Best bargains

Made a resolution to pull on your trainers and get moving? ElleUk.com has some tips on getting fit for less, including finding a running partner and putting together a great playlist for motivation. What, though, of the kit? Splurge: on a good sports bra - and replace it as soon as it wears out. Save: on workout tops and pants - styles don’t change dramatically every season, so stick to flattering basics in sweat-wicking fabrics and they’ll last you for years. Top tip? Buy everything in black and resist white or coloured piping - that way, nothing will go grey in the wash and you’ll be able to mix and match sale buys from different brands.

Now for the discounts.

• Find cheap trainers at koodos, with savings on styles by Puma, adidas and Asics.
• Littlewoods has a good selection, including adidas and USA PRO. Save 20 per cent on orders over £50 with discount code XX133 until 31 January.
• There’s 20 per cent off women’s fitness wear at Ellie Gray with code 9WSK until 31 March.
• Save 20 per cent on fashion-conscious gymwear at Sweaty Betty with discount code CMGF97 until 14 February.
• Simply Sweat: brands such as USA PRO, Running Bare and Casall with £5 off orders over £75 until 31 Jan with code jans9.

We have a new favourite phrase this week - “voucher vulture”, as coined by Grazia. Lots of the stores are already on sale, of course, but here’s a round-up of the best deals to please your inner voucher vulture today:

• Have a glamorous New Year with 15 per cent off party dresses at Lipsy for readers of Look until 24 December. Code: LOOKXMAS08.
• Save 30 per cent on glamorous lingerie at Janet Reger with code JRXM8 until 23 December.
• Sparkle this Christmas with 25 per cent off diamond jewellery at Goldsmiths with code DRJ25.
• Get 30 per cent off bags and accessories at Tabitha with code XMAS32 until 26 December.
• Get £5 off when you spend £20 or more at The Body Shop with code DHAD000108 until 24 December.
• Shhhh… it’s Burberry’s secret sale preview.
• Finally, if you’ve been lusting after Jonathan Kelsey’s shoes for Mulberry all season, the store has quietly reduced them enormously: the purple suede platforms, for example, are down from £250 to £75.

A confession: sometimes Bargainista is so busy searching out the best fashion deals that she quite forgets to treat the man in her life. And it’s a common failing - according to a report in yesterday’s Sunday Times, husbands, boyfriends and fathers are the real losers this Christmas with spending down 10 per cent on men’s gifts this year. So let’s put that right with our pick of this week’s best buys for him:

• Keep it casual with men’s Timberland shirts reduced by over 60 per cent at koodos…
• … or smarten him up with an extra 20 per cent discount at Moss Bross with promo code SHORTLIST until 18 December.
• Treat him to a cashmere sweater: already great value, Uniqlo’s crew necks are reduced to £49.99; there’s 20 per cent off Autograph knitwear at Marks & Spencer; and up to 60 per cent off at Charles Tyrwhitt.
• Cellar book, golf notes or cufflinks box? Save 20 per cent on men’s gifts at Smythson with code SUNTIM1.
• There’s nothing like a proper shave - check out the latest offers on brands such as Geo F Trumper at The English Shaving Company.

• A bit last minute but too good not to share: Bill Amberg is running a friends and family offer for today only. Quote code 11DEC at checkout for a 40 per cent discount when you shop online and treat everyone on your list to a leather bound Penguin classic.
• If you’re at a loose end in the City over the next few days, check out the warehouse sale at the Barbican, with 40 to 90 per cent off men’s and womenswear by the likes of Stone Island, True Religion, and McQ Alexander McQueen. Where: Exhibition Hall 2, Barbican Exhibition Centre, Golden Lane, London EC2Y 8DL. When: until Saturday.
• More sample sales: the DKNY sample sale ends today - see LynkU for details. And treat yourself to something sumptuous by Biba at the sample sale hosted by DSUK tomorrow. Where: The Music Rooms, 26 South Molton Lane, London W1.

• Dressrail.com is offering Grazia readers 30 per cent off its designer collections from the likes of Anglomania and Twenty8Twelve with discount code GRAZIA30 until 15 December.
• Still with Grazia, save 20 per cent at Karen Millen this week with code GRAZIA03 until 15 December.
• Fancy the likes of Velvet, By Malene Birger and Kenneth Jay Lane at 40 per cent off? Enter code getgift at checkout at Misamu.com.
• Get 20 per cent off designer denim at my-wardrobe.com with discount code denim20 for the next five days.
• Save 40 per cent on the most expensive item you buy at La Redoute plus 30 per cent on the rest of your order with code 4017.
• There’s 20 per cent off everything at Warehouse, including on-trend partywear, with code FRIEND until 16 December.
• Discounts of 25 per cent off everything at Oasis with code COLLECTIONS2008 until 15 December.