Getting the best bargain on your holiday shopping is very important when you have a set budget and a seemingly limitless shopping list. Every time you are able to score something from your list at a bargain price you are able to stretch your shopping dollars a little further. But how do you find the great bargains everyone is also talking about?
While there is no definite recipe for finding real bargains, there are some definite patterns in bargain shopping. By taking note of these trends, you may be able to avail yourself of some deals to help you with your shopping endeavors.
Black Friday – Okay, I know it’s clichéd, but sometimes there’s an element of truth behind clichés. The Friday after Thanksgiving can be the source of some great bargains for holiday shoppers. That doesn’t mean, however, that everything on sale that day is a bargain. Remember to compare your pre-made shopping list to the special offers on that day. Then, plan to get up early and do some power shopping. With some determination (and possibly some backup help) you should be able to snag some great buys.
The Week Before Christmas – It seems unfair to those of us who plan our holidays weeks in advance, but the week before Christmas can offer a ton of sales, especially if retailers are experiencing sluggish sales. Shopping procrastinators can take advantage of these offers if they’re willing to wait and face the hordes to finish their shopping. You should note, though, that you may have to have alternative gift ideas for the folks on your gift list; popular items can be sold out by this time of year.
The Week After Christmas – While it may be too late to get gifts for Christmas after the holiday has passed, the week after Christmas is a great time to stock up on supplies for next year’s festivities. I’ve also been able to take advantage of these specials for gifts that I don’t exchange until family gatherings after the holidays. No one ever had to know that I waited until the last minute to do my shopping, and I was able to get much better gifts for my family.
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5 responses so far ↓
1 Aya @ Thrive // Oct 28, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Since I refuse to go anywhere near a shopping area on Black Friday, I will second you to the procrastination is everything bit – the week before Christmas is when you should buy gifts. Alas, I usually get upset the week after Christmas when everything is suddenly 50% off but I’ve made a deal with friends before that we’d hang out after Christmas and go shopping since Christmas is spent with family anyway. I think this year, the bargain situation might be different considering that no one is planning on spending big…but in any case, the most important thing to watch out for is to stay on budget no matter how unbelievable the sale offers may be!
2 Jerry // Oct 31, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I find the best time to shop for Christmas to be… NOT at Christmas! I find that looking for things throughout the year usually leads me to find better deals, and it also spreads out the financial hit over a longer period, which is some good insurance for the bank account. The less shopping I have to do, the more time I have for decorating, cooking, singing, and general celebration of the Season.
Jerry
3 Simon // Nov 2, 2008 at 8:31 am
If you are going on holiday check to see if there are any tourist discount cards available in the area.
I run a small membership in Cyprus for tourists. Cyprus is a great place to visit but boy is it expensive! So with a little discount at selected restaurants, car hire and hotels is always welcoming! Look up http://www.MyTouristCard.com to see if we could save you a little money on holiday.
4 FBN Roundup- Zack and Miri Edition : Tight Fisted Miser // Nov 2, 2008 at 7:23 pm
[...] Made of Money shares some holiday shopping tips. Last year I only had to buy a present for my mom. It doesn’t look like I’ll be so [...]
5 Dexter S // Nov 18, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Thanks for the tips. I plan to buy fewer gifts and do more online shopping this year. I’ll save gas and have less stress because I won’t be at the mall.
There are some good sites, like Extrabux.com, that offer coupons
and cash back.
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