Holiday Tips From a Former Last-Minute Shopper
I don’t know about you, but my Christmas gift list is fairly complete. When you know by early November what you are getting nearly everyone, it lifts a lot of pressure and helps ensure that you put in enough thought to get something they really like. After all, nobody really likes those last-minute buys like the fake putting greens they sell in the department stores, right? That’s why there are always plenty left in stock on Christmas Eve - and trust me, I would know. My decision to shop early is really turning over a brand new leaf.
Despite doomsayers’ predictions, the New York Daily News reports that holiday shoppers are expected to spend nearly four percent more this year than last year. However, there will be a slight increase in the number of Internet shoppers at 30 percent, and all shoppers are expected to buy more practical gifts. The tightened economy has had an effect on the nation’s mentality.
The Daily News also points out some important considerations for holiday shoppers, including the following:
Generally speaking, you shouldn’t be charged until an item is shipped. Visa and MasterCard prohibit merchants from charging consumers for items in advance of shipping. American Express allows cardholders to dispute charges on their billing statements for items they haven’t received.
For early holiday shoppers, the article recommends double-checking the store’s return policy. Sometimes 30 days is the return period limit, regardless of whether it was bought as a gift two months in advance. Early shoppers make up more than 40 percent of all shoppers, perhaps because early shopping and planning is one strategy to keep your gift budget from escalating out of control. In his debt management blog, Jason Giacchino also offers some excellent tips to keep spending in check this season. Maybe by utilizing these strategies, you’ll have a little more for the Salvation Army bucket when you pass by.
