The chances of falling victim to a bout of January sales stress is potentially very high - according to the findings of Yorkshire Bank’s latest research. One in ten (9%) of us are already worrying about how we are going to fund our New Year sales purchases.

However, thanks to experts working on behalf of the bank, a special formula can help you calculate your impending stress levels so that a bit of forward planning can help keep them to a minimum.

Psychologist Dr David Lewis, who worked with mathematician Phillip Obayda to calculate the formula for Yorkshire Bank said: “This formula allows you to see that by improving just one of the factors involved with your January sales shopping, you can significantly increase your chances of beating sales stress.”

"And one of the factors that can reduce your long term stress the most is how confident you feel about your ability to afford your purchases.”

How to reduce the stress

Gary Lumby, Yorkshire Bank’s head of retail, said: "The equation backs up our research findings that one of the best ways of reducing your sales shopping stress is to reduce the worry about how to finance your purchases. By planning what your financial expenditure will be up front, you can avoid the nasty surprises appearing on credit and store card statements in months to come.”

"By spending a bit of time looking at how you can improve your financial situation before hitting the sales you could dramatically reduce your stress levels. And with our very own personal loan sale on now with a rate of just 6.9% APR, stress levels should stay nice and low.”

How it works

All you have to do is rate yourself and the sale you’re heading for against four factors using a scale between 1 and 5 depending on the extent to which the factor applies. If the factor is true to a very slight extent you might rate it as 1 or 2. If true to a very considerable extent then give yourself a rating of 4 or 5.

Now substitute the letters for the ratings you have given each statement in the formula below to discover your chances of Beating Sales Stress (BSS).

BSS = ((3T + 2B - 1) / (2P + I -1)) + ((C + F + 2) / (S x A))

What your score reveals

1 – 5 You risk becoming highly stressed by the sales. The lower your score the greater your stress level is likely to be. Perhaps you would do better to stay home!

6 – 9 Moderate stress – probably a price worth paying to get your hands on some genuine bargains.

10 – 17 Any slight stress you do experience will be easily handled.

18 – 24 Bring on the bargains! You will experience little or no stress and enjoy every second of the sale!

Top stress busting tips

But if that’s all too much to be working out when you’re being barged out of the way by pushchairs and standing in a mile long queue at the till, then follow these top tips for beating the sales stress and emerging victorious when the battle of the bargains begins:

• Plan your sales shop like a military mission. The better prepared you are the better your chances of coming home with exactly what you want.

• Check out the store ahead of time, noting where the bargains you most want are located, as well as the quickest routes from the entrance to that department.

• Check out the prices of the items you most want to buy on the Internet. Some sales are not all they seem and, if shopping at a less than honest store, you could even end up paying more for your purchases than could be found – far more easily and less stressfully – at another store or on-line.

• Eat a light but nourishing meal before setting off to the store. Your body will need all the energy it can get in the hours ahead.

• Never settle for just a cup of tea or coffee, which, while the caffeine in it may make you feel temporarily more alert, does nothing to feed your need for nourishment.

• Make sure your finances are in place before you set out. Unless you intend to settle the whole amount in one go, running up a big bill on your credit card means you are borrowing the money at a far higher rate of interest than is necessary.

• Make a list of what you want to buy and check that the outgoings involved match what you can comfortably afford to spend. Stick to your list no matter what temptations arise.

• If you start to feel anxious or overstressed while in the store, find the quietest spot available – the loo usually offers sanctuary – and take some long, slow, deep breaths to help you relax. At the same time roll your shoulders gently, six times forward and six time backwards. If you eyes are hurting, rub your palms together to warm them then place cupped hands over each eye for a few moments while lightly massaging your forehead with your fingertips.

• On returning home, and before you even start unpacking your purchases, have a relaxing aromatherapy bath and a hot drink. Only when the stress of the bargain hunt has subsided should you even consider looking at all the bargains you’ve bought.