(ARA) - The holiday season is a time for family, friends, giving, eating and festivities. It should not be centered on stress, anxiety and debt. Here are some tips for getting organized early, saving money and staying sane in preparation for buying gifts for those you love this year.
Make your list and check it twice.
Creating a list of who you need to buy gifts for this year is an essential first step in the gift-giving process. In order to find the perfect gift for each person on your list, make notes about his or her hobbies, passions, upcoming travel plans -- anything to help add that personal touch. Those few extra moments of individualizing your list will make a big difference in your final gift-purchasing decisions.
Prepare a budget.
Avoiding over-spending can be overwhelming, but getting a handle on your budget will help you to avoid the post-holiday credit blues. First, come up with an overall budget that you want to be sure not to exceed this holiday season. Assuming you have done this, use that list to create a general spending limit for each person. Using your overall budget as a guideline as you go will help to ensure you do not go overboard spending cash this holiday season.
Start early.
Before the haze of the holiday sets in and the impulse to purchase consumes you, start your shopping now. Nothing causes more anxiety than scrambling to buy last-minute gifts. Many retailers entice buyers to start early by offering pre-holiday sales and discounts. Be sure to take advantage of these sales!
Research online.
Now that you have your holiday shopping blueprint, you must do your homework before making the final purchases. Shopping online provides you with the tools to “visit” every store imaginable with the click of your mouse. Compare and contrast prices, checking your budgeting sheet as you go. There is always a deal out there to be had in the cyber world. The BeautyReMarks e-zine is loaded with great deals and articles to make it even easier.
Use coupons.
Online couponing sites make saving extra cash easy by offering free shipping and percentages off your final purchase. CouponCabin.com (www.couponcabin.com) allows visitors to search by store or by category, is updated throughout the day and provides deals from over 1200 merchants. You will be amazed at the amount of money you can save by shopping from the comfort of your own home. Save time, gas money and your sanity!
Reward yourself.
With all of the stress and money you save by organizing, budgeting, starting early and scoring deals online, you might as well reward yourself on your gift-giving efforts. Use some of the extra money you save this year and treat yourself.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment