Time for bargainsJanuary sales kick off on Thursday in Luxembourg and Lorraine

Are you feeling recovered from celebrating the new year? If yes, and you're hoping to find some bargains then good news - the January sales start on Thursday 2 January in both Luxembourg and the Lorraine region of France.

The sales period will last from 2 January to 25 January in the Grand Duchy, and will include Sunday opening for shops in the capital on the following Sundays: 5, 12 and 19 January 2020. The majority of public transport options in Luxembourg City will also be free of charge for Sunday shopping.

The Lorraine sales period in Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle (as well as the Vosges and Meuse areas a bit further afield) will last from Thursday to 29 January. This is a small preview in France, where sales only start on the second Wednesday of January in the rest of the country, namely 8 January.

Sales in Belgium are permitted between 3 and 31 January. In Germany, there are no official dates for the sales, as the 'Winterschlussverkauf' sales begin between Christmas and the New Year.

Beware of retail tricks

Sales are framed by laws fixing both dates and conditions, with the initial purpose of sales namely allowing retailers to liquidate stock ahead of a new season. However, the reality of retail means that new products arrive throughout the year and stores have to deal with online competition. Broadly, sales are a means of attracting customers.

Some businesses push the boundaries of the law with some practices, so make sure to pay attention as not to fall for tricks:

•  Items cannot be ordered for the explicit use of sales and must be on sale a month before the January sales begin.
• Some retailers increase prices instore ahead of the sales to give the impression of a better bargain in January. It's worth keeping an eye out before sales begin to make sure you don't get fooled by discounts that appear to be huge.
• Although retailers must by law clearly separate and signpost reduced items, some fail to do so, which means you might come away with something at full price.
• Some stores also claim to show huge reductions compared to recommended retail prices which never existed.

Some tips

If you want to tactically use the sales periods and prevent yourself from buying unnecessary items, here are some tips to prepare:

• Do a stock take of your current possessions to not buy something you already have,
• Set a budget and pay in cash to keep track of your spending,
• Compare between shops, prices before and after the sales, and compare reduced items with the prices of the new collections. This should help if you're worried that shops might be trying to trick you.
• If you're buying clothes, make sure to look for classic pieces that work for all seasons.