The key facts

  • A discount on a banner does not guarantee a good deal — you need to check the price history and compare platforms
  • The expert advises setting a spending limit in advance and considering how to repay the debt when buying on credit
  • Promotions may start earlier than the official dates, so you should focus on the item's price rather than the timer

A discount on a banner is not a guarantee of a good deal

The size of the discount on an advertising banner does not by itself show how good a deal a purchase is: before ordering, it is worth checking the item's previous price and comparing offers from different sellers. Evgenia Veselova, an expert at the financial marketplace Sravni, told Gazeta.Ru about this. Evgenia Veselova, an expert at the financial marketplace Sravni, told Gazeta.Ru. Her recommendations concern autumn sales, for which sellers are preparing major promotions.

How the expert suggests preparing for sales

Veselova advises starting preparations with a list of necessary items: for this, it is useful to check your wardrobe, the condition of your appliances, and household needs, and then set an overall spending limit and allocate money across purchases. According to her, impulse purchases driven by bright banners and large discounts often lead to a situation where no money is left for the items one truly wants.

Checking prices and caution with credit

Price-tracking services and browser extensions help verify the claimed savings: they show how the item's price changed over previous months. In addition, the expert recommends comparing prices across several platforms. If a purchase requires borrowed money, one should consider not only the discount but also the terms of repaying the debt: a credit card with a grace period or an installment plan can spread expenses over time, but the benefit depends on complying with the terms of the agreement. Veselova advised assessing in advance which income will be used to pay off the debt — a discounted purchase should not create a payment the person cannot handle.

Focus on the price, not the sale timer

According to the expert's observation, major promotions may start earlier than the official sale dates, so it is worth focusing on the price of the item you need rather than on the promotion timer. Gazeta.Ru also notes that it was previously reported how many Russians plan to go to the sales, however, the details of this survey are not provided in the publication.