With Christmas fast approaching, financial guru Martin Lewis has unveiled a savvy last-minute strategy to help UK shoppers cut costs. The founder of Money Saving Expert appeared on ITV's This Morning to share a simple online method that could lead to valuable discounts.
The 'Abandoned Basket' Method Explained
During his segment on Tuesday 16 December 2025, Lewis detailed what he calls the 'abandoned basket trick'. He explained the process to hosts Ben Shephard and Christine Lampard. The technique involves adding the products you wish to buy to your online shopping basket on a retailer's website.
Crucially, instead of proceeding to checkout, you simply exit the site without completing the purchase. For this to work effectively, you typically need to be logged into a store membership or loyalty account. Lewis stated that many retailers monitor this activity and may send a follow-up email containing a discount offer to entice you back to finalise the sale.
Which Shops Use This Tactic?
While not guaranteed with every retailer, Lewis highlighted several major UK chains known to employ this marketing strategy. Shoppers might successfully use this method with popular stores such as:
- Argos
- Currys
- Morrisons
The logic behind the tactic is rooted in retail psychology. Online stores are keen to recover potentially lost sales and often use automated systems to target shoppers who have shown interest but hesitated at the final payment stage.
A Timely Tip for Festive Budgets
This advice comes at a critical time for households managing tight budgets during the expensive festive period. Lewis's hack provides a proactive way for consumers to potentially secure better deals without extensive coupon hunting or price comparison.
It's a reminder that in the digital shopping era, patience can sometimes be rewarded. However, experts caution that this method is not universally successful and depends on the individual retailer's marketing protocols. Shoppers are advised to ensure they have consented to marketing emails from the store for the trick to have a chance of working.
As always with money-saving tips, the key is to only buy what you actually need, even if a tempting discount code arrives in your inbox.
