The holiday season is just a short time away, which means the shopping season is about to be in full swing. Shopping for holiday gifts is stressful but also a little fun, especially when you think about the joy you will bring to those who receive them. But in all the rush to get everything done in time, it is easy to forget smart shopping techniques and end up spending yourself into debt or buying a lot of items that you do not need. So this year, why not try some smart shopping tips to help you get everything you need, without the regret of having to pay it off after the holiday season?
Start With a Plan
Developing a plan is one of the easiest ways to make sure that you buy for everyone on your list with the money you have available to spend. Start your plan with a budget and then make a list of everyone you need to buy for. Next, come up with a few gift ideas for each person. Then, research pricing and find the gift for each one that will fit in with the amount you have budgeted for gifts. Stick to your list and avoid any last-minute splurges.
Focus on the Big Sales Days
While one of the most well-known shopping days to get amazing deals is Black Friday, don’t forget some of the other popular holiday shopping sales days such as Cyber Monday and Christmas Eve. If you are buying gifts for family or friends that you will not see until after the holidays, consider shopping the amazing sales the day after Christmas when the stores are deeply discounting their items to help reduce their surplus inventory.
Check for Online Coupons
When you do your holiday shopping online, always search for possible coupon codes. You will be able to get many of these codes on forums posted by previous shoppers or for signing up for email notifications of sales and other store information. If you have multiple people who would enjoy the same item, look for deals on higher quantities or shopping sites that deal with group discounts, such as Groupon.com.
Help shop smarter this holiday season and save yourself the regret of overpaying and also the financial obligation of having to pay off credit card debt for the next several months by following the few simple tips listed above.
Important Disclosures:
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, LPL Financial makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy.
Sources
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