Shopping, Spending, Saving

March 19, 2025

It’s Day 3 of Global Money Week, and today we’ve got some hints and tips to help you level up your financial game!

Influencers & shopping smart

Ever bought something just because an influencer told you to? Like we said in yesterday’s news story about finding trustworthy financial information online, it’s important to know that influencers are usually paid by brands to promote products and say certain things to encourage us to buy.

If an influencer is working with a brand, they have to make that clear to the public by marking their content as #AD, #Gifted, #BrandAmbassador or similar.

Not every influencer follows this rule however, so when making a purchase, ask yourself do I really need this or am I just buying it because someone told me to? Is that person just trying to make money? Advertising and marketing can be very powerful, and we might buy something quickly that we later regret. This is called impulse buying.

By being a more conscious shopper, we can better manage our money and make smarter choices online.

Shopping like a pro

Shopping online is really convenient, but how do you know you’re getting a good deal? And what happens if something goes wrong? Luckily for you, the CCPC’s got your back with everything you need to know about shopping online, dealing with broken items, and using gift cards.

Some of the most important things to know are:

• If you buy online from any country within the European Union (EU), you have 14 days to return it without needing any reason!
• When you buy things from within the EU, you have stronger rights than if you buy from the UK, China or America for example.
• You can cancel a purchase and get a full refund if a fault happens within 30 days of receiving a product purchased within the EU.
• If you buy something second-hand from another person (like on Vinted, Depop or any marketplace), you are not covered by consumer protection law. This is why it’s really important to check the item before you buy it, and check the platform’s own terms and conditions.

Visit our shopping online hub for more information.

Digital banks

With online shopping often comes online banking, and digital banks like Revolut and N26 are becoming more and more popular. When choosing where to keep your money, it’s important you choose a bank that best suits you.

Digital banks don’t have physical branches, meaning you can’t deposit or physically put cash into your account. This might not suit you if you’re earning cash through pocket money or in a part-time job for example.

However, most digital banks allow you to send money to someone instantly, which can be useful for paying friends back or splitting a bill.

To help you choose an account, and compare fees and benefits, visit the CCPC’s personal current account comparison tool or, check out our videos where we answer questions on Digital Banks and FinTech products and services.

Check back tomorrow where we’ll dive into fraud, scams and more financial education as part of our Global Money Week 2025 campaign.

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