The holiday season is when it seems the world is clattering for you to shop ’til you drop! It can be a very stressful time for everybody involved, but it doesn’t have to be. Save gas, time and money by shopping online this season! It can be a little tricky, but lucky this we have some online holiday shopping tips for you to make it that much easier!
Tinsel Tip #1: Make A List!
Write down exactly who you’re gifting this year and what it is you’re going to gift to each person. Not only will this list be your go-to guide when it’s time to start shopping, it will also help you figure out if you’ve forgotten someone! If you already own a smartphone, you know that the multi tasking features like checkbook ledgers, alarms, reminders, calendars, and Internet all help you manage life a little easier. If you don’t have a smartphone but you’ve been meaning to get one, this would be a great time to do it!
Tinsel Tip #2: De-clutter!
If you already know you’re going to be replacing quite a few items for your kids (they grow up so fast!) why not go through the closets and find the stuff you know they or you won’t be using again. Old video games, clothes, shoes, etc can all be sold or donated (donations can be written off at ‘fair market value’ come tax time). Make back some of the money you spent on gifts and do a good dead for a nice warm fuzzy feeling!
Tinsel Tip #3: Start Shopping NOW!
The longer you wait the more likely top items are going to be sold out. The closer an item gets to sold out, the higher the price climbs – so start your shopping as soon as possible! Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) is always a good time to get started as its when the Christmas sales get going at ridiculously low prices. By getting what you need now, you not only save money, you can spend time relaxing and enjoying the decorations instead of rushing around!
Tinsel Tip #4: Search for Coupons and Price Compare!
Although it takes little effort, it can be exhausting traipsing around the Internet trying to find the best deal on the item you want. Instead of wasting time, use shopping.aol.com to compare prices at each place an item is sold. It can save you a good amount of money and time so check it out!
Tinsel Tip #5: Leave No Online Store Unvisited!
Everyone knows that Amazon.com is a fantastic place to buy books and music, but did you know that they also have an amazing grocery section, too? Many stores that mostly focus on one big-ticket item, like electronics (BestBuy.com for example) also often have booming deals on grocery and cleaning items, too. Knowing this can come in handy when you’re trying to gather up enough purchases to make a minimum for free shipping or other coupon codes.
Tinsel Tip #6: Get Used to Used Stuff
There is a huge industry made up of selling items that were returned but not placed back on store shelves for a variety of reasons, from just the box being opened to small repairs being needed and made before reselling. Refurbished laptops, refurbished printers, and even refurbished cameras often go for a fraction of the price of a brand new version of the same item, with similar warranties. While something refurbished should be nearly new, other code words for gently used items include “open box,” “store demo,” and display item,” which can mean anything from never touched to nearly broken. To avoid disappointment, make sure to get all the details before you buy. And no matter how good the deal, never buy unless there is some sort of return policy on your used electronics to ensure that you’re protected if something happens to go wrong.
Tinsel Tip #7: Buy in Bulk
Bulk shopping isn’t just for families with five kids – everyone can benefit from large purchases! What isn’t normally known is that online purchases can be in bulk as well! From microwave popcorn to stocking stuffers, you can find those little things you’re looking for way less in bulk online! It saves time and money! And if you end up with a few extras, find friends to split the costs with!
Tinsel Tip #8: ONLY Use a Credit Card
It sounds less than budget friendly but it does have its perks. With so many shoppers in already overwhelmed stores it can be easy to get lost in the crowd. It makes sense to make a budget to stick to, but those big ticket purchases are better not bought with cash. When you make purchases with cash, check, or debit cards, you get little to no buyer protection. Whereas when you use your credit card, you have a way to fight back if something goes wrong – and some cards offer extended warranties for free!
Tinsel Tip #9: Think Outside Your Season
It seems logical to gift items others can use in the winter season like coats, earmuffs, scarfs etc. But have you ever considered swimsuits, shorts, or sandals? These items are usually in clearance around this time of year and can be a great inexpensive way to gift to get ahead of the rising prices when the thaw comes, doubly so if you’re planning a winter vacation to a hot spot!
Tinsel Tip #10: Keep Track of Return Policies & Receipts
The beautiful thing about being human is that every body is different, which can sometimes translate into you thinking a gift if perfect and the recipient thinking it’s awful. When these situations arise, or others such as gift duplication or getting the wrong size or color or something, it can completely save a gift to have the receipt and return policy in your favor. It makes exchanges super easy. For big ticket purchases, remember to print out or screen capture the store’s return policy at the time of purchase.
These online holiday shopping tips will help make your holiday season run that much smoother. Happy Shopping!
