Frugal Family

Whether we are ready or not, the holiday season is fast approaching.  We are reminded by the holiday decorations already up in some stores, our family members asking for our lists (okay, at least mine are!) and the nip in the air.  While most of us look forward to the celebrations ahead, the stress of holiday shopping and the strain on our pocketbooks can be overwhelming. I’ve dedicated this week’s article to ways in which you can save money and mitigate stress in the weeks ahead.

• Talk to your extended family or group of friends about drawing names for your holiday gift exchange instead of buying gifts for every single person on your list. This will save you the effort of researching many items and that one person will thank you for giving them something that they really wanted. Agree to set a maximum dollar amount as a group that fits everyone’s budget.

•  Skip the long lines and sleep in on Black Friday. Let the E-bay sellers do your bargain shopping for you. That’s how they make their money – by getting the best deals out there and passing them on to you while making a small profit. Often you will pay a small amount more than you would have if you had found the bargain yourself but many people find the time it saves them, well worth it. So do your homework and start your E-bay bidding the weekend after Thanksgiving for great savings at www.ebay.com. Worried about buying on E-bay? Don’t be - just make sure you find sellers with great ratings (I never bid on items where a seller hasn’t gotten at least a 95% satisfaction rating or has only sold a few things) and you should be fine.  

• Wait to buy until the sale comes to you. So you’ve just made a great calendar or photo book on a site like www.Shutterfly.com. If you have signed up for their daily deals like I have, eventually you will see a coupon for that item that is up to 50-60% off. This requires patience, so start working on your project now and scanning your inbox for the best deals every day. Don’t miss the opportunity to double up on coupons from these sites as well.

• Use your smart phone to help you research the cost of specific items. There are specific apps like Google Shopper that help you scan product barcodes and instantly find the best price available for that item out there. They also can find coupons or rebates currently being offered.  http://www.google.com/mobile/shopper/

• Research shipping costs. Shipping costs certainly add up.  Either find online retailers that offer free shipping (and inexpensive gift wrapping!) or research shipping costs if you plan to send the item(s) yourself. Shipgooder.com, for example, can help you do this research by comparing the cost of shipping packages (from UPS, FedEx, DHL, and the U.S. Postal Service) for you. The worst mistake that holiday shoppers make is to wait until the last minute to ship their gifts. Expedited shipping may cost you more than the gift! www.shipgooder.com