Southbourne Group Singapore, Tokyo Japan on Top money-saving tips for holiday shopping
Stores are already full of Christmas merchandise and Thanksgiving is days away, so this looks like a good time to share some of my favorite money-saving holiday shopping tips.
Stores are already full of Christmas merchandise and Thanksgiving is days away, so this looks like a good time to share some of my favorite money-saving holiday shopping tips.
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<strong>tips</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>holiday</strong> <strong>shopping</strong><br />
Stores are already full of Christmas merchandise and Thanksgiving is days away, so this looks like a good<br />
time to share some of my favorite m<strong>on</strong>ey-<strong>saving</strong> <strong>holiday</strong> <strong>shopping</strong> <strong>tips</strong>.<br />
In additi<strong>on</strong> to planning ahead, staying <strong>on</strong> budget, and watching <strong>for</strong> sales and discounts, there are many<br />
opportunities to save m<strong>on</strong>ey. That's true whether you're buying gifts, or just <strong>shopping</strong>.<br />
Here are some examples:<br />
Discount gift cards: Gift cards may be purchased as gifts, but they can also be used to make your own<br />
purchases. If you're planning to do a lot of <strong>shopping</strong>, or dining, at a particular place, check out reputable<br />
<strong>on</strong>line resellers of gift cards, and you could get <strong>on</strong>e at a nice discount to face value.<br />
Gift cards are just another <strong>for</strong>m of m<strong>on</strong>ey. If you can get a $100 gift card <strong>for</strong> $90, you made m<strong>on</strong>ey. Just<br />
make sure to <strong>on</strong>ly buy gift cards you'll use.<br />
Some discount examples I found: You could buy a $100 gift card <strong>for</strong> Bass Pro Shops <strong>for</strong> $88<br />
(cardcash.com), a $75 AutoZ<strong>on</strong>e gift card <strong>for</strong> $67.50 (raise.com), or a $50 P.F. Chang's gift card <strong>for</strong><br />
$39.75 (cardpool.com). Note that, sometimes, gift cards are sold in electr<strong>on</strong>ic versi<strong>on</strong>s that can <strong>on</strong>ly be<br />
used <strong>on</strong>line.<br />
Gift card b<strong>on</strong>uses: Keep an eye out <strong>for</strong> b<strong>on</strong>us offers that can multiply your m<strong>on</strong>ey. Restaurant chains,<br />
drug stores and even specialty retailers usually offer deals during the <strong>holiday</strong> <strong>shopping</strong> seas<strong>on</strong> in which<br />
the gift cards you buy may be worth 10 percent to 30 percent more than you paid <strong>for</strong> them.<br />
That's helpful <strong>for</strong> gift-giving, or to save m<strong>on</strong>ey at places you regularly shop or dine. Note that a "gift card"<br />
does not expire, but a b<strong>on</strong>us might come in a different <strong>for</strong>m that could have an expirati<strong>on</strong> date. So, you<br />
might buy a $50 restaurant gift card that doesn't expire, and also get a $10 "b<strong>on</strong>us card" with an<br />
expirati<strong>on</strong> date.
Membership discounts: Say you want to give some movie tickets as gifts. If you're an AAA or AARP<br />
member, you can buy them at discounted prices.<br />
Credit/debit card cash-back: Many credit and debit cards provide rebates in the <strong>for</strong>m of cash-back, or<br />
points. Some offer larger rebates at particular stores, and many offer even larger rebates <strong>for</strong> <strong>on</strong>line<br />
<strong>shopping</strong> launched from their website's <strong>on</strong>line <strong>shopping</strong> portal.<br />
Get in the habit of launching your <strong>on</strong>line <strong>shopping</strong> from your credit or debit cards <strong>on</strong>line <strong>shopping</strong> portal,<br />
and you'll save more m<strong>on</strong>ey. If you're a member of an airline loyalty program with miles or points that can<br />
expire, use the airline's <strong>shopping</strong> portal to shop and you'll reset the expirati<strong>on</strong> date <strong>on</strong> your mileage<br />
program.<br />
Valuable protecti<strong>on</strong>: Take the time to know the benefits provided by different credit and debit cards,<br />
so you'll know the best <strong>on</strong>es to use.<br />
American Express' "purchase protecti<strong>on</strong>" will cover a purchase if it's stolen or accidentally broken within<br />
90 days — a great benefit, which I've used in the past, that's particularly helpful <strong>for</strong> purchases of small<br />
electr<strong>on</strong>ics that will be gifted to young people. Dropped your new smartph<strong>on</strong>e in a lake? No problem.<br />
Citi "price rewind" will let you register a purchase, track the price, and give you m<strong>on</strong>ey back if better deals<br />
turn up. Some cards will automatically extend a warranty, or the time period when returns are allowed.<br />
Speaking of credit cards, shoppers are likely to be solicited at checkout, both in pers<strong>on</strong> and <strong>on</strong>line, with<br />
offers to immediately save m<strong>on</strong>ey <strong>on</strong> their purchase by signing up <strong>for</strong> the store's credit card. Weigh such<br />
offers carefully, because store-branded credit cards typically offer lower incentives <strong>for</strong> signing up, come<br />
with fewer benefits and carry high interest rates.<br />
Signing up <strong>for</strong> a credit card shouldn't be an impulse decisi<strong>on</strong>. Some store-affiliated cards may make sense<br />
if they have no annual fee, you shop there often and they provide <strong>on</strong>going discounts. As with any credit<br />
card, store-branded cards are <strong>on</strong>ly a good thing <strong>for</strong> people who avoid interest charges by paying off the<br />
balance due each m<strong>on</strong>th.