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| Holiday Shopping Tips from A to Z |
By Andrea Estrada
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Andrea Estrada is a freelance writer who lives and learns in Santa Barbara, California.
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The whirlwind of the holiday season is fun while it lasts, but when the gift-giving, party-hopping and general ho-ho-hoing is over you may have little to show for your overindulgence except a fistful of bills and a few extra pounds.
To help you stay in the black financially this season, Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS), a national non-profit organization offering credit management assistance, offers an alphabet's worth of do's and dont's to help keep your holiday spending in check. |
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A. Anticipate all you'll need to do. Do what you can in advance. Planning is critical.
B. Budget your time and money. Establish an overall spending limit. Include what you will spend on holiday clothes, baking and entertainment. Don't forget to set aside for fun things.
C. Credit card basics: Try not to charge. If you do, use one or two of the lowest-interest rate cards. Do not take advantage of credit-card offers to skip payments. Know your rights. In California it is against the law for retailers to write personal information on a charge slip (or to record a credit card number on the check). Also, protect your cards so no one sees the numbers at the register. Ditto with PIN numbers at the ATM. Use your hand as a shield.
D. Delivery charges can add up when ordering by mail. Some catalogs charge flat fees for shipping, while others charge based on weight. Some charge shipping fees on top of handling fees. If you call in an order, ask for the total to avoid shock when the bill comes.
E. Early is the best time to do your errands. Many stores begin holiday hours at the end of November. Some stores are open early now. Target stores that open at 8 a.m.
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F. Five Fast Gifts
- Gift Certificates (often you can call for them)
- Gifts from catalogs via express delivery (you'll pay extra shipping)
- Flowers
- Food (a pie from a bakery, a ham from a specialty store, a bottle of wine)
- Money (many people love to receive it)
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G. Gift idea paralysis? When possible, give a gift that is useful, practical and/or relevant to the recipient's taste and interests.
Keep a list of gifts given and received to assure that you don't give the same gift twice or give someone something similar to a gift he or she has given you.
H. Hours are extended by retailers. Call and check hours of stores before you go Remember, department stores might keep longer hours than the rest of the mall.
I. Investigate different kinds of stores for your gifts. Try home centers, hardware stores, music stores, bookstores, even car washes. You never know what you'll find, and if you're stuck for ideas, something may strike you. |
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J. Juggle like a pro. Start by writing down what you need to do. Maybe address your holiday cards early. Write important to-do's on your calendar. Use a notebook or organizer. Keep a "Holiday" folder in your file cabinet.
K. Keep your receipts together, perhaps in a manila envelope. You can track expenses and simplify exchanges and returns. Gift etiquette today has loosened; you can hand over the receipt if your gift-recipient plans to make an exchange or return.
L. List making is the way to go. Next to the gift you plan to give, put the amount you want to spend. That should keep you within your budget.
M. Malls are the answer for many shoppers. Keep an eye out for added holiday services. Look for hospitality suites, where you can rest and the kids can roam, valet parking, package-wrap stations, package-check, extended hours and "real, live" human direction givers. Call the mall for a list of amenities. |
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N. No-no's for holiday shopping: Never carry a lot of cash; never leave your children alone; never put packages in the back of your car (lock them in your trunk); never go shopping at 2 p.m. the last two Saturdays before Christmas (possibly the busiest time at malls); never lose your cool.
O. Outlets cater to holiday shoppers, packing their shelves just as normal retailers do. Some tips: look in the back of outlet stores for sale racks; look for special holiday promotions; go to your favorite outlet-mall stores first, before you tire; buy only what you need.
P. Pickpockets and other crooks prey on holiday shoppers. Carry your wallet in a front pocket; hold your purse close to you. Do not flash money or credit cards. Hold onto your packages or set them in front of you or between your feet when standing in line. Carry your keys from the store to your car. Look beneath your car before you get in. Be aware of who is around you at all times.
Q. Quiet is essential for a calm season. Steal a few moments for yourself. Stop and have coffee or a snack while shopping. Pack munchies for the kids. Take breaks.
R. Return policies vary at the holidays. Before you buy, always ask: "Is it returnable?" "How long to I have to return it?" "What's required (receipt, tags packaging)?" If you're buying something such as clothing, consider shopping where return policies are lenient. Keep packing slips from mail-order shipments that detail return policies. |
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| S. Sales abound during the holidays; retailers realize that's what shoppers want and that's part of competing for your purchases. Know your prices to determine if the "sale" really is a sale. Don't be tempted to buy a sale item unless it's already on your list. Be wary of "special purchase" sales items and items on sale displayed in aisles. |
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T. Traffic during the holidays is typically heavier than even the Grinch can bear. Plan your routes. Call malls and ask which are the least-crowded parking entrances. Some malls run shopper-shuttles. Consider car-pooling, valet parking or taking the bus.
U. Unprepared is the worst thing to be. Be prepared for lines; have your purchases and your method of payment ready.
V. "Value" is the buzzword of shopping. Make price comparisons and bargain for better prices. Some retailers will accommodate you. Be careful not to run yourself ragged comparing costs, however. Bring advertised prices with you if you plan to have other stores meet prices.
W. Wrap presents as you buy them, or have them wrapped. Many shoppers are opting for no wrap or using newspaper comics or other materials. An option is to use whatever bag the gift came in and tie a curling ribbon around it.
X. Expectations children have for gifts skyrocket during the holiday season thanks to a battery of commercials. Parents need to be strong. Tell your children they may get only one large gift or several smaller ones. Don't forget gifts are not a substitute for love.
Y. You shouldn't forget yourself. Buy yourself that one thing you really wanted (within reason, of course!)
Z. Zoo-like: that's what the holiday shopping experience can become. The main thing to remember is that you don't have to do everything and you don't have to do it on a big scale. People appreciate just the thought; spending a lot of money and effort is often unnecesssary. |
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| Additional Resources |
CCCS of Ventura, Inc. is headquartered in Camarrillo, and has 11 sites in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
To find a similar program in your area, type "Consumer Credit Counseling" into most Web search engines. |
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