cards guide for a full review and more alternatives (some good ones for higher spenders).

3. TIMING MATTERS I: Some consumer rights don't last too long. By law, buy things online and unless they're perishable or personalised, you've 14 days from delivery to notify them you've changed your mind, and 14 days after that to send it back for a full refund. So, if you're buying goods for Xmas that may need to be sent back, it's worth thinking about when they'll be opened compared to when you bought.

Even more importantly, whether in-store or online, if items are faulty you've 30-days to take them b