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Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Daily Mail
The five holiday accessories that are a complete waste of money, according to a travel expert - and what you should buy instead
Every time I book a holiday, the day before I jet off, I find myself standing in Boots. Why? To pick up ten miniature toiletries, two travel adapters and one of those squidgy neck pillows. Will I use a miniature dry shampoo or cleansing spray or sudocrem? No. Will I save them for my next trip if they return home with me 80% full. No. Will I stop wasting my money on them? Also, no. According to Fred Harrington, CEO of discount-platform Proxy Coupons and money-saving guru, I'm not alone. 'Every year,' Harrington advises, 'millions of travellers waste money on items they think they need, only to discover they're impractical, redundant or simply useless.' 'The travel industry is brilliant at convincing us we need specialised gear for every scenario, but smart travellers know that simple, versatile items usually work better.' So what are the biggest pitfalls when it comes to spending unnecessary money on travel gear? Below, Harrington's shares five unnecessary 'budget busters' that you can gladly forget about. Keep reading to save both cash and that all-important luggage space (yes, we need at least five pairs of shoes). Portable clothing steamers We all know people who arrive on holiday armed with a portable steamer or iron like some kind of Vogue assistant. But in Harrington's opinion, 'they're more trouble than they're worth'. 'Most portable steamers weigh over a pound, take up precious luggage space, and require distilled water that's not available on tap,' he points out. 'I've seen people lug these things around Europe only to use them once. Most hotels provide irons, and if yours doesn't, hanging an outfit in a steamy bathroom works just as well as most portable devices. Save yourself the £30 and pack an extra outfit instead!' Travel neck pillows This one will shock most people (smugly not me, as I have been saying for years they're both ineffective and annoyingly shaped), but Harrington says the best place for your travel neck pillow is, ultimately, the bin. 'Despite their popularity,' he says, 'most travel pillows are bulky, uncomfortable and offer little real support. They're designed for one sitting-up sleep position that rarely matches how you actually sleep on planes or trains.' 'These things are everywhere in airports because they're impulse buys that prey on tired travellers,' Harrington explains. 'A rolled-up jumper or small cushion from home does the same job without the bulk. Better yet, invest in noise-cancelling headphones – they'll help you sleep far better than any pillow.' Universal travel adapters We've all been there: desperately trying to google what adapter we'll need for a trip and asking 'what on earth is a type C?' But while a universal adapter might sound practical, many universal adapters are cheaply made, unreliable, and potentially dangerous, Harrington warns. They often don't fit properly in foreign outlets and can damage your devices. 'I've seen people spend £15-25 on these all-in-one adapters that barely work,' says Harrington. 'Research your destination and buy a simple, country-specific adapter for £3. It'll be more reliable and won't risk frying your phone charger.' Travel-sized toiletries Yes, they're my weakness; but while those tiny bottles of shampoo and toothpaste might seem convenient (and cute), they're expensive per millilitre and you never get through them. That's before you even consider that most hotels now offer complimentary toiletries. 'You're paying premium prices for tiny amounts,' Harrington notes. 'Buy normal-sized products when you arrive, or better yet, use what's provided. The money you save could buy you an extra meal out.' Cheap portable phone chargers Not all power banks are created equal. Travellers often buy cheap, low-capacity chargers that barely provide one full charge, or expensive high-capacity ones they couldn't use up even if they spent a week in a tent in Antarctica. 'People either buy the cheapest option that dies after two uses, or the most expensive one that could power a small village,' Harrington observes. 'A mid-range power bank with 10,000mAh capacity is perfect for most travellers and costs half the price of premium options.'
