21 Ways To Save On Holiday Shopping

by Ven Wheatley

It's the Holiday season, and everyone is looking for that
perfect gift, at a moneysaving price.

Paying a mortgage or rent, car note, utility and phone bill
makes it difficult to accomplish your goal of buying the perfect
gift for everyone on your list. Before you make the final
decision on who stays on your list and who is crossed off the
list, consider some of the 21 ways of saving on all your holiday
shopping.

These techniques will save you hundreds of dollars on all your
shopping. If you use one or all of them, at the end of the
holiday season you will realize you kept more of your money, at
the same time giving the memorable gifts you wanted to give.

The 21 Ways To Save On Your Holiday Shopping are:

1. Budget: You should create a holiday budget. Even if you don't
plan on spending a large amount of money on your shopping, it
helps to know how much you plan to spend on everyone on your
list.

2. Your Goal: Grab a sheet of paper and a pen. Make a list of
the people who are definitely on your list. Next to each person,
rank them in order of importance of your getting them a gift.

3. Incremental Goals: Break your shopping goals into short-term
and intermediate-term.

4. Be Realistic: When it comes to giving the gifts you want,
make sure the gifts you choose to give are realistic.

5. Flexibility: Once you have written your gift giving list,
realize that things change and you will have to change with
them. If you planned to spend $150 on each person, but something
unexpected happens, you may only be able to spend $75 on each
person.

6. Plan: Planning is the best way to save. Before you go out
shopping, make a list of what you are looking to buy and stick
with that list. No impulse buying...

7. Patience: Be patient when it comes to holiday shopping. This
means that you need to accept that you are not going to find
every gift you plan to buy, at once, and especially at your goal
cost.

8. Allowance Expense: It is realistic to have a small allowance
account for things that you enjoy around the holidays. Even if
on a tight budget, buy something that you enjoy, which could be
as simple as buying eggnog, seasonal candy or eating out at your
favorite restaurant. So, make allowance for some small
indulgences that make the holidays more special.

9. Awareness Of Shopping Triggers: When you are out shopping do
you buy things because the news or a popular magazine says it's
the must have item for the holiday? Once you can identify these,
triggers, then you can learn to have control over them.

10. Don't Give up the Best Stuff: A misconception is that while
trying to save on your shopping you have to buy less than
premium merchandise, which is untrue. If you love the scent of a
fresh Christmas tree, indoor and outdoor holiday lights, special
holiday spirits and foods, visit online auctions, below retail
sales web sites and watch for local stores huge markdown sales.

11. Choice Gifts: Make sure the thing you want to spend your
holiday funds on is a sensible "choice" and not a "frivolous
desire."

12. Clear Plan: Create a master plan for your holiday shopping.

13. Outlook: Keep your focus and remain conscious of your goal
of saving money on your holiday shopping.

14. Organized: You need to be organized so that you know the
exact amount you have allocated for each item you will purchase.

15. Coordinate: If you are shopping as a couple, make sure you
and your significant other are working on the same game plan.

16. Holiday Satisfaction: Learn how to be content with giving a
choice gift instead of a frivolous gift.

17. Holiday Enjoyment Within Means: The fastest way to get into
debt is spending beyond your means. This is where you will be
able to really have an enjoyable holiday and save money at the
same time.

18. Credit Card Consciousness Spending: I know it can be easy to
rack up huge charges on your credit cards with the focus on
paying the money back later or over a period of time. Try using
your credit cards only for emergency.

19. Holiday Utility Use: Set up some rules in your home, such
as, when you will turn on the holiday lights.

20. Buy versus Leased Gifts: I discovered last year that it was
more beneficial to purchase my teen daughter an (unlocked) cell
phone and then have it serviced through a local cell phone
company. This also applies to other electronics, such as,
computers. You should buy them rather than lease them over a
long period of time.

21. Buying Designer at Discount: It is unrealistic to think that
you won't have to buy at least one or two designer gift items
for the people on your holiday list. The fact is whether it's a
designer handbag or designer fragrance, it is possible to still
buy the choicest authentic designer goods through online web
sites and sources.

Also, remember to check your receipts and statements for all
your holiday purchases. You may believe you are getting an item
for the advertised price and only later discover you were
overcharged.

The holidays are fast approaching and you don't have to go into
this holiday season, without a plan, to save on all your holiday
shopping.

About the author:
Ven Wheatley professionally searches and compiles listings of
the best sources for designer goods at a huge discount. <a
href="http://www.designer-savings-guide.com">http://www.designer-
savings-guide.com</a>