Anyone seeking a Boxing Day bargain may find themselves stuck in traffic jams, as rail strikes force more cars on to the roads on one of the year’s busiest shopping days.

There are usually hundreds of trains on 26 December, but Britain’s railways will be closed due to a walkout by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union.

Airport services such as the Stansted Express, Gatwick Express and Heathrow Express are often very popular on Boxing Day, as people head away or return after Christmas Day – but they will now also have to rely on the roads.

And to add to the congestion, tens of thousands of football fans will be trying to get to the first Premier League games since the season took a break for the World Cup.

The AA said it expects 15.2 million cars on the UK roads on Boxing Day and, for those unwilling or unable to drive themselves, National Express and Megabus have both reported high demand for their services.

Even if you shop online, you could still face difficulties – Royal Mail has no more strikes planned at the moment, but the union’s pay dispute is still unresolved, so there is the possibility of more industrial action soon.

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Many people will not shop at all today – high inflation, mortgage and rental costs, and crippling energy prices have left many households with little money to spare.

Research by Barclaycard Payments found that the average shopper plans to buy £229 worth of items in the post-Christmas sales period – that’s £18 less than the same time last year.

Some 42% say they will be looking for personal technology items, with food and drink also expected to be popular.

Harshna Cayley, head of online payments at Barclaycard Payments, said: “The rising cost of living and inflationary pressures have naturally had an impact on the amount being spent in the post-Christmas sales this year.

“Having said that, retailers can take confidence knowing that shoppers still plan to make the most of the deals and discounts on offer.”

Reena Sewraz, from Which?, says there are ways to keep costs down no matter what you’re in the market for.

Make sure deals are genuine:

Some special offers may not be as special as they appear.

Use price-tracking websites to check the history of a price.

Shop around.

Avoid fake reviews:

Be wary of fake, paid-for or misleading user reviews when shopping online.

Red flags include multiple reviews posted around the same time, overwhelming praise, the same phrases popping up in many reviews.

You can sometimes get a more balanced view of a product if you ignore the five-star ratings and check the four, three and two-star reviews.

Be cautious about ‘buy now, pay later’:

It can encourage overspending and leave you with debt.

Take the time to read and understand the terms and conditions – they might not be the same at every shop.

Earn cashback:

Websites such as Quidco and TopCashback allow shoppers to claim cash back from their purchases.

But you need to purchase your item through the cashback website and it could take some time for the money to reach your account.

It’s still important to compare upfront costs – even the most generous cashback offer may not compensate for a high price.

Watch out for unsafe products and scams:

Which? has found problems with illegal Christmas lights that don’t meet Electrical Equipment (Safety) regulations, baby carriers that don’t meet safety standards and dangerous children’s toys.

Online scams are also rife – be very careful about unsolicited texts, emails and calls from people who may be fraudsters trying to take advantage of uncertainty and the increase in online shopping.

A common one is the message that claims you need to pay an “unpaid shipping fee” with a link to a page where you’ll be told to enter your details – so they can be used by a fraudster.

Always check a message is authentic before you click on any links – if you have doubts, contact the retailer using the details on their website.

Know your rights:

Check a store’s returns policy before you buy something. Bear in mind that you have more rights when you shop online than you do in-store.

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