Christmas shopping can be a daunting task. Christmas doesn’t always need to cost you an absolute fortune. Shoppers looking to cut the cost of Christmas gifts this year are being urged to turn to second-hand apps, with a fashion expert saying people could save hundreds of pounds and even make up to £1,000 before December is over. Which would help take the stress out of shopping for presents. Christmas can be a tough time of year for many people financially. Aimee McBride, a fashion lecturer at Glasgow Kelvin College , says buying second-hand is one of the easiest ways that you can reduce your festive spending. She says many items listed online are “basically brand new”, and buyers can often save a fortune on the usual retail price. She has now shared some of her expert tips! Use filters to choose the best quality She said: “If you’re buying a present, always set your filters to things like ‘new with tags’ or ‘nearly new’. It makes such a difference. There are filters for size, colour, brand and even little details people don’t usually notice, but using them properly means you’re only seeing items in the right condition and you’re not wasting time scrolling. It’s the easiest way to make sure what you’re buying is genuinely good enough to wrap up and give as a gift.” Spot red flags in listings She adds: “If a seller tells you to check the photos, it usually means there’s a mark or scuff, so always look closely. And I’m always cautious of listings with just one picture or hardly any description.” Save some money this festive season. “Unless it’s extremely cheap and you’re willing to take the risk, it’s better to buy from someone who’s taken the time to photograph the item properly. When a seller puts effort into a listing, it’s usually because the item has been well looked after.” Authenticate designer items She says: “When you’re buying anything designer, you want to be sure it’s real. Always ask if it comes with dust bags, tags or the original packaging. A good seller won’t think twice about sharing that information. It’s just about protecting yourself and making sure your money is going towards something authentic, especially if it’s meant to be a special Christmas gift.” Allow time for delivery She also adds: “Delivery is where lots of people get caught out at Christmas . Vinted gives sellers several days to post an item, so even if the seller is lovely, you can still miss a deadline. If you need something quickly, always message first and check they can post it in time. Trust your instincts. If someone takes ages to reply to messages, they’re probably not going to post very quickly either.” Boost your Christmas budget “Everyone has things sitting in their wardrobe that they’re not wearing. If you photograph them properly and write a clear description, you can make a really good amount of money in the run-up to Christmas. Some people make a couple of hundred pounds quite easily, and if you’ve got some higher-value pieces, you can make up to £1,000 from selling personal items.” She added that most casual sellers won’t need to think about tax unless they’re trading more regularly. “There’s a £1,000 tax-free trading allowance in the UK for casual selling. If you’re just clearing out your wardrobe, you usually won’t come close to that.” She says pacing uploads is also key to selling faster: “Uploading two items a night works so much better than putting ten things up at once. The platform notices when you’re active and shows your listings to more people. Posting everything in one go just doesn’t perform as well.” Aimee also warned sellers to remember the delay in receiving their funds. “On Vinted, the buyer needs to receive the item, check it and approve it before your money is released, so it’s not instant. That’s important to keep in mind if you’re planning to use it for Christmas shopping.” Despite the extra steps, she believes second-hand is becoming the go-to option for many families. “People want value and they want something unique. Buying second-hand gives you both, and a lot of the time the quality is much better than what you get on the high street. It’s honestly one of the smartest ways to do Christmas this year.” Related... 12 Statement Tights To Shop For Party Season And Beyond 10 Butter Yellow Party Dresses To Shop For Christmas Party Season This Christmas, Give The Gift Of Warmth With These Super Cosy Buys