Monday, November 10, 2008

Putting holiday shopping strategies to work

The economy is heading toward recession, credit is tighter and vigilance on disposable income is increasing. Putting gifts under the tree, however, isn't impossible. In fact, the challenge is almost welcomed because the current economic climate brings out creative choices from budget constraints.

One of the most efficient gifts to give for Christmas is the gift card. Be it for restaurants or retail stores, the gift card can be used by the recipient for whatever items (s)he desires up to the value of the card. When purchasing the card, you're able to assign a dollar amount that you can budget easily for gifts.

Next, follow the sales. Wal-Mart, the only major retailer to post a quarterly profit according to recent reports, is rolling out its discounts before Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. Check the Sunday newspaper ads for the best deals.

If you're really looking to save money on larger-ticket items, the best sales begin after Christmas, though it would be nice to have something under the tree to celebrate the holiday. Start with a small gift to mark the holiday, then convey a "surprise" is forthcoming. It might be a tough sell, especially for youngsters who think they've been good boys and girls and should not have to wait longer than necessary, but with today's economy, patience has its reward in additional savings.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Agree..! Gift card is really the most efficient gifts to give for Christmas.

Anonymous said...

These are great gift ideas. The new Motorola Krave (motorola.com/krave) is also a good gift idea for the holiday season! It has a clear flip screen that makes it easy to access pictures, MP3's and even GPS system!

R.
-I work with Motorola-