Savvy Shopping Tips for the Holidays

It may still feel like summer in parts of the country but holiday shopping season is now upon us. It’s that time of year to be thinking about gifts for family, friends, and coworkers but with that comes the potential for overspending and unwanted debt.

To help you stay budget-conscious, PCS Debt Relief reveals 6 savvy shopping tips to help you avoid the holiday spending hangover:

Shop for next year’s gifts the year before

While it won’t help you much for this year, know that one of the best ways to save money is to shop a day or two after a holiday for the following year’s gifts. Whether it is Christmas, Hanukkah, Mother’s Day, you will find great deals after the holiday is over. Most stores put seasonal items like decor, cards, and gifts on clearance, giving you major discounts. Take advantage of these sales and by this time next year, you will have the majority of your gift list already handled.

Keep it simple and from the heart

The holiday season is more about the spirit of gift giving than trying to impress someone with an expensive gift. Your loved ones will understand if you are not able to afford a fancy gift, or any gift at all for that matter. Not only for children, giving homemade gifts from the heart are always a thoughtful and well-received choice. Consider crafting homemade items such as bath and body products, art, or needlework. Remember, everyone loves delicious baked goods straight from the kitchen – and the heart.

Shop Black Friday deals with a strategy

We all know that some of the best deals of the season happen during the 24-hour period after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday. While you might be planning to avoid the malls and big box retailers altogether, it’s still a great time to get amazing discounts on many items on your gift list. If you do plan to brave the crowds, save your browsing for another day and plan ahead with a precise list of everything you plan to get at each store.

Set limits on your spending

While it’s easy to get caught up in the holiday spirit, no one on your list wants you to go into debt buying them gifts. This year, try skipping the plastic and only pay with cash that you actually have. With a budget in place, plan ahead and estimate how much you’d like to spend on each person before heading out to the store.

Shop for gifts year-round

With a little bit of planning, you will score major deals on many items on your gift list by shopping off-season. You can score deals either by shopping at the end of the season (for items currently in season) or by shopping for items currently out of season. Pro tip: January is the best time to buy linens and furniture and April or May is the best time to buy cameras and computers or laptops.

Buy discounted gift cards

You can find websites that sell gift cards at low prices, some sold for 30 to 50% lower than retail price. Gift cards make great presents, especially when they can save you money while giving your loved ones the ability to pick out their own gifts.

If you need more help restructuring your spending habits this holiday season, PCS Debt Relief is here to support you. We help consumers and businesses nationwide every day to achieve their financial goals and become debt free. Visit us or call us today at (636) 209-4481.