We
all would like to give beautiful presents to the people we love. But how do we
survive the holiday shopping season without busting our budget or going crazy.
Here are some tips for saving money and staying sane while navigating holiday
shopping madness.
Make a List
Write
down everyone you plan to buy a gift for, no matter how small the gift may be.
Include ideas of what to give each person, along with the maximum amount you’re
willing to spend. Don’t forget to list the people who will receive holiday
tips, such as your doorman, babysitter, and mail carrier. This will help you
manage your holiday budget.
Start Early
Don’t
wait until after Thanksgiving to start buying holiday gifts. Keep your eyes
open all year round for items friends and family would like; it’s often when
you’re not looking for something specific that you stumble across the perfect
gift for Dad or your best friend Jenny. Once December hits, you’ll be glad that
you already have some people crossed off your list. Just make sure to keep all
your advance gifts in a designated (and hidden, if necessary) spot so that you
don’t forget a purchase you made months in advance.
Do Online Research
If
you’re unsure of which specific item to buy (for example, you want to buy your
husband a digital camera but don’t know what brand or model is best), search
for reputable online reviews. You’ll have to pay a small subscription fee,
but Consumerreports.org has
hundreds of expert reviews on everything from laptops to baby strollers to
breakfast cereals. Or check sites with user reviews and ratings, such as Amazon.com or Cnet.com,
to find out which products have the most positive feedback. To find the best
online price, use a comparison shopping site, such as Pricegrabber.com.
Hit Up Black Friday (If You Dare)
If
you’re looking for great deals and aren’t afraid of battling large crowds, the
day after Thanksgiving is a shopping must. Get a head start on fellow shoppers
by checking a website like Blackfriday.org before the big day. The site compiles Black Friday
ads from various stores and updates the information as it becomes available,
allowing you to plan out which stores to hit and what products you intend to
buy. Some stores even offer advance “Black Friday” sales before Thanksgiving,
so it’s worth it to peruse the listings early. Be warned, though—some so-called
“Black Friday” deals aren’t any cheaper than the regular sale price, so do some
extra research before you camp out in the store parking lot at 2 a.m.
Take Advantage of Cyber Monday
A
spin-off of Black Friday that debuted in 2005, Cyber Monday is reputedly the
biggest online shopping day of the holiday season—and accordingly, many online
retailers will offer special discounts on their products. It takes place the
Monday after Black Friday, though you can find online bargains all year long
at Cybermonday.com,
the official Cyber Monday website. On the actual day, the site will feature
extra discounts and hourly specials to further entice online shoppers. To stay
even more in the know during the holidays, sign up to receive emails from your
favorite stores to get notice about sales and insider-only deals.
Do It Yourself
There’s
an abundance of homemade pickles, hand-knit hats, and handcrafted stationary
these days, thanks to a growing obsession with all things crafty, artisanal,
and homespun. If you’re creatively inclined, avoid mall madness altogether and
bake a batch of cookies, sew personalized tote bags, or make beautiful earrings
for friends and family. If you need to learn a new skill, consider classes in
your neighborhood or invest in a how-to book—there’s one for just about every
craft out there.
