Comments on: How to Spend Smarter This Holiday Season

By: Mike Collins

Mike Collins — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:12:57 +0000

This year my wife and I instituted a strict limit on how much we can spend on gifts. It just gets too crazy and we all end up going overboard. And the sin is its usually a bunch of stuff none of us really need.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:26:49 +0000

I think a debt-free Christmas is a great goal, and one I think more and more people are embracing.

We always shop with a list now, since we have one car and going to the store multiple times won’t happen.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:25:04 +0000

I love supporting local businesses too. I try to find friends who run small or home based businesses for some of the items on my list.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:23:43 +0000

I admit I don’t put it all into practice ALL the time, but that’s the beauty of using these kinds of tips. If I’m doing it 90% of the time then the other 10% shouldn’t effect my bottom line too much.

We usually spend more than necessary on the kids, so we’re figuring out ways we can cut back without making it a blah Christmas.

I like that you mentioned spending patterns, I’m really interested in the psychology of spending, since both my husband and I ten to be spenders.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:21:23 +0000

I think it’s important to plan purchases way in advance.
I have some things that have been on my list for months! If I have the money saved up, and a good deal comes along during Christmas I don’t mind spending it then.

By: Bucksome Boomer

Bucksome Boomer — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:09:48 +0000

Kelly, I cut down my shopping list this year and it’s really helped me with my goal of a debt-free Christmas.

As you indicated, your list of 10 ways to shop smarter is good any time of the year. I always make a list for stores to keep me on track.

By: Kristen from FiLife

Kristen from FiLife — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:43:25 +0000

I love the idea of a “sale mail” email account or filter / folder. Thanks.

This year I’m going to try to buy as many of my gifts as possible from shops / websites run by friends. Shopping local / supporting friends is another nice way to give to your community during the holiday season.

By: Senan

Senan — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:26:39 +0000

Good tips. If you manage to put ll that into practice I would be very surprised. Spending patterns are dictated as much by what is expected of us as what we expect from ourselves. Hence we feel bad if we’ve been used to giving expensive presents but this year we can’t, or we feel bad if we receive less. Spending is predicted to be down about 20% this christmas anyway though, so regardless of peer pressure or self-inflicated pressure, it will likely be accetable to make serious cutbacks.

By: Beverley

Beverley — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:03:31 +0000

I love: Institute a waiting period

This is a big thing that many consumers do not take in consideration when making a big or even a semi-big purchase. If consumers would follow this one rule, they could save loads of money – especially during the holiday season.

That’s one of the reasons why I don’t like to shop during the holidays because they offer such discounted prices, they dont give you a chance to wait 30 days.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:06:35 +0000

I’m not big on buying adult gifts, but I admit I feel obligated since some “grownups” do so much for us. It’s the one time of year I take a bit of time to say thanks with something special. I wish I could do it more often!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:05:37 +0000

Thanks Nancy!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:04:12 +0000

Thanks Jeff.
I admit I’m not good at negotiating, but I’m learning!
I saw another tip on Remodel This Life ( http://www.remodelingthislife.com/2009/11/11/simplify-it-buy-quality/) where Emily mentioned finding a lower price in a lower income area that she had matched at her local Sears. This is one of those things I never thought of!

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:01:37 +0000

You can set up filters for each company. that way they dump right into folders and your inbox remains “clean”.

I check mine once a week or so and just mark everything as read.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:00:19 +0000

Thanks! I like to give you a lot of bang for your buck. :)
I’m surprised no one else has a sale mail account! I’ve been doing that for years.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:59:27 +0000

Homemade gifts mean a lot to the recipients. Some of my favorite gifts are handmade or consumable. Cookies, anyone?

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:58:37 +0000

I’m big on keeping my email simple. I hate email overload.

It’s great that you have a good baseline, and are saving actively. That’s something we will tackle next year. We have a bit of extra money coming in at that time of year, so our budget is based on a portion of that money. Sticking to it is the tough part!

By: Shawanda

Shawanda — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:05:05 +0000

Great post! I especially like the idea of setting up a “sale mail” account and eating before you shop.

If I decide to spend any money for Christmas gifts this year, it won’t be more than $50. There’s no room for adults in that budget. I feel like adults should understand why they’re not getting any thing.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:00:17 +0000

Marvelous tip list. I especially loved #3 and #4! Thanks for sharing such useful information.

By: Jeff Bogle

Jeff Bogle — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:40:33 +0000

#10 is intriguing, and kind of a lost art in commerce. I don’t have the personality to do it, unfortunately, but I’m certain it can work still today. Stores, many of them, are so desperate for sales that you should easily be able to get the sales rep to either knock a few bucks off the price or get something else thrown in for free (say, a free blu ray movie when you buy a blu ray player, for example).

Nice article, some helpful tips in here. Thanks.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:27:24 +0000

You know, i’ve needed to set up a “sale mail” (thats the first time i have ever referred to it that way) e-mail account for a while. But i think if i did, i would never check it. Maybe an auto-archive with a filter for the stores i like to shop at most would be smart. I guess i know what i am doing while at work this morning.

By: melissa

melissa — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:27:08 +0000

What terrific tips!!! This year we’re planning our spending carefully and doing lots of research online to get the best prices. I can’t wait to check out all these links you shared as well!
thanks for a great article!

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:15:23 +0000

This is like two posts in one. Strategies and tactics. Bam. Pow.

Seriously, I like the combination of simple practicality (like eating before you go out) and deep psychology (who ever heard of a sale mail account?) Come to think about it, this could have been three posts. I’ll be making my list later today.

By: sarah (GenMom)

sarah (GenMom) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:09:20 +0000

Great article. I love making homemade gifts – esp. for teachers, etc.

By: LeanLifeCoach

LeanLifeCoach — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:01:04 +0000

Great idea on the “sale mail” email account. Lets you control your life! Very efficient!

Our budget remained the same as we have an established Holiday fund that money is diverted to throughout the year. However, we are working to leave money “on the table.” Key changes: Wife and I are not buying anything for each other, we really don’t need anything. Also, this year if the kids want to buy something for mom and dad, they will out of their allowance instead of the traditional “mom buys and puts kids name on it” thing.