Bargain Hunter: Your signpost to late discounts as panic grips Britain's high streets

Quality Street has been a fashion theme at Royal Ascot (AFP/Getty Images)

Today has been dubbed Panic Saturday as 13 million people are expected to continue to search for bargains. A report from the Centre for Retail Research anticipates that in-store spending will hit £1.2bn – or £2.1m for every minute the shops are open – as crowds battle for last-minute gifts and groceries.

But are there real bargains to be had? "Retailers are still offering a helping hand to shoppers wanting to save on their festive purchases, with the likes of Argos, Miss Selfridge and the Body Shop giving consumers up to 20 per cent off this weekend," reports Claire Davenport, managing director of VoucherCodes.

"In addition, many stores are still guaranteeing delivery in time for Christmas for those who choose to shop online."

Current deals at her site include 20 per cent off jewellery and watch orders above £50 at Argos; £5 off purchases above £25 in-store at Dorothy Perkins; and £20 off purchases above £40 in-store and online at the Body Shop. Go to vouchercodes.co.uk for a full list of discount deals.

If a free box of chocolates is up your street ...

Meanwhile Quidco is offering members the chance to pick up a box of Quality Street for free. You can keep them for yourself as a Christmas treat or give them away.

To redeem the free chocolates, you need to sign up for Quidco (if you haven't already) and go to the Clicksnap page, or download the Clicksnap app to find the offer from bit.ly/1xtCWfW. Then you need to shop at one of the participating stores and buy a 350g box of Quality Street and make sure you take a picture of your receipt and upload it to the site. The company will process your receipt and send the money direct to your Quidco account.

Fill up your cellar with special offers on alcohol

Bargain Booze has a range of deals ending on Christmas Eve including Teacher's whisky at £9.99, Smirnoff vodka at £11.99, Gordon's gin at £11.99 and – at half-price – Hardys Bin 53 wine at £4.49.

It is also planning a range of new deals from 29 December including Lanson Black Label champagne at just £23.99. Full details at bargainbooze.co.uk.

If you can stand the heat, buy new kitchen units cheap

The home-improvement retailer Wickes is offering up to 50 per cent off kitchen units this winter and a further 10 per cent off until 4 January.

To get an Early Booker voucher, offering 10 per cent off on top of other sale prices, visit a Wickes design consultant before 28 December and order your kitchen before 4 January.

Top 10 energy firms bring bills down to under £1,000

For the first time in two and a half years, the entire dual- fuel energy "best buy" top 10 table is made up of annual tariffs priced at under £1,000, says GoCompare. Extra Energy has top spot.

Got any deals or discounts to share with readers? Send details and deadlines to your money@independent.co.uk