Shopping Smart this Holiday Season
If you are here you love to shop and you also love to save money while shopping or “get it for free” just like I do.
This is a very tight year for a lot of people, me included, and I thought I would write some basic tips for saving money while shopping online.
Beware of “impulse shopping”
We have all done it. You walk into your favorite store and something catches your eye and that impulse of “I’ve gotta have that” runs right through your mind. It is like that item has some magical power and you have to give in.
Back up and step away from that item!
Ask yourself a few questions -
- did I come into this store for this item?
- can I wait to buy it another time?
- do I really need it?
- where would I put it?
- are my eyes really glazed over?
Retailers know that alot of us fall into the “impulse shopper” role so that is why they arrange their stores a certain way. Have you ever noticed that the milk is always at the back of the grocery store in the far corner? Have you thought, “what idiot designed this store?” The idiot that is rich is who because they know that you have to walk through the entire store to get that milk and the chances of that “impulse shopper” in you taking over is very good.
My solution is to not go out and shop. Online shopping still offers some impulse but not as much as actually being in the presence of that wonderful thing I can’t live without.
Stick to the List!
I’m a list writer. I write lists and then write more lists to tell me to read the other lists.
When it comes to holiday shopping a list is a good thing.
Write down the names of everyone you will be buying for this holiday season and think about what you want to buy for them.
This video tells us some of the things we need the list for. The list should be to find out what money we are going to need for the holiday season by including the people we are buying for and also things like decorations, food, travel, decorations, etc.
How to Make a Christmas Shopping List — powered by eHow.com
Having a list will help you visualize what you need the money for. We can easily overspend if we don’t know what the money goes for. Would you go to the grocery store without a list? Sometimes maybe but most of the time you have a list of those things you need to stock up and when you are at the store you buy a few extra items (dare we say impulse items too?). The list keeps you on track because you can visually see what you need to buy.
Always use coupons when shopping online
There is no reason to buy online unless you have a coupon, well, unless it is on eBay, Etsy, or a very small retailer. The moment you are ready to buy go to one of the coupon websites below and look for a coupon for your favorite online store. Even some smaller retailers are starting to offer coupons.
Whether you are buying greeting cards, a gift, decorations, or even travel, there is always a coupon available. Retailers are competing for every dollar and will have some amazing deals. You will find coupons for every major retailer online if you know where to look. If a coupon is not available when you are ready to shop wait a few days because this season retailers are putting out amazing sales every few days.
The best way to get coupons, unadvertised sales, and previews of sales to come would be to sign up for the email newsletter at your favorite retailer’s website.
Here are some very popular and worthwhile coupon sites to check out before you shop:
- http://www.retailmenot.com
- http://www.fatwallet.com
- http://www.dealcatcher.com
- http://www.couponcabin.com
These are just a few tips to get you thinking about how to be a smart shopper this holiday season. Do you have some favorite tips to share?
Popular Categories at Shopping Gems:
