EDDERSHAWS, SWANSEA:

Sale tags already covered much of the furniture in the store offering big discounts.

But we eyed up a Shaker-style display dresser that took our fancy. It was £445.

A saleswoman who came over to see if we needed help was quick to offer it.

"I've had my eye on this for some time and was hoping it might be reduced," I told her.

She quickly produced a calculator and came back with her offer: £379.

The whole process took just seconds and I didn't feel at all embarrassed.

"I'll let you know," I told her.

She smiled nicely and told me to call back once I had made my mind up.

COMET, SWANSEA:

I'm interested in a Hotpoint fridge freezer at £529.99.

"What will you do for cash," I ask an assistant.

"The price on it is what you pay," he tells me. "We are very competitively priced and don't offer discounts."

After a while, I finally say I think it's too much money and I want to mull it over.

"Wait a minute," he says, "I'll go and see the manager."

He returns a few minutes later and says I can have £53 knocked off, but only if I take out an extended three-year warranty.

I'm not really interested in the warranty — but I humour him, as this is where the staff make most of their commission.

Well, that depends on how much the warranty would cost.

"It's £130."

A saving? Well, sort of I suppose, but in reality I was still spending more than I really wanted to.

WYEVALE GARDEN CENTRE, LLANSAMLET:

Christmas decorations are being flogged off cheap.

A three-piece electrical one made up of wrapped gift boxes with fairy lights inside catches my eye.

It's £39.99 and too much. But then I spot a single unit on the floor.

I gather it up and go in search of a sales assistant.

"How much?" I venture.

"A fiver," comes back the reply.

"That's still a bit much, how about £2," I tell him.

"£2.50," he says.

Kerr-ching! That's an extra couple of pounds in my pocket, success!

TESCO, FFORESTFACH:

Getting a discount out of the big four supermarkets is a challenge, but you have to be strategic.

Look for flaws and point out any imperfections.

I hunt out some dented cans of beans and go straight to the information counter.

Using my sweetest smile and politest voice, I ask if they could possibly reduce the price of the cans, what with the dents and everything.

It works and I walk out having paid 24p instead of 48p for each can.

I'm sure Alan Sugar would be proud of my entrepreneurial spirit.

HMV, SWANSEA:

I approach the teenage boy behind the till, who looks young enough to be my son.

"Excuse me, how much are your PlayStation 3s?"

"£284.99."

"Right. What's the best price you can do for that?"

"£284.99."

"Could you do a discount for cash?"

"No. We don't do anything like that."

I scurry out, scarlet-faced.

No deal.