The store displays are going up, nocturnal shopping on Black Friday kicked off the season. If the thought of holiday shopping on a tight budget is making your egg-nogged stomach turn, we have the top five ways to make your shopping a little easier on your time and your wallet.
Make like Santa and check your list twice: Set a holiday shopping budget and then list everything you need to buy, estimating the cost of each item (be sure to list other non-gift expenses, such as Christmas decorations, travel and shipping costs, advises Yahoo! Finance). If your spending list total outnumbers your budget, go over your list again and trim.
Opt for paper, not plastic: Put away the credit card – holiday shopping can get stressful and using your credit card is more likely to put you over your budget, says AOL Money & Finance. Try cash instead.
Go right-brained: Try skipping the mall and visiting online auctions or flea markets. If you still can’t find that perfect gift for someone – make one, suggests AOL Money & Finance.
Get a running start: Avoid that pack of tube socks for mom by setting out to shop early – that way, you can avoid the lines, the poor selection and the sky-high prices, advises About.com. In fact, post-holiday sales are a great time to start looking for next year’s gifts, says Yahoo! Finance.
Shop around: By getting that running start, you can look around for the best price on a gift you love. So take the time to do your research, says AOL Money & Finance, and don’t grab that perfect item the moment you spot it.
Buying your stuff online is another idea. Sometimes you can find stuff for so much cheaper!