Joyful or Frugal: 5 Best ways to shop this holiday season

Hi Everyone! With the holiday deals that are going on, it’s hard to keep track on how to spend wisely. To be a smarter shopper, below are some ideas to keep in mind for this holiday season. 

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39256474@N00/16084061491">Tonight in Vancouver: An Oakridge Center Christmas</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">(license)</a>

Don’t get caught up in the hype of it all.  

Make a budget and stick to it. Take advantage of Cyber Monday. Relax with a cup of coffee and music in the background. Find yourself consciously making smart buying decisions. Take advantage of being at home and shopping; reviewing products you want to buy, and having the opportunity to take a second look at the cart before hitting “proceed”.  

Free Shipping.  

Free shipping exists for a reason. USE IT! Look for merchants that offer free shipping deals. Saving a few bucks here and there can never hurt during the holiday season.

Protect yourself.  

Threats exist and you can be a victim. It’s best to shop with merchants you trust and are familiar with. It’s not to say something can’t happen, but the ones you know are better than the ones you don’t know. Protect your identity – protect your wallet. If you’re not sure about an Ad or an email promotion, don’t open it. Monitor your accounts throughout the holiday season.

Buy it or skip it.  

Buy with cash if you can. There’s no need to put that extra charge on the card if you don’t need to do so. Interest rates are often high – Most retail cards are 20% or more. If it doesn’t need to be charge, buy it with cash. If you can’t afford it right now it’s best to skip it. Shop around for a better deal elsewhere.

Get more for the price of ONE.

Now, we all have heard it – “Buy ONE, get one FREE”. Again, shop around. Pay close attention to the price. Sometimes you are not really getting “one free”. For example, if the item is originally $60.00, during the sale you buy one and get one “free” if you purchase the item at $90.00, then you’re not really getting it for free. You are still paying half the price of the second item. Take the time to shop. You will find merchants that really offer two for the price of one. Be a smart shopper!!!!

What are some of the ways you shop smarter? Please share your tips!!!!!