Saving money can be overwhelming at times. The sales, the coupons, and the promise of incredible savings if you just enter the doors of any given retailer this time of year are enough to make anyone want to give up or go shopping 24-7, which is what retailers are hoping. You don’t even have to enter their doors anymore. You can shop online anywhere, anytime.
If you do decide to take advantage of the multitude of virtual deals, there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind. First, you want to look at the shipping cost. Ask yourself, does the shipping cost outweigh the savings advantage of buying the item online? Second question, is there nowhere else I can get this item locally for this deal, with or without the shipping cost? Third question, do I really need this item?
Second, as the holidays draw near, you need to check out the last shipping date that the company can possibly get that item to you before you need to give it away. The worst scenario is buying an item that comes the day or two after you need it wrapped and in place either under the Christmas tree or at a holiday gathering. It doesn’t have the same impact dropping the present off after the fact, especially in the eyes of small children, who despite enjoying the wrapping paper as much as the gift, don’t understand a box with a picture taped to the bottom (and I have done it). A little planning goes a long way.
The third consideration is to examine the source or the seller of the items. Many people are cashing in on selling their items online but I have been burnt not asking the right questions. Personal items purchased online are harder to return. Check the return policy before buying. You also can end up with someone misrepresenting their product with a poor picture or description, which may be intentional or not.
One of the best ways to take advantage of the overwhelming amount of online deals is to start with a simple list. I know that sometimes you need to know what is out there to know what to buy, but start with each person that you wish to buy for and write down a few possibilities. Sites like Google Product Search (previously known as Froogle.com) allow you to search for any item to find all relevant internet results. You can sort the search by relevance, price, product rating and seller rating. The search may take you to sites where similar items are sold through which you can expand your list of possibilities and consider deals you didn’t think about before. Just like in regular stores, keep an eye on one day sales that could make a big difference how much you have to spend and how much you can save.
The best part of keeping a list and sticking closely to it is that all stores are filled with ways to spend too much money. The closer you keep to your list, the less likely you will overspend and be paying for it for months to come. Know your shopping budget — the amount you are able to spend. If times are tight, scale back and talk to family members about cutting back gift exchanges to kids only or to small gifts only. Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that we give to share our love for others. Maxing out credit cards to get one more gift under the tree doesn’t help you or your loved one.
In the Phoenix, December 5, 2009
