Smart shopping for over-60s: safe, savvy and in control

Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.

Smart shopping is not about chasing every bargain. It is about knowing your rights, paying in a way that protects you, spotting a scam before it costs you money, and using a handful of simple habits that make every pound go further.

What this section covers

These guides are written for people aged 60 and over, and for the family members and friends who sometimes shop for them. You do not need to be confident with computers. Where a guide uses a piece of jargon, it explains it the first time, and our glossary covers the rest.

The guides fall into four groups: getting started online, staying safe, knowing your rights, and saving money without spending hours on it. Read them in any order. If you are completely new to buying on the internet, start with online shopping for beginners and then online shopping safety.

Three habits that protect almost every purchase

Buy from a business you can identify. A real shop gives a name, a postal address and a way to contact it. If you cannot find those, do not buy.
Pay by card, not by bank transfer. Credit and debit cards give you routes to get your money back if something goes wrong. A bank transfer to a stranger gives you far fewer.
Never be rushed. Genuine shops, banks and delivery firms do not mind you taking a day to think or ringing back on a number you have looked up yourself. Scammers always want a decision now.

Tip: Keep one folder, paper or on the computer, for receipts, order confirmations and guarantee cards. If something breaks in a year's time, the receipt is what makes the conversation easy.

Your rights in one paragraph

Across the UK, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 says that goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for their purpose and as described. If they are not, you can usually reject them for a full refund within 30 days, and ask for a repair or replacement after that. When you buy online, by phone or on your doorstep, you normally get 14 days to change your mind as well. The detail is in your consumer rights and returns and refunds.

Saving money as well as staying safe

Good shopping habits sit alongside the discounts and entitlements covered elsewhere on this site. Before a big purchase it is worth checking our over-60s discounts section and the discount finder, and if money is tight, the benefits checklist in the money and entitlements section may turn up help you did not know about.

All the smart shopping guides

Getting started online

Online shopping for beginners – accounts, baskets, checkout, delivery and tracking, one step at a time.
Supermarket home delivery – booking a slot, delivery passes, minimum spends and substitutions.
Click and collect – order at home, pick up when it suits you.
Buying on marketplaces – who you are really buying from on Amazon, eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Vinted.

Staying safe

Online shopping safety – the padlock, fake shops and how to check a retailer.
Spotting scams – parcel texts, fake refund calls, courier fraud and how to report them.
Paying safely online – credit card, debit card, PayPal and why bank transfers are risky.
Doorstep selling rights – your 14 days to cancel and how to deal with cold callers.

Knowing your rights

Your consumer rights – the Consumer Rights Act in plain English.
Returns and refunds – shop policy against legal rights, and the online cooling-off period.
Shopping for someone else – carer cards, third-party mandates and power of attorney basics.
Accessible shopping – quiet hours, the Sunflower lanyard, Shopmobility and help in store.

Spending less

Price comparison guide – how to compare prices properly, in shops and online.
Cashback sites and voucher codes – what they are and whether they are worth the bother.
Loyalty cards compared – member-only prices at the big supermarkets.
Haggling guide – polite scripts for broadband, insurance renewals and big purchases.
Charity shops and second-hand – what to look for and what to leave on the shelf.
Shopping and cooking for one – smaller packs, freezer tips and yellow-sticker reductions.
Seasonal sales calendar – month by month, when things are typically cheapest.

Common questions

Is online shopping safe for someone who is new to it?

Yes, if you stick to well-known retailers, pay by card and follow a few simple checks. Millions of people in later life shop online every week without trouble. Our safety guide lists the checks.

Who do I contact if a shop will not sort out a problem?

In England and Wales, ring the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133. In Scotland, contact Advice Direct Scotland, and in Northern Ireland, Consumerline. See your consumer rights for the details.

I think I have been scammed. What should I do first?

Ring your bank straight away, using the number on the back of your card or by dialling 159. Then report it. The steps are set out in spotting scams.

Do I have to shop online to get the best prices?

No. Loyalty-card prices, yellow-sticker reductions, charity shops and a polite haggle all work in person. Online is one more tool, not a requirement.