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7 Tips For The Intrepid Holiday Shopper

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By CORRIE BENFIELD

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2007

The glittery ghouls and plastic pumpkins are barely back in their boxes, and already retailers are in full-blown winter-wonderland mode.

Although it all might seem a little premature, retailers know what they're doing — and you should, too.

Here are some tips to help you prepare a spending strategy that won't leave you wandering through a mall waving your credit card at any kiosk worker selling scented candles.

1. Know what you want to spend.

The National Retail Federation's consumer intentions survey this year indicates that the average consumer plans to spend $816.69 on holiday shopping, with 76 percent of that going to gifts.

If you don't have any savings at this point, that would be $16.33 a day from now until Christmas, $16.01 a day from now until the start of Kwanzaa or $28.16 a day from now until the start of Hanukkah.

Figure out how much you can spend without using a credit card. Studies show shoppers spend 30 percent more on gifts when they use credit cards instead of cash, according to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta.

2. Make a list of everyone you plan to spend money on.

Write down the amount you will spend on each person and gift ideas for him or her. Add the amounts to make sure they fit your budget. If they don't, make adjustments.

Consider leaving yourself off the list. (The consumer intentions survey showed people plan to spend $106.67 on themselves this holiday season.)

3. Get creative.

Personalized gifts are the ones people remember. Web sites such as www.cafepress.com let you customize T-shirts, calendars, coffee mugs, purses, bumper stickers, aprons and even clocks. So, ask yourself, would your mother rather have another $25 basket of fruity lotion or a $10.99 pack of refrigerator magnets with pictures of her favorite family members on them?

4. Free is always good.

Consider giving homemade gift certificates for your services, such as one night of free babysitting, an hour of computer help or three home-cooked meals.

5. Good friends. Good deeds. Good idea.

If you have a group of friends or co-workers who always exchange gifts, consider instead answering needy children's letters to Santa. Most malls and some large retailers offer children's wish lists. This way you are still doing something in the holiday spirit, but everyone can tailor gifts to his or her budget without worrying about seeming cheap. Plus, you can cross several people off your shopping list at once.

6. There's time to comparison shop.

If you know what you're looking for, keep an eye out for discounts and coupons in the weekly circulars. Also, you can comparison shop online at sites such as www.pricegrabber.com and www.bizrate.com.

7. There's a time to procrastinate.

If there are people you will not see until after the holidays, wait to buy their gifts, and try to take advantage of post-holiday sales.

Sources: National Retail Federation, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Central Florida, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta

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