HAVING a well-stocked medicine cupboard at home is important – but do you know the tricks to save cash at Boots?
Maria Pike, who has worked at the pharmacy chain in Derby for over 10 years, has shared her top tips.
It comes as seasonal flu and all sorts of other health issues bug us at the moment.
And with the cold weather playing havoc with our skin, it helps to have some beauty products to hand.
The customer advisor, 54, knows how to bag a bargain on both.
From the best aisles to shop to how to spot a discount in store, Maria shared her top tips with The Sun.
She said: It is my job to deliver exceptional care to our Boots customers, whether that is helping them to find something specific, answering any questions they might have and showing them how to get the best deals at Boots.
“At this time of year, you will often find me helping people to look for the perfect present for a family member or a secret Santa present for someone at work.”
How to get a bargain over Christmas
With regards to bagging a bargain over the festive period, Maria dished out some advice.
“My first top tip is to make sure you sign up to the Boots Advantage Card,” she said.
“It is free to join and gives you access to a whole host of benefits, including earning Boots Advantage Card points every time you shop.”
The points add up, meaning you can eventually treat yourself for free.
As well as earning points, Advantage Card holders get personalised offers through the Boots app, including 200 points for downloading it.
They also get extra benefits in Parenting Club, over 60s rewards and a 10% student discount all year round.
Members also benefit from “Price Advantage”, which is when you get instant lower prices on over 900 products a month.
Maria said: “The average saving is £2.65 per product, but customers have saved a huge £21million since the start of the year.
“Just look out for the products marked ‘Price Advantage’ in pink either in stores or at boots.com.”
Best time to shop in-store and online
Maria urged shoppers to take advantage of so-called Star Gifts, but to be quick because “they usually fly off the shelves”.
She said: “Star Gifts are better than half price and are featured across many categories, including premium beauty, electrical beauty and fragrance.
“They also include lots of customer favourite brands, such as No7, Liz Earle and Soap & Glory.”
She also suggested shopping online at boots.com on a Tuesday – an inside secret some of us may not know about.
Maria said: “Look out for £10 Tuesday flash sales, where for a limited 24 hours, a range of products are reduced to £10.
“This offers a great way to grab a bargain in the run up to Christmas and they feature across many categories including beauty, healthcare and baby.”
You may also want to keep an eye out for the Christmas three for two offer at Boots.
Maria added: “It is a great way to get Christmas gifts for the whole family, while saving money.
“It is available on over 1,000 gifts, customers get every third gift for free and it is available in stores and online.”
If you’re shopping in-store and you want to avoid the rush, Maria said to get your shopping done first thing as the stores are usually “a little quieter in the morning”.
However, be aware that the Christmas shopping period makes all of the stores busier than usual.
Should the crowds put you off, you can order online for delivery to your local store with its click and collect service.
This is free for orders of £15 or more, or £1.50 if you spend less.
Below are examples of products Maria recommended to look out for in the sales.
They’re all available until December 24, as long as stocks last:
- No7 Best of Beauty Gift Box – Was: £120. Now: £58
- No7 Men Ultimate Grooming Collection – Was: £45. Now: £22
- Soap & Glory Spa Struck Luxury 13 Piece Gift Set. Was: £88. Now: £43.50
- Emporio Armani Diamonds Eau de Parfum 50ml. Was: £55.50. Now: £29.99
- Best of Estée Lauder 3 Piece Gift Set (exclusive to Boots). Worth: £122.50. Now: £49
