Don't succumb to a sales frenzy - plan your purchases carefully, put in some research and your hard-earned cash will be well spent

Reproduced from the January 07 issue of Good Homes magazine. This month's issue on sale now. Subscribe now and save 40 per cent.

Most high-street stores have such good January sales, it's a wonder we buy anything else for the rest of the year. If you want to get ahead of the pack, though, invest time before the Christmas festivities to have a good look at the ranges you like, so that when it comes to sale time, you'll be bagging your bargain ahead of everyone else. It's also worth taking room measurements with you, so you'll know straightaway whether large items will fit into your home.

Buying a kitchen or bathroom?

• Visit the store a few weeks before sale day, and take a floorplan of your room so you can make decisions there and then.
• Make a list of the must-have cabinets, fittings or features you'll require and set a realistic budget.
• It's unlikely that any fitting costs will be reduced in the sale, so if you're not doing the work yourself, get some estimates from your builder, electrician and plumber to compare with in-store prices.
• Members of the Kitchen Bathroom & Bedroom Specialists Association (www.kbsa.co.uk) adhere to a strict code of practice, so start your search with one of its members.

Appliances without the extras

Rock-bottom prices on appliances may mean they're lacking some of the latest functions - so before you buy, decide what you can't live without

Washing Machine: Look for the more efficient AAA-rated machines, with a spin-speed of at least 1,200 rpm and a large-capacity drum - most are at least 6kg these days. A delay timer is also useful if you want to use off-peak electricity.

Tumble Dryer: Many are very energy inefficient, so look for a B or C-rated model. Condenser dryers need to be plumbed in, or the reservoir regularly emptied; vented dryers need to be positioned near a window or have the vent hose-ducted directly through an outside wall.

Oven: Choose an A-rated model. Ovens with pyrolitic linings, or other self-clean features will save on elbow grease.

Range Cooker: These are often on sale because the side panels may be slightly scratched or dented - a great buy if your kitchen cabinets will hide the damage.

Fridges and Freezers: Look for A+ or A-rated models and it's worth buying a frost-free freezer to avoid the dreaded task of defrosting. Models with ice-makers or water dispensers need to be plumbed in, so they will jut out around 10cm further than standard cabinets.

Dishwasher: Choose an AAA or at least AAB model. Desirable features include a quick-wash setting, rinse programme and timer delay.

Getting guarantees and warranties

What to do with paperwork

• Highlight the maintenance, service and company telephone numbers of each household purchase, such as a washing machine, TV, etc, in its respective manual, as well as the serial numbers and guarantee or warranty expiry dates.
• Most manufacturers will contact you near the end of the guarantee or warranty period to invite you to renew. However, you must register the purchase in the first place for them to do this. Find the relevant card either in the instruction manual or leaflet or online, fill it in and make sure it is sent to the address given by the date stated.
• Use a plastic wallet or file for each product and clearly label it on the front with the name of the product.
• Inside each wallet or file, place the relevant receipts, manuals and paperwork. Put all these in a box file and label it Household Purchases Paperwork. Then store it in a safe place where you can easily find it when needed.
• If possible, keep all the packaging - especially for smaller items like a camera or MP3 player - in case the item needs to be returned by post or courier. Flatten large boxes and store them in your loft or garage.

Take care when buying on credit

Home entertainment

We're replacing hi-fi systems, televisions and so on more frequently, just to keep up with technology. Cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs are gradually being phased out in favour of plasma or LCD screens, which are thinner and smaller. With the big switch-over to digital happening between 2008 and 2012, it makes sense to buy a model with an integral digital tuner for all the Freeview digital channels, instead of buying one without and having to get a separate digi box.

• High Definition Television (HDTV). This is the next big thing in viewing and it means that picture definition will be up to four times more detailed than current picture quality. However, you'll need a DTV receiver box and a HD-ready TV with a special cable to connect the two. Unfortunately, the technology is so new that there may not be too many examples in the sales. Instead, look for good prices on flat-panel LCD TVs (the smaller table-top models) or, if you want a larger screen, plasma TVs.

• DVD and Hard Disk Drive (HDD ) Recorders. HDD recorders allow you record programmes on a hard drive and play them back later. Look for a large capacity (160GB is around 80 hours of recording time) and a twin tuner - so you can record one channel whilst watching another. DVD-RAM is the latest in DVD technology, allowing you to watch something on disc whilst recording something else. Combined DVD and HDD recorders are also available, some with integral Freeview.

• Stands and speakers. Stands can be expensive, at around £100, if you buy them separately, but are often included in the price of the TV set. If you want the best sound possible, consider buying a surround-sound speaker system, and buy a stand to fit both.