This Years Holiday Shopping Guide

The holidays are around the corner, and it’s time to hit the stores! Retailers are anticipating an amazing shopping season.

Unfortunately, holiday shopping can get out of hand, not only with your budget but with the massive crowds and shopping demands as well.

With that in mind, here’s a look at what you might expect to see and how you can make the most of the deals available, and where to find them.

Set A Holiday Shopping Budget

To help combat the budgeting problem that the holiday seasons brings, start by making a holiday shopping budget. Calculate how much you can spend and start setting a certain amount of money aside as you receive you paychecks leading up to the holiday season.

Doing this before you ever start shopping helps you go in more prepared and ready to say no to unnecessary expenses. Luckily, this also prevents you from having to make more trips to the store with returns!

Make A Shopping List

Another great preparation tactic that will help you make the most of your holiday is a shopping list! Decide what things you need to buy, where you might find them, and even how much they may cost. Then, strive to stick to buying only the items that you have planned for.

If you are buying for multiple friends or children, decide who will get which gift before you ever step foot in the store. This will save you both time and money!

Watch for the Sale Ads

As part of your planning process sales ads can become your best friend. Major store like Walmart, Amazon, Target, and more, will release a sale add long before items go on sale. These ads will show you the price of each item, how much they are marked down and when and where the item can be purchased.

Use these ads to compare prices across retailers and find the best deals. These are also bound to help as you set a budget and make a shopping list.

Small Sales & Scams

While there are bound to be lots of sales and discounts happening, don’t expect too much of a price break. Due to inflation and rise in fuel costs over the last few years, prices are settling a little higher then they used to be.

Be on the look out for deals that appear to be too good to be true, as you may find yourself in the realm of a scam.

Shop Early

As a consumer, you can shop early to avoid facing bare shelves and huge crowds.

Suppliers and retailers are urging consumers to get started on their holiday shopping as soon as possible to get the best selection at the best prices.

If you’re the kind of shopper who doesn’t think about gift shopping until two weeks before the holidays, this may be the year to rethink your approach.

Make Your Plan

Don’t let a scarcity in large crowds, budgets, and potential scams take the fun out of holiday shopping this year. Make sure to plan and start early! You can enjoy this season’s gift shopping and still stick to your budget.

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This article is for educational purposes only. WeStreet Credit Union makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or specific suitability of any information presented. Information provided should not be relied on or interpreted as legal, tax or financial advice. Nor does the information directly relate to our products and/or services terms and conditions.