10 Christmas Shopping Tips to Ensure You Get the Best Deals Possible
10 Christmas Shopping Tips to Ensure You Get the Best Deals Possible
Millions of dollars are spent each year on holiday shopping. People buy gifts for family members, friends, coworkers, and other people in their lives. They also buy for charities and children less fortunate. It’s simple really: the more people on the gift list to buy for, the more money you will spend. For those who are shopping on a budget, there are a few ways to be sure to get the best deal possible and still make everyone feel the spirit of the Yuletide season. If you follow these tips, it could be that your holiday spending will be a portion of what it was last year.
#1 Shop During the Thanksgiving Thirty
To get the best deals on gifts, shop during the Thanksgiving Thirty. This occurs from November 19th until December 20th, and retailers drop their prices to bring in more customers. After December 20th, retailers know most shoppers will go just about anywhere to get what they need before the holidays, and they will jack up their prices. If you are a last-minute shopper, you could end up paying a lot more than you should.
#2 Shop Online On December 15th
December 15th is traditionally Free Shipping Day, and many major retailers participate. Some years, it won’t fall on the 15th, but it will be close. On this day, you won’t be charged a shipping fee, and the retailers guarantee buyers will receive their packages by Christmas Eve. If you are planning to do most of your shopping online, you can save a lot of money by shopping on the 15th.
#3 Search for Coupon or Discount Codes
Online shopping is bigger than ever, but the smart shopper will search for coupons or discount codes before checking out. Many retailers will post coupons for perks like free shipping or a certain percentage off the total price. Finding coupon codes is relatively simple. Simply do a Google search for coupon code and then enter the name of the retailer. If you can find a coupon code for many of your purchases, you can save a great deal of money. There are lots of websites dedicated to bringing you the latest deals and steals, and the best ones are updated daily.
#4 Take Advantage of Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals
Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year. Retailers offer great deals on this day to bring shoppers into their stores. Many of the deals are amazing and can save you a lot of money. The only downside to Black Friday is that you have to get up really early in the morning if you are looking for a specific deal.
For online shoppers, Cyber Monday is the red-letter day. This is the day that online retailers offer their amazing deals.
You might not be able to find everything on your list these days, but if you can find a few things, you can save a lot of money.
#5 Download the Store’s App
Before you go shopping, consider downloading the app for the store most likely to gain your business. Most stores offer exclusive coupons and discounts for those who have downloaded the app. Also, if it is your first time using the app, many stores provide exclusive first-time discounts. Further, the apps will often send notifications to your phone to let you know when a sale is about to begin, ensuring you won’t miss out on any good deals.
#6 Shop At Stores That Match Online Prices
It isn’t uncommon for the price of an item to be cheaper online than in person. If you want to buy the item in the store, or if you don’t have time to wait for shipping, you should shop at stores that will give you the online price even if you are shopping in the brick and mortar store.
#7 Sign Up For Store Loyalty Programs
Most major retailers have store loyalty programs. Members will be informed via email of any exclusive deals or promotions going on at the store. You will also receive coupons in your inbox. If you are going to sign up for multiple loyalty programs, you might want to create a new email account just for that. This will prevent the inbox of your regular email from being filled up with offers and discounts.
#8 Buy Wine By the Case
For the wine lovers on a Christmas list, consider buying by the case. Many retailers will give a discount of up to 30 percent off when purchasing wine this way. If you give out several bottles every year, buying this way can certainly save money.
#9 Use Social Media
Many major retailers have their own pages on Facebook and Twitter. By following your favorite retailer on social media, you could get exclusive coupons and discounts. Most retailers don’t wait until the holiday season to offer exclusive deals. Buyers can get deals during the President’s Day sales, Back to School sales, and at various other times throughout the year.
#10 Choose the Right Credit Card
For many shoppers, credit cards make the holiday fun possible. Therefore, choosing a credit card with the best incentives just makes sense. It is best to use a card that offers cash back on purchases. When you get cash back on purchases, it is the same thing as getting a discount. For those people who don’t have a credit card that offers cashback, they might consider any card that offers some type of reward, such as free airline miles. Also, when choosing which credit card to use, it is best to go with the one with the lowest interest rate. This won’t save you money when you shop, but it will save you a lot of money over time.
Buying for loved ones doesn’t mean that you have to spend a fortune. It also doesn’t mean that you have to shorten your list or take some people off altogether. If you know how to find the best deals, you can buy for everyone on your list without breaking the bank. Each of the tips listed above is pretty simple, and using them can save you a fortune this holiday season.
