When it comes to hunting down bargains in the Boxing Day sales frenzy, it pays to do your homework and track down the biggest discounts on the items you’re hoping to bag.

A little pre-planning can also stop shoppers from getting stung by the spending bug – as consumer advocacy group Choice warns, “It’s all too easy to get caught up in the post-Christmas sale madness and spend far too much money”.

The best way to avoid overspending and still walk away with a great deal is to hit the stores with a plan of attack already in mind, and The New Daily is here to help with a guide to the best Boxing Day sales (and tips on how to make the most of them).

The sales

While major online retailers like Amazon Australia and eBay have been offering sizeable discounts to shoppers already, other major stores will be following their lead from December 26. Comparison website Finder.com said many retailers tend to offer similar deals each year, and has put together a list of what shoppers can expect to see this year.

Shoppers can use previous sales as a guide for what to expect in 2018. Photo: AAP

Fashion

The Iconic: Up to 70 per cent off everything

General Pants: Up to 60 per cent off

Lorna Jane: 20 per cent off storewide

Platypus Shoes: Up to 50 per cent off on selected styles

Boohoo: Up to 70 per cent off everything

Tech

Dell: Up to 40 per cent off selected laptops 

Lenovo: Up to 40 per cent off selected laptops

The Good Guys: 10 per cent off Apple Mac computers, and 30 per cent off Belkin accessories, including cases, covers and cables.

DJI: Up to 30 per cent off

Rebel Sport: Save on fitness trackers

Home

Myer: 50 per cent off selected brands 

David Jones: Up to 50 per cent off clearance items. 

Bed Bath N’ Table: Up to 60 per cent off site-wide 

Sheridan: Up to 50 per cent off absolutely everything. While stock lasts 

Zanui: Up to 50 per cent off 15,000 styles

Beauty

Sephora: 30 per cent off selected items 

Jurlique: Up to 50 per cent off products and sets 

David Jones: 50 per cent on selected big beauty brands

Nude by Nature: 50 per cent off everything 

Bobbi Brown: 30 per cent off holiday sets

General sales

eBay: Top retailers on sale 

Myer: The Myer Stocktake Sale – 50 per cent off selected brands. 

Booktopia: Up to 90 per cent off books 

Catch.com.au: 80 per cent off early bird Boxing Day sale 

David Jones: Up to 50 per cent off clearance items

Travel deals

Finder.com also expects deals on flights – both budget and full-service – will be available “by the bucketful”, based on previous years’ sales.

Jetstar and Tiger Air last year dropped their one-way ticket prices as low as $29 and $35 respectively, and similar sales are likely this year, too.

Virgin Australia and Qantas also offered reduced fares for would-be travellers, offering domestic flights for $79 and $85, while Flight Centre added “a round-up of its best fares across airlines like AirAsia and Qatar” to the list of discounted tickets.

The comparison site predicts tour companies will also bring their prices down, given last year saw booking site TourRadar cut prices by up to 75 per cent, with competitors offering smaller but still sizeable reductions in response.

Finder.com added that hotel booking sites (such as Wotif, Expedia, and Hotels.com) “love an excuse for a sale” and big discounts are forecast this year.

Tips to save more

While the sales themselves already offer a wealth of bargains, savvy shoppers can save even more money by haggling, avoiding add-ons, and considering different brands for the products they plan to buy.

Consumer group Choice said shoppers: “May be able to negotiate a cheaper price” even for items already on sale – especially when it comes to things like whitegoods and TVs.

“Some retailers offer price matching, so find out which ones do and use that to your advantage,” Choice said. “And if you can pay in cash, you may be able to get a lower price on the day.”

Ask retailers if they can bundle together related items (like TVs and HDMI cables) for a cheaper price “to secure the sale”, and if that doesn’t work, consider if you might be able to buy those smaller items cheaper online after the sales, rather than getting carried away in store and buying then and there.

Consumer finance site Mozo said shoppers should also be prepared to walk away if they can’t get the offer they’re after, and be aware of what competitor businesses are asking for the same products.

“Don’t be afraid to push the retailers to get the best price possible,” Mozo said.