The holiday shopping season can be a great time of year to get some nice deals on items that normally would be too expensive. The National Retail Federation (NRF) defines the holiday season as being between November 1 through December 31. During this timeframe, stores have a bunch of deals for consumers to benefit from. However, these sales may not be as great as they seem. That is why it can be helpful to keep some holiday shopping tips in mind that can help you save:

• Have a Budget and Stick to It
• Don’t Run Up Your Credit Card
• Look for Price Match Opportunities
• Be on the Lookout for Special Ads/Promos

Have a Budget and Stick to It

Everyone loves shopping during the holiday season. It is easy to get carried away with the deals that are out there. However, if you go shopping without a set budget in mind then you are at risk for hurting your finances. Many people will handle their finances differently. Some will choose to get a credit card and just stick to the credit limit on that card, others will dip into savings, and some will even take out a loan! Regardless, holiday shopping is a want, not a need. That is why it is important to create a budget around your shopping trips! This can help you get what you want within your budget.

Don’t Run Up Your Credit Card

A common practice around the holidays is opening up new lines of credit. However, this adds on to your credit card debt and can even make your credit score go down. That is why you need to make sure you are not overcharging your credit card or opening up new ones unnecessarily. A good rule of thumb is to keep your credit utilization rate below 30%. Your credit utilization rate is just the number that compares your credit limit to the amount of credit you are using. It’s also important to note that you should always make sure you are handling credit responsibly so opening up new cards just for holiday shopping may not be the best idea.

Look for Price Match Opportunities

Many retailers are busy during the holiday shopping season. If there is an especially hot deal then you may find a bunch of stores out of stock of the item you are looking for. There may be competing stores that have it, but for a higher price. Luckily, some stores offer a price match guarantee! This means you can bring in an ad from another retailer and if it costs less than the store you brought it to, they can match the price! Not every store offers this benefit and some have special rules around it. Make sure to do your homework before you go shopping so you can find the lowest prices on the market and potentially get a deal from more than one store!

Be on the Lookout for Special Ads and Promos

The holiday shopping season can mean a lot of exclusive saving opportunities. However, in order to know about them, you need to make sure you are in the loop! Retailers will often email special ads, post them on special media, or even offer them in their app. You just need to be on the lookout for these ads. You could find some special deals that others may not know about since the deals were only shown on certain platforms.

Overall

There are plenty of tips that you can keep in mind that can help you save this holiday season. If you get a budget together, handle your credit responsibly, find price match opportunities, and find special ads/promos then you may be able to see some savings!