Three clever ways to see if an item you are eyeing up is a genuine bargain or sneaky marketing

THE Government is cracking down on fake discounts from retailers. Brands will be stopped from making misleading claims about savings under new plans due to come into force next year. Three clever ways to see if an item you are eyeing up is a genuine bargain Credit: Getty Why wait? Here is how to see if an item you are eyeing up is a genuine bargain. PRICE HISTORY: Fake bargains are when stores inflate prices for a short time before bringing the cost back down so the item can be advertised as discounted. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! The tactic can dupe customers into thinking they have scored a great offer. Wise up by using sites to track price histories, which will indicate if the cost you are seeing is as good as a retailer is claiming. READ MORE MONEY SAVING TIPS Search pricespy.co.uk for goods and you can see price history generally as well as specific retailers. For Amazon, you can try uk.camel camelcamel.com. SHOP AROUND: Before buying a product from any retailer, you should always look at what competitors are offering. Just because you are seeing an item on sale doesn’t mean it’s the cheapest price. Most read in Money It is especially easy to compare the prices of branded products that are stocked at multiple retailers, but you can also make own-brand comparisons too. Google shopping or pricerunner.com are online tools that both allow you to see prices from different stores. SEASONAL SAVINGS: Prices for lots of items tend to move seasonally, going up and down throughout the year, depending on demand. Price tracking site idealo.co.uk has an online “best time to buy” calendar. It shows August is when the cost for Barbies and e-scooters are generally much higher. On the other hand, in September, electronics such as tablets and gaming consoles are typically at their cheapest, as well as air fryers and paddling pools. If you are able to time your purchase according to the trends, you could find that you are able to find a genuine bargain. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability. Deal of the day Save £70.50 on this flamingo-pink large case at tripp.co.uk Credit: Supplied YOU will have no problem spotting your bag on the airport luggage carousel with this flamingo-pink large case. It’s down from £130 to £59.50 at tripp.co.uk. SAVE: £70.50 Cheap treat Grab this Baylis & Harding’s royale garden hand wash for £1.99 from The Range Credit: Supplied BAYLIS & Harding’s royale garden hand wash comes in a beautiful bottle that will make your sink area feel fancy. £1.99 from The Range. What's new? ICELAND has launched a series of £1 flash sale meal deal bundles. You can get various deals, such as a loaf of bread, cooked meat, snack and drink, saving up to £3.45. Ends Friday. Top swap Fill your home with the scent of Diptyque’s warm and rich Ambre scented candle, £179 from spacenk.com Credit: Supplied But B&M’s black amber candle is just £12 Credit: Supplied FILL your home with the scent of Diptyque’s warm and rich Ambre scented candle, £179 from spacenk.com. Or B&M’s black amber candle, is £12. SAVE: £167 Little helper H&M members can get 20 per cent off school uniform. The deal takes these black trainers down from £14.99 to £11.99. Shop & save Save £1.50 on birthday cards at The Works Credit: Supplied IT is always handy to have a few birthday cards stashed in a drawer. Stock up with three for £3 on £1.50 cards at The Works. SAVE: £1.50 Hot right now BUY two adult camping chairs for £14 at onlinehomeshop.com – perfect for trips away and days out. PLAY NOW TO WIN £100 Join thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket. The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning! Comment now