Finance expert Martin Lewis has offered money-saving advice for Zara customers who are planning to go on holiday to Spain, Italy, Greece or France.
The MoneySavingExpert founder has urged Brits to re-think their clothes shop ahead of their holiday, as his hack could pay for your flight abroad.
In a recent MoneySavingExpert newsletter, Martin pointed out the huge price difference between Zara shops in the UK compared to Europe.
If you’re planning on buying before you jet off on holiday, he is advising shoppers to “stop right now.”
The financial guru first shared the money-saving trick in 2014 and has updated it ahead of the peak holiday season.
Taking to the MSE website, Martin wrote: “The giant Spanish fashion brand sells clothes in its native country far cheaper than here, so wait until you get there if you’re planning on buying something. It’s also usually cheaper, though not as much of a difference, in other countries where you pay in euros too.
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“The price difference is enormous. The pound price is often higher than the euro price before you even convert the currency (which further cheapens the euro price).”
He recommends checking the prices on Zara’s Spanish website , where you can see a huge difference in the cost of clothing.
While you can’t get deliveries to the UK, you can find the products you like and hold off buying them until you’re abroad.
Martin added that this also applies to other shops in the same group, such as Massimo Dutti and Pull & Bear.
The expert shared a number of examples of price differences, such as a jacket on sale in the UK for £129, while on sale in Spain for €99.95 (around £84).
Similarly, a dress available in the UK for £49.99, costs £33.80 in Spain, and a blazer at £109 in the UK is £76.10 in Spain.
There are also huge discounts if you buy in Greece, Italy and France and smaller savings in almost any country that uses the Euro.
Martin said: “From this small sample, it shows that on average prices are 31 percent cheaper in Spain and Greece than the UK, 21 percent cheaper in France and Italy.
“If you were planning a big Zara shop, it may cover the flight cost.
“When I first wrote this blog in 2014, I found a Ryanair flight to Santander in Spain (not the bank) for £42 return (hand luggage only). So it was actually cheaper to jump on a plane to Spain and buy the jacket there – though of course add in airport transport and hotel costs and it skews the equation.”
Martin added: “Do pause though to think of the environmental impact of flying, and of overbuying fast fashion. I wouldn’t suggest you do a trip just for this, more that if you’re going anyway and need to buy, take advantage.”