Wales Online
06-07-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Cheapest week to buy school uniform revealed by expert
Cheapest week to buy school uniform revealed by expert The summer holidays haven't even started but already school items ready for September are in the shops Buying too early or too late could hit your wallet (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto ) This school year hasn't ended but already winter school uniforms are in the shops ready for September's return. With the average family now spending an estimated £450+ per child on school essentials and uniform, it's worth shopping around and when you buy can make a difference to price tags. Buying too early or too late could hit your wallet, as well as running the risk that your child outgrows what you bought. One consumer expert says the best deals on school uniforms are in the third week of July. Fred Harrington, CEO of discount deals platform Proxy Coupons has analysed pricing patterns across major retailers to pinpoint when is the best time to get maximum savings. 'Families often make the mistake of either panic-buying in late August or shopping too early,' says Fred. 'There's actually a sweet spot in the summer when retailers slash prices to clear stock, and savvy parents can save serious money.' Looking at pricing data from major UK retailers, Fred suggests the best time to buy school uniforms in 2025 falls between July 14 and July 20. This is the time when most stores begin their serious summer sales but haven't yet hit the back-to-school rush. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. 'Retailers know parents will panic-buy in August, so they don't need to offer deep discounts then,' explains Fred. 'But in mid-July, they're looking to shift summer stock and make room for autumn inventory. That's when you'll see 30-50% off uniform prices.' Before that he claims discounts are typically 10-15% off selected items and by August price tags creep back up as demand increases. 'By late August, you're competing with desperate parents who've left everything to the last minute,' Fred warns. Some shops such as Marks and Spencer have uniform on sale now. Shopping online offers better value, but timing matters and obviously children can't try the items on before buying, so you may have the hassle of returning them if they're not what you wanted or don't fit. Customers should check online and in-store school uniform prices to see how they compare in the third week of July. Some physical stores will price-match online deals, and you might find additional clearance items that aren't available online. But beware buying lots of winter uniform items and coats in July. Fred says jumpers, cardigans, and winter coats are best bought in the autumn when retailers are clearing knitwear stock. October is the best time to get deals when retailers are clearing summer stock and offering discounts on knitwear. He added: 'That third week of July really is the sweet spot. Retailers have committed to their summer sales, stock levels are still good, and you're shopping when demand is at its lowest. "It's the difference between paying £40 for a school jumper in June and £15 for the same item in mid-July. Over a full uniform, that can easily save families £100-200 per child." Money-Saving Tips for School Uniforms Buy Generic Where Possible: Most schools only require pupils have logos on certain items like jumpers or polo shirts. For trousers, skirts, and plain shirts, supermarket brands are cheaper. Most schools only require pupils have logos on certain items like jumpers or polo shirts. For trousers, skirts, and plain shirts, supermarket brands are cheaper. Size up with care: Children grow quickly so buying slightly larger sizes for expensive items like blazers means they'll last longer, but your child might not want to go to school wearing items that are too big or too long. Children grow quickly so buying slightly larger sizes for expensive items like blazers means they'll last longer, but your child might not want to go to school wearing items that are too big or too long. Pre-loved and swaps: Many schools and parent groups sell or swap pre-used good quality uniform. Social media groups and sites like Vinted also have deals for second hand items. Many schools and parent groups sell or swap pre-used good quality uniform. Social media groups and sites like Vinted also have deals for second hand items. Logos: Some schols require logos on some items of school uniform. Logoed items, which have to be bought from specialist retailers, tend to be more expensive than generic, non-logo items in shops and supermarkets. The Welsh Government published new guidance on uniforms in 2023. That said that school logos should not be compulsory but ministers stopped shot of saying schools would have to ditch logos. The guidance was published after a consultation on how to make school uniform affordable. Some people favoured no logos and others wanted logos on one or a few items, such as sports kit. Welsh Government guidance to school governors, who are responsible for each individual school's uniform policy, are required under Welsh Government guidance to to "give high priority" to affordability. In England planned changes to school uniform policy is aimed at cutting costs for families. The UK government says schools in England will have to reduce the number of compulsory branded items to three, plus a branded tie for secondary students. The change, part of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, is not yet law. The Department of Education estimates the average cost of a full school uniform and PE kit for a child at secondary school is £442, and is £343 for a primary school pupil. Existing statutory guidance for England, introduced by the previous UK government, is the same as that in Wales. It requires schools to consider the cost of uniform. Article continues below The Schoolwear Association claims that parents spend more on replacing lower-quality generic garments which might not last as long as branded items.
