Winter 2007 USAA.com Magazine

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10 usaa.com winter 2007 Almost 1 in 4 consumers surveyed by Consumer Reports in December 2006 said they didn’t expect to pay off holiday debt until March or later.
Holiday Change Jingle all the way to the bank this holiday season. edited By shari biediger • Photographs by Kathleen Dooher t hi s ye a r , you’re going to shop the day after Thanksgiving, buy all your presents for family and friends at 50 percent off, pay with cash, giftwrap them with paper and bows you got on sale last year, and still have money to spare. Get real. Hanging on to your loot this jolly season (and the next) requires planning. And lots of discipline. So, before you press the start button on your holiday shopping, review these 10 cash-saving tips. save receipts. Keep an envelope in your purse or wallet for receipts. You might find a lower price or better gift and need to return the item. shop from home. Finding just the right gift for Uncle Joe, and comparing prices and features, is sometimes easier online. And, if you shop early enough, you might be able to take advantage of free shipping offers. keep it simple. Retailers typically offer sales promotions to get you into their stores, betting you will buy more (or better) stuff while you’re there. Don’t fall victim to this scheme. And remember that all those bells and whistles on bicycles, electronics, and cameras add to the cost. Consider giving gift cards for these items so the recipient can choose whether or not to get the options and upgrades. winter 2007 11 usaa.com budget for all. And then some. Holiday happiness comes not just with presents, but also with all the trimmings — parties, decorations, cards, donations, and travel. Predict and pay for what you can; just say no to the rest. make a list. Even Santa has one. Include the person’s name and what you want to spend. After you buy, make a note of it on your list. If it’s not on the list, don’t buy it! charge with care. Don’t charge your purchases unless you plan to pay off your credit card bill the following month. Otherwise, you can quickly rack up big post-holiday debt. shop at home. Recycling gifts or re-gifting is considered OK as long as you give something you think the person really would like or need. Just make sure you remove the gift tags and don’t give the item to the person who gave it to you in the first place. give thoughtfully. Draw names from a hat instead of buying for everyone, give the gift of time or self, buy only for the children, agree to exchange cards rather than gifts, or give to a charity. Homemade gifts are always appreciated too. Do whatever you can to creatively remember others during the holiday season with a focus on not breaking the bank. procrastinate early Some shoppers are done by October, saving money by discovering bargains all year long. Others wait until the last minute and find the best deals of all. Decide which approach works better for you. You could end up spending more than you planned either because you bought (and forgot) or because you’re in a mad rush to get home with the perfect gift in hand, no matter the cost. don’t get stuffed. Those little stockingstuffers can break the budget. Resist the temptation to go overboard.
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Winter 2007 USAA.com Magazine

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