Thrifty Mommy » holiday-shopping

Best Ever Holiday Money Saving Tips

Jennifer Chait — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:28:44 +0000

With fewer than 20 days to go until Christmas, I thought it might be time to do a little holiday money-saving round-up here at Thrifty Mommy. Karen and me discuss holiday savings at length each year and we’ve built up a pretty awesome amount of money saving holiday posts.

If you want to learn how to save more money for this year’s holiday celebration then this handy tips post is for you. Check out the ideas below and see just how thrifty your holidays can be.

SAVE MONEY ON CELEBRATIONS & FUN

HAVE THRIFTY FUN WITH THE KIDS

SAVE MONEY ON HOLIDAY FOOD

SAVE MONEY ON HOLIDAY GIFTS

HOLIDAY TOY TIPS

SAVE MONEY ON HOLIDAY EXTRAS

[image via stock.xchng; altered by me]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Smart shopping tip for saving money

Jennifer Chait — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:27:51 +0000

A 2007 study from the Stanford Graduate School of Business notes that shoppers who are forced to pay separately for each item purchased spend less that shoppers who buy a lot all at once. The study states that people who spend more may be doing so because they’ve built a “shopping momentum” with an initial purchase. Researchers found that for most people buying a first item leads to a “purchasing floodgate.”

In one of the field tests, students were given the opportunity to buy discounted items from the researchers as compensation for their participation. Some students initially were offered a light bulb, while others were offered a better and more relevant item, an educational CD. The folks offered the light bulb were way less likely to buy it compared to those who were offered the CD. THEN each of the students was a chance to purchase a second item––a keychain.

Those were offered the CD were much more likely also to buy the keychain. One study head noted, “That was the case even though the second item was completely unrelated to the first… it’s not like we offered chips followed by soda, which would naturally go together.”

Results of the study showed that shopping is a two-stage process. “In the first stage, people deliberate about a purchase, weighing cost and benefits, the degree to which they need the item, and so forth. But once the deliberation phase ends and the buying phase takes over, a subtle psychological mechanism comes into play. People in this transition go from thinking from their mind to thinking from their cart. The cart takes over. Once that happens, a roller coaster of shopping can begin.”

Thus the purchase of an initial item creates “shopping momentum.”

How you can use this info:

In some case studies the researchers gave some participants two separate envelopes with money for different purchases and those folks were less likely to make a second purchase. The researchers figure that this is because opening one’s wallet (or envelope) a second time created another deliberation point. So people had to think twice about buying which then stopped all purchasing in its tracks. Additionally the more the first item was perceived to be a luxury buy the less likely people were to make a second purchase.

So to use this info to your advantage, try the following…

Buy that one indulgent item for yourself first to curb major shopping frenzy.
Break up holiday gift money into envelopes labeled per person so that you have to stop and consider an item before you buy.
Go to a department store where each area has their own check-out point. For example, if you have to pay for items in home goods, you’ll also have to stop and think again when you get to the shoe department. Along the same lines, go shopping in a city area, in many small shops vs. one large discount store with just one check stand.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Find Free Holiday Shipping Fast

Jennifer Chait — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:00:35 +0000

One of the best websites that a budget minded individual can visit this holiday season is Free Shipping. At Free Shipping you can quickly browse through hundreds of current free and low-cost shipping deals. Tons of popular shopping sites are listed at Free Shipping (over 1,500) including Victoria’s Secret, Target, Bloomingdale’s, Kohl’s, Sears, Best Buy, Old Navy, Nordstrom and Macy’s and the site is updated frequently.

When you click on a retailer’s section at Free Shipping you’ll get back info on each deal, purchase requirements, expiration dates and free shipping codes. In more ways to save news, Free Shipping has also added My Favorite Coupons, a newer section that allows you to create your own page that displays coupons to all your favorite merchants. You can even sign up to have a daily or weekly e-mail sent with coupons to said favorite merchants.

Visit Free Shipping to ease up the holiday shopping madness.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Avoid restocking fees

Jennifer Chait — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:01:15 +0000

Restocking fees can happen in online or retail stores and they can pack a big wallop for an item you’re returning. Basically, a restock fee is when a company charges you 15-20% (typically although sometimes a lot more; like 50%) on an item you’re returning that you already opened.

The fee allegedly covers issues like the time it takes to check the box for missing parts, missing instructions, or for making replacements. With the holidays coming up, it’s wise to pay close attention to restock fees because they can up the price of your holiday purchases.

You can avoid these restocking fees by…

Not opening the box if you’re not keeping the item, for example, if the item was a gift.
Not buying stuff without carefully thinking it over first.
Knowing before hand, or when you purchase, if a company has a restock fee policy in place and what that policy is.
Shop locally not online for big purchase – Smart Money notes that you’re more likely to encounter a restocking fee at an online store vs. a bricks and mortar store.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

The best way to save money on holiday gifts

Jennifer Chait — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 08:18:55 +0000

Two words – shop early.

When you wait until the last minute here’s what happens:

Stores run out of items – now you’re in special order territory (extra costs).

You have to run all over; you get hot, tired, frustrated, and are far more susceptible to impulse buys.

When you don’t shop until the last minute, you’re likely to spend more, because you don’t have time to comparison shop, or make good decisions, because smart financial decisions actually take time. Even shopping financial decisions.

Stores not only run out of stuff, but get crazy busy the closer we get to the holidays. Ever heard the old time is money saying – it’s not false. I know many a friend who has cut work to go holiday shopping.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Best Holiday Shopping Tip

admin — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 06:08:45 +0000

Holiday rush is what everyone should avoid if getting out of a mall or department store unscathed and not overpaying on items or crying over piled debts after the holiday season are one’s goal.

The lure of techie gadgets for your teens or even for your young at heart wife or husband can be hard to resist. Sure, financial experts suggest that it’s best to use your credit card for these kinda high-ticket items. But to make the most of it, look for shops that offer 0% interest for installment plans or know which amongst your deck of credit cards offers lower interest for installment plans.

Online comparison shops are the craze for online shopping devotees. Edeals.com is one popular place for this. Sale alert sites and those that offer coupons or discounts when you purchase their products online abound.

But do you know what’s the best holiday shopping tip for me? Don’t!

Start collecting gifts all year round and get a special gift cabinet for your good finds.

What’s your best shopping tip for this Yuletide season?

(image from bized.ac.uk)

Post from: Thrifty Mommy