It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Right? Ha! Tell that to the poor saps in the video below.
Okay, so maybe bargain shopping isn’t everything. But we’ve got to all save some money somehow, right? Nobody wants to refinance the mortgage just to get Junior an Xbox One. Maybe there’s an alternative to hocking the family pet to pay for family gifts? Yep!
We came across a couple of great articles on Money Watch about creative thinking this holiday season. Er, creative git-giving, we mean. Without further ado, here are our favorite shopping tips from article numero uno…
- Plan it. Before you shop online or enter the chaos of the shopping mall, take ten minutes at home to create a spending plan that lists who you need to buy for and how much you will spend.
- Use discounted gift cards. How would you like $100 worth of gifts for $80? You can purchase discounted gift cards for hundreds of online/offline retailers including the Apple Store, Radio Shack, Sears, Home Depot, and others. Discounts are usually 5%-30% off the face value of the card. Check out GiftCardRescue.com and GiftCards.com.
- Use social media. Before you start shopping, start following your favorite retailers on Twitter and Facebook. Many companies offer discounts exclusively to their Twitter followers and Facebook friends. A quick search of their recent posts may reveal money-saving discount codes.
Don’t have any extra cash to spend this holiday season? We’ve got tips for that, too…
- Gadget training. If you have less tech-savvy people on your Christmas list (i.e., anyone over the age of 15), give them something they desperately need — training for their gadgets. Show them all of the features of their cell phone, how to record their favorite shows on their DVR, etc.
- Babysit. When your tolerance for screaming kids exceeds your bank account balance, consider giving babysitting “coupons” that your friends can redeem. If you’re a masochist, schedule a night where multiple families drop the kids off at your house. This way you’re not giving up so much of your time.
- Swap services. If you have smart but broke friends, this tip is for you. Have a friend who provides a valuable service such as personal training, financial planning, or computer consulting give you several one hour vouchers you can give to your friends. In return, you give your friend the same number of one hour vouchers for whatever service you provide.
As always, The Nestegg Repairman is here to help you and your family with your financial planning this holiday season. If money is making you moody, check out how we can help and give our office a call!
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