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Have a savvy and smart holiday Courtesy of ARAcontent  |
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 (ARA) - The holiday season is fast approaching and the economy continues to put a dark cloud over holiday spending. While shoppers may be more optimistic about spending this holiday season compared to last, they will be taking a more savvy approach, according to Information Resources, Inc. Planning ahead and being smart about your purchases is the key to brightening your holiday shopping experience. Here are a few tips to help you do just that.
Start planning early and create a budget
As recent research by IRI indicates, 77 percent of consumers are willing to treat themselves and others this holiday season even if the economy isn’t better. They are doing so by planning ahead and being savvier about spending money, and you can too. Since it’s easy to jump right in and start buying gifts, be sure to take a step back and create a plan when your head and your calendar are clear. Begin by taking the time to draft a list of everyone for whom you need to purchase a gift. Next, determine an overall budget and assign price limits to each member on the list. This will help you stay within your overall budget and ensure you purchase just the right gift for everyone on your list.
Take advantage of holiday sales
Over the course of the holiday shopping season, and especially during these hard economic times, retailers are doing anything in their power to lure customers into their stores by slashing prices and providing more shopping incentives. Two days in particular to be aware of when deal-hunting are Black Friday and Cyber Monday. There are many savings to take advantage of the day after Thanksgiving, so brave Black Friday. Retailers mark down everything from high-end electronics to jewelry to apparel. If battling the masses in brick and mortar stores on Black Friday doesn’t interest you, wait until the Monday following Thanksgiving, Cyber Monday, and take advantage of online sales. Items are often times only available while supplies last, so hot deals will go fast.
Spend smart on practical gifts
Items such as coffee and cold-weather gear make great gifts because you can feel confident they will be used and, therefore, your money will not go to waste. Purchase bulk coffee for the coffee lovers on your list and take advantage of specialty merchant deals such as “$5 off your $50 order” at CoffeeForLess.com. Buy cold-weather clothing, like gloves, for your frigid-climate friends and family. Incentives like “buy two pairs of gloves, get one pair free” can be found at retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target and Macy’s. Practical items can also accompany gifts, like batteries that pair well with many electronic items. Stock up on a value brand like Rayovac batteries, which last just as long as Duracell and Energizer but cost less. Finally, no one can say no to holiday candy and nuts which make great accompanying gifts, but can stand alone as well.
Shop online
Comparison shopping is a breeze online as you can search a multitude of stores to get the best price from the comfort of your own home. Sites like Amazon.com and ShopStyle.com allow you to comparison shop on one site in order to find the best price. Other sites, like ShopBop.com, always offer free shipping, while Kohls.com offers free shipping when you use your Kohl’s card. Also, utilizing online coupon sites helps you get special deals from free shipping to a percentage off your total bill.
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