It’s okay to buy multiples
So like I mentioned, today I’m gonna share with you 7 holiday shopping hacks, and the first one on my list is to not worry about buying multiples of the same item for different people. In fact, if more than one person on your list would appreciate whatever it is, you should absolutely consider buying multiples. Not only can you possibly get a discount on buying more than one, but it just cut your shopping time in half.
Don’t go into credit card debt
Next, and I’ll be kinda brief on this one because I realize most of you are smart enough to know this, but don’t go crazy and get into credit card debt. I realize this year has been financially challenging for a lot of people. Buying stuff for other people isn’t really that important in the grand scheme of things, and it’s certainly not worth going into debt over. Instead of buying “things” for people, make cards and personalized gift certificates for a gourmet dinner cooked by you. Or you can gift a car wash, or bake cookies or anything else that might be relevant to that person that they would appreciate.
Track price changes
Next up on my list, and this is a big one, is to track price changes on the items you’re looking to buy. Here’s how I do that. A lot of you guys probably know by now that I use Shoptagr to make shopping online a lot easier. And they’re back with perfect timing sponsoring this post. It’s perfect because Shoptagr has everything to do with helping you save money shopping on line. If you’re not familiar, Shoptagr is a must-have app, especially for Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping, that you can download for free on your computer or your phone. It uses very clever technology to make sure you never miss out on getting a great deal.
It’s very simple. Just head over to one of your favorite stores websites and click the Shoptagr button when you see an item you wanna save. You can get notifications via email or mobile push when the item you’ve saved goes on sale, has relevant coupons, or comes back in stock. Watch the video I linked up above to see what it looks like.
The other cool thing is Shoptagr automatically scans the web for coupon codes and applies them at checkout. It’s a special feature if you use Shoptagr on your computer so the chrome extension is a must! Shoptagr also launched a new cashback feature. You can earn cash via Paypal when you shop from select retail partners, because now more than ever, it’s important to get max value. Hit the link to download Shoptagr for free on your computer and phone today!
Focus on Cyber Monday
The next item on my list of holiday shopping hacks is to focus on Cyber Monday. Don’t get me wrong though.. You can absolutely get great deals on Black Friday, but I’d consider focusing some of your attention on Cyber Monday. Because after all, Cyber Monday was created for on line buying and some retailers only offer deals on Cyber Monday, so be prepared.
Make your list early and stick to it
Speaking of being prepared.. Make your list early, like now, and stick to it. Because, sticking to your list avoids a lot of impulse buys which can save you a lot of money. Planning ahead means you know what your list looks like now, instead of 2 weeks before Christmas when everything is out of stock and shipping is a complete nightmare. This is where I wanna give thanks ahead of time to all the UPS, Fed Ex and postal workers for the long hours of sorting and delivering packages for us. Thank you.
Consider ‘experiences’ instead of ‘things’
Also, think about gifting “experiences” instead of “things”. Things are great, if you know specifically what that person wants. But if you have to guess, getting that person an experience like a hot air balloon adventure, whiskey or wine tasting or what about a track day experience where they get to drive a super-car at high speed around a race track. Experiences like that can be a terrific gift because it creates memories for that person that will always be tied to you and your thoughtfulness.
Use coupons and join email lists
Next, and this one might seem obvious, but there’s a little more to it, and it’s to use coupons. However, here’s the key. Set up a new Gmail account specifically for retail email lists. The upside with signing up for emails from brands and stores is you can save some serious money. The downside is, all the email spam. But here’s the deal.
If you know you want to shop at a specific store, sign up for their email list, and then sign in to your account. Once you’re signed in, go ahead and add the things you want to your cart. Then leave. Close the window and go do something else. Within 12-24 hours, or maybe even sooner, you’ll get an email from that store asking if you still want those items and they’ll probably offer a discount to sweeten the deal. That’s where you win.
