(4-minute Read)
Happy Thanksgiving! We’re all hoping the Lions will give us another Thanksgiving win!
Whether you’re getting together with friends and family, prepping for the ultimate feast, or taking the opportunity to get a head start on your holiday shopping, this season can be an incredibly busy one.
As our little way of saying thanks for being such great partners in business, here are some holiday shopping tips.
Let’s dig in!
Set a Holiday Shopping Budget
As the holiday season approaches, we all get pretty excited to launch into our festive shopping sprees. However, it’s easy (too easy) to get carried away – and end up overspending.
That’s why it’s so helpful to set a budget before you hit the stores.
A bit of planning ensures that you stay on track and avoid splurging, or racking up those big costs. Some folks may back away from the very idea of a budget, but it doesn’t have to be limiting – or take the fun out of holiday shopping. A budget can actually be empowering.
Let’s put aside the fact that it can keep you from starting the new year under a pile of fresh debt. It also frees you up to get more creative with your gift choices. Knowing what you’re going to spend ahead of time can free you up to discover something unusual.
Without the pressure of stressing, “Can I even afford this?” that comes with shopping without a plan, you’re free to seek out interesting and thoughtful gifts that you might not have considered otherwise.
Create a Holiday Shopping Wishlist
With so many options and deals available, holiday shopping can become seriously overwhelming. One way to make your holiday shopping spree easier this year is to create a wishlist. This allows you to plan out what you want to buy ahead of time. (It’ll also help you stay on track with your budget.)
For example, you can make a list of everyone you’re going to buy gifts for, and then put a dollar amount next to each name. Add them all up to get a good idea of what you’re going to spend this season. You can adjust the numbers up or down, depending on the total you’re willing to spend.
This takes the guesswork – and the stress – out of your shopping experience.
Don’t Forget Social-Media Shopping
When it comes to finding deals, there are the usual suspects – TV commercials, circulars in the newspaper, and even online ads. But if you really want to be up-to-date on the latest sales and promotