Black Friday, Cyber Monday & Beyond: Tips for Getting the Best Deals this Holiday Season {Without Losing Your Christmas Spirit}

It’s that time of year, and unless you’re one of those crazy annoying, er, I mean proactive people who manage to shop a little throughout the year and have all your holiday shopping done, you are probably starting to gear up for gift-giving season (or you’re trying to avoid it like the plague and procrastinating as much as possible.)  It is far too easy to go overboard and blow your budget at this time of year, so I thought I would take some time to talk about some tips and tricks I’ve learned for scoring the very best deals this holiday season.  After all, no one wants to spend more than they have to!

1.  Start With a Plan

Have an idea of what you want to buy and how much you can afford to spend.  Take the time to make a list of everyone you need to buy gifts for this year, & then be realistic about how much you can spend for each person.  Unless money is not an object, “just winging it” or “I’ll know it when I see it” is not a plan! If you really have no idea what to buy for a particular person, at the very least set a price limit.  That way you won’t be tempted to spend too much out of deparation.

Use this free holiday planning guide to make your list and create a budget, and then commit to it.  Come January, you will be very happy you did.

2.  Remember that spending money is not saving {even if it’s a good deal!}

It is easy to get caught up in the trap of thinking that because you are buying something on a hot sale (or waking up at 3am to shop on Black Friday) that you are “saving” money.  But the truth is that every time you buy something, you are spending, not saving.  Abide by the mantra that if it’s not on your list or in your budget, you DON’T buy it!  That door buster $200 42″ flatscreen HGTV isn’t saving you money if you already have one at home.

Buying at least some things this Christmas will be unavoidable for most people, and that’s okay.  I’m not saying you should never buy anything.  But don’t allow the thrill of the deal to be your excuse for spending more than you have.

3. Do your research on major purchases

If you’ve got a big item on your list this year–a laptop, game system, tablet computer, flat-screen TV, camera, etc.–don’t just throw caution to the wind.  Spend a little time checking out the various options & brands available.  Read the reviews, figure out some base prices, & make a list of at least your top 3 picks.  Narrow down the field so you know what to look for.  You might even surprise yourself and find that what you thought you wanted and what you really want are two different things.

4.  Be on the lookout for deals….but don’t get carried away

There are no shortage of internet resources and websites available to help you spend your hard-earned cash this Christmas.  There are lots of other great deal blogs out there–pick a few of your favorites to follow and check daily, but then leave it at that.  There are far too many non-shopping related things to do at this time of year to waste all that energy on finding one more deal.

Once you’ve established your list, set your budget, & researched your major purchases, then it should be easy to spot a good deal when you see it!

5.  Tackle Black Friday like a pro

I am personally not a big fan of Black Friday shopping.   Aside from taking advantage of the Black Friday drugstore deals,  I will most likely spend the day at home with my family, putting up our  Christmas decorations & shopping from the comfort of my pajamas.  But that doesn’t mean I haven’t picked up a trick or two over the years:

• Develop a plan of attack   Know what time each store opens, and which “must-have” items are at each store.
• Know the store policies.  Bring a copy with you, if possible.
• Bring the store ads along.  This is useful for price matching
• Get gift receipts!  You may need them later.
• Look for coupons ahead of time.  Save even more money!
• Compare prices online.  There is no sense fighting the crowds at 3am if you don’t have to.

6.  Shop online

I love to shop but hate shopping.  Does that make any sense?  I have been a fan of online shopping pretty much since the internet was invented and I would say these days I do about 95% of my retail shopping online.   The selection and prices just can’t be beat, in my humble opinion.  I am going on my 4th year now of Amazon Prime membership, which gives me free 2 day shipping on all my Amazon purchases and has saved me the hassle of dragging my kids to the mall more times than I can count.  Right now is a great time to sign up for a one month trial membership–you’ll get free shipping through the holidays!

Amazon is by far my favorite online retailer, especially their Holiday Gold Box Lightning Deals, but this year Walmart is definitely stepping up the competition by offering free shipping on almost everything and a great selection of online deals.  Other great online resources include the Target Weekly Deal page and the Kmart Deal of the Day.

7.  Value quality over quantity

Perhaps this is just my personal preference shining through, but I would much rather have one nice high quality item over 10 cheap ones that won’t last.  Although it is always important for me to try to find the best price, it is equally important for me to find things that have true value.  As easy as it is to get caught up in all the stuff, try to remember that Christmas isn’t about what or how much you can get.  Spend your money wisely and value those things–and those people–that really matter.

 

Did I forget anything?  I’d love to hear your tips and tricks for stretching your dollars and getting great deals this Christmas!

 

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