How to survive the holiday
shopping season without busting your budget or going crazy.
You have worked tirelessly for a
complete twelve months, and you’re ready for a long vacation. Unfortunately,
the Christmas shopping season kicks off with a vengeance, there is major
pressure on what on what to buy for yourself, family members, spouses,
relatives and so forth, even before you’ve had time to do a personal
stock-taking. Don’t stress out yet—we’ve are about to share some tips for
saving money and staying sane while navigating holiday shopping madness.
1.
Make a List
Write down everyone you plan to buy a
gift for, no matter how small the gift may be. Include ideas of what to give
each person, along with the maximum amount you’re willing to spend. Don’t
forget to list the people who will receive holiday tips, such as your doorman,
babysitter, and mail carrier. This will help you manage your holiday budget.
2.
Start Early
Don’t wait until a day before Christmas
to start buying holiday gifts. Keep your eyes open all year round for items
friends and family would like; it’s often when you’re not looking for something
specific that you stumble across the perfect gift for Dad or your best friend
Jenny. Once December hits, you’ll be glad that you already have some people
crossed off your list. Just make sure to keep all your advance gifts in a
designated (and hidden, if necessary) spot so that you don’t forget a purchase
you made months in advance.
3.
Do Online Research
If you’re unsure of which specific item
to buy (for example, you want to buy your husband a digital camera but don’t
know what brand or model is best), search for reputable online reviews. You’ll
have to pay a small subscription fee, but Consumerreports.org has hundreds of
expert reviews on everything from laptops to baby strollers to breakfast
cereals. Or check sites with user reviews and ratings, such as Amazon.com or
Cnet.com, to find out which products have the most positive feedback. To find
the best online price, use a comparison shopping site, such as
Pricegrabber.com.
4.
Hit Up Black Friday (If You
Dare)
If you’re looking for great deals and
aren’t afraid of battling large crowds, the day after Thanksgiving is a
shopping must. Get a head start on fellow shoppers by checking a website like
Blackfriday.org before the big day. The site compiles Black Friday ads from
various stores and updates the information as it becomes available, allowing
you to plan out which stores to hit and what products you intend to buy. Some
stores even offer advance “Black Friday” sales before Thanksgiving, so it’s
worth it to peruse the listings early. Be warned, though—some so-called “Black
Friday” deals aren’t any cheaper than the regular sale price, so do some extra
research before you camp out in the store parking lot at 2 a.m
5.
Take Advantage of Cyber Monday
A spin-off of Black Friday that debuted
in 2005, Cyber Monday is reputedly the biggest online shopping day of the
holiday season—and accordingly, many online retailers will offer special
discounts on their products. It takes place the Monday after Black Friday,
though you can find online bargains all year long at Cybermonday.com, the
official Cyber Monday website. On the actual day, the site will feature extra
discounts and hourly specials to further entice online shoppers. To stay even
more in the know during the holidays, sign up to receive emails from your
favorite stores to get advance notice about sales and insider-only deals.
6.
Get No-Cost Holiday Shipping
Last-minute shoppers, here’s a gift for
you. On December 17, 2012, more than 1,000 online merchants, like Best Buy and
L.L.Bean, will offer free shipping with delivery by Christmas Eve. (Go to
freeshippingday.com for details.) Prefer to get your Christmas shopping done
early? Peruse this list of popular e-retailers that offer gratis shipping now
through December 20.
Argos.co.uk, shopdirect.com, Amazon.com (orders of $25 or more), Apple.com(orders of $50 or
more)Barnesandnoble.com
(orders of $25 or more)Bloomingdales.com
(orders of $150 or more)Drugstore.com
(orders of $25 or more)DSW.com(with free
membership, or orders of $35 or more) Kohls.com(no minimum)Landsend.com(orders
of $50 or more) Macys.com(orders of $99 or more)
7.
Do It Yourself
There’s an abundance of homemade
pickles, hand-knit hats, and handcrafted stationary these days, thanks to a
growing obsession with all things crafty, artisanal, and homespun (just look at
all the unique things for sale on Etsy.com). If you’re creatively inclined,
avoid mall madness altogether and bake a batch of cookies, sew personalized
tote bags, or make beautiful earrings for friends and family. If you need to
learn a new skill, look into classes in your neighborhood or invest in a how-to
book—there’s one for just about every craft out there.
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