With the average shopper predicted to spend around $1,440 on gifts and holiday-related items this year, every penny counts.
Luckily, it’s getting easier to save during the holiday season, thanks to a slew of apps and websites that allow shoppers to price compare, strategize and plan ahead. Combine this with some good old-fashioned common sense and tips from our shopping experts, and you’ll make it through the season with your wallet – and sanity – intact.
Make a list
Write up a list of people for whom you need to buy gifts. If scribbling names and numbers on a piece of paper works best for you, go for it. If not, try an app such as Santa’s Bag, Gift Planner or Christmas List Snowball.
Thanksgiving, Black Friday Hours: Which Stores Are Open When
These handy tools can help you keep track of holiday spending by recipient, amount or store, update you with tracking numbers for online orders and even remind you where you hid the gifts and whether you wrapped them or not.
Stick to the plan
Create a realistic gift budget for each person on your list -- and stick to it, said Hitha Herzog, chief research officer at H Squared Research.
"Download budgeting software like Mint.com, which alerts you to when you are going over budget,” she recommended.
Don’t wait for Cyber Monday
According to Adobe’s Online Shopping Prediction report, Thanksgiving Day will offer the lowest online prices this year, with an average discount of 26 percent.
Cyber Monday is still expected to bring in a record $3 billion in sales nationwide. Visit cybermonday.com to learn of the daily and hourly specials that top online retailers such as Amazon, eBay, Target, and Wal-Mart will be rolling out on or before Nov. 30.
Don’t pay for shipping
Free shipping is no longer a perk, it’s a requisite, with 72 percent of shoppers citing it as a factor in selecting an online retailer, according to the Deloitte 2015 holiday retail survey.
“You could probably get through the entire season without paying to ship your items,” noted Herzog.
Everyone Likes Same-Day Shipping, Except for the Paying Part
Visit freeshippingday.com for a list of retailers who are offering this service on Dec. 18, for delivery by Christmas Eve.
Use online coupons
Before checking out, run a quick search using the store name and the word “coupon” or “promo code” to see if the site has hidden discounts.
You can also use couponing sites such as retailmenot.com or slickdeals.net to find current deals posted by retailers and fellow shoppers.
Know a deal
During the competitive holiday season, don’t settle for 15 percent off. Only go for a coupon or code or retail discount of 25 percent or higher. During this time of year, it’s not uncommon to see discounts of between 30 and 50 percent.
How Shopping Technology Forces Retailers to Alert Holiday Game Plans
However, for those “must-have” items, don’t hem and haw over a $10 price difference. Once an item is sold out, it’s sold out.
Just ask
When shopping online, use the Live Chat pop-up box to speak to a representative. In many cases, they are more than happy to match you up with a coupon code from the multiple discounts on offer.
Buy refurbished
If Apple products are on your list, consider buying a refurbished device. You can save up to 33 percent, and all items are Apple-tested, certified, and repackaged with a brand new battery and outer shell.
Buy your Christmas tree early
If you’re looking for a fresh-cut tree, the best time to buy it is right after Thanksgiving -- or, for the true procrastinator, on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.
For those who prefer the artificial, pre-lit variety, make your purchase in the first two weeks of December, advises the Peaceful Mom, noting “Most folks are more focused on starting holiday shopping, so trees are priced lower to increase sales.”
'Muted' Black Friday Forecast for Retailers, With TVs, Toys Giving a Lift
Shop on Small Business Saturday
Support independent storeowners and neighborhood businesses and get deals by shopping locally on Nov. 28 this year. Visit http://www.SmallBusinessSaturday.com, or stop by a holiday fair and buy homemade crafts direct from the artisan.
Choose debit over credit
Sure, you won’t accrue your cashback or bonus points, but you will be forced to stick to your budget. A debit card only allows you to spend what you have in your bank account, and removes the temptation to overspend. And whatever you do, don’t use overdraft protection if you have it on your account.
Do the math
Just because you spot a lower price in store does not mean that your final price is going to be better than buying online with a coupon code or free shipping.
Use a price comparison app such as ShopSavvy, which allows you to upload a bar code and receive prices across a spectrum of retailers.
Gift wrap for free
When you’re checking out at a store, ask about free gift wrapping. At the very least, most major retailers will give you seasonal packaging such as a holiday gift box, even a ribbon.
Unsubscribe from email alerts
Marketing surveys show that consumers who receive e-mail offers spend 138 percent more than those who did not sign up. So if you’re truly planning on sticking to your budget, check the unsubscribe box.
Plan for next year!
The week after Christmas is the time to stock up on gift wrap, cards, holiday decorations, candles and other seasonal items. Retailers discount these products as much as 75 percent in order to restock with new merchandise.
