Winter 2007 USAA.com Magazine

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.