While my kids are counting down the days to Christmas (47 to be exact), I’m sticking my fingers in my ears and singing, “Fa-la-la-la-la,” while willing the days to strrrreeeetttccchhhh out somehow. I’m woefully behind on my holiday shopping, but the good news is there’s still quite a bit of time and I have a plan.
Well, maybe that’s not exactly true… Let’s just say that I know what I need to do to get back on track, and it looks a little something like this.
5 Strategies For Saving On Holiday Gifts
These tips for saving on holiday shopping may just be a refresher for some of you and for others they may be relatively new. Either way, I find it helps me to have a plan laid out in black and white, so I don’t have to try and mentally check items off and worry that I’m forgetting something. So let’s just start with step one and go from there.
1Start with a written budget.
Yes, I do mean a written budget… I know my faults — I can be easily tempted and impulsive, so I know that it’s all too easy to slip up and overspend without one. I love that this Christmas budget worksheet divides your budget into areas beyond just gifts, including food, decor, charity, and more, for a more complete view of your overall budget.
2Make a combination gift/shopping list.
List everyone that you intend to buy for, along with a few gift ideas for each. Be sure to leave space that will allow this list to double as your shopping list! Just write down the deals that you intend to purchase next to the recipient. This way if you come across other fantastic deals, you can easily see if they might be a good fit for someone else on your list.
Also, don’t throw that list away when your shopping is done — save it for next year to give you a head start on seeing who you need to buy for.
3Carry the sale ads with you when shopping.
I know, I know… hauling the sales ads around with you is a giant pain, but they can be a huge help in a pinch. Say you’re planning to buy a Keurig at a specific store, but it’s sold out when you arrive. With a hard copy sales ad, many stores will honor a competitor’s sale pricing!
Or you might come across a deal that wasn’t listed in a particular store’s ad and want to compare the price to the other sales to make sure it’s a good deal. Having the sales ads with you will save you both time and money — I like to make sure my savings are worth the time I’ve invested in obtaining them!
Smart phone users can also access the most of the weekly ads directly from their phones while shopping. How convenient is it to just pull up, for example, the Staples weekly ad to cross check prices and compare features while you’re out and about?
4Research current prices.
Prices fluctuate throughout the season, so research pricing beyond the current weekly flyer to be sure you’re getting the very best price. Be aware that not all advertised deals are as great as they seem. Sometimes retailers over inflate the suggested retail price of a product to make the sale price seem more impressive, so spend some time researching the low prices of any items you’re hoping to score, so that you know what’s really a deal and what’s not.
Also, keep your eyes peeled for daily deals. Many retailers, like Staples, feature online daily deals, so that hot gift item you have your eye on may not be listed in the weekly flyer but may be a fantastic price for one day only.
5Know the price matching and receipt adjustment policies.
It’s so disappointing to leave a store thinking you got a fabulous deal only to see your item at an even lower price mere days later. Many stores offer price adjustments when you bring your receipt back in along with proof of the lower price.
Even better, some stores, like Staples, will price match Amazon and other competitors’ websites up front this holiday season — allowing you to score rock bottom online prices in stores, minus the shipping fees!
Have you started making your holiday shopping list and checking it twice, yet? What’s your favorite money-saving tip for the holidays?
I’m so pleased to be partnering with Staples again this holiday season as part of the Staples Holiday Council! I’ll be bringing you fantastic deals to assist you in finding the perfect gift for every person on your list. Staples will be offering great deals (including exclusive offers!) throughout the holiday season, helping you get more for less!
This post is brought to you by Staples. All opinions are 100% mine.
