The end-of-the-year holiday season is an expensive time of the year.
It is at this time a “wow” purchase can later become “woe” debt over the coming months.
Here’s some more holiday shopping suggestions that will ensure an efficient money-saving method for holiday gift purchasing:
Make Use of Money-Saving Plug-Ins When Shopping Online and Compare Prices
When buying online, you’ll find promo codes for mostly everything and you get percentages off your purchases.
Use your search engine to look up promo codes and remember to purchase intelligently by comparing the same product at different stores. Sales start earlier every year, and consumers tend to buy more gifts, because although they’ve bought gifts early on, they do not stop buying and end up buying more than usual.
Don’t Start Too Late
Last-minute shopping can also be costly. When you’re down to the wire, you will tend to spend much more and with a much more limited selection. Create a list of people you need to buy gifts for– then, beside it, list the items that would be perfect for them as you see them go on sale. There is no problem with buying gifts months ahead of time if you notice that item on sale much more than usual.
Know When Stores Have Their Biggest Sales
Major retail stores like Walmart have their toys discounted mid-December, when clearance items are purchasable anywhere from 75 to 90 % off.
A List of Items and the Months Best to Purchase Them
January: Bathroom scales, exercise equipment, fitness trackers, soundbars, smartwatches, humidifiers, linens and pillowcases
February: Mattresses, space heaters, snowblowers, winter clothes, jewelry and perfume
March: Air purifiers and Luggage
April: Bike helmets, formalwear, grills, leaf blowers, lawnmowers, pressure washers and vacuum cleaners
May: Air conditioners, home improvement tools, blenders, freezers, air mattresses, grills, chainsaws, lawn-mowers and weed whackers
June: Cordless drills, Smartwatches, Smart speakers, strollers, dishwashers and blenders
July: Home security cameras, grills, major appliances, steam irons, dehumidifiers, microwave ovens and grills
August: Back-to-school supplies, home security cameras, patio furniture, indoor furniture, grills, dormitory furniture and accessories
September: Air conditioners, kitchen appliances, washers and dryers, air purifiers, lawn equipment, bikes, smart speakers and grills
October: Leaf and snow blowers, cell phone service, cooktops, ranges, smoke detectors, thermostats and carbon monoxide detectors
November: Washer and dryers, flooring, kitchen appliances, exercise equipment, TVs, speakers, computers, printers, cameras and other tech items
December: Thermostats, TVs, speakers, humidifiers, electric razors, security cameras, toys and games
Do Not Spend Money You Don’t Have / Shop Within a Budget
If you cannot buy a gift without going into debt, do not purchase it. Make sure if using a credit card that it is a rewards card. It will reward you on purchases you need to make.
Use this time to reflect and be smart with your money. Please take care of yourself and your finances, so that you can be there to care for others as well.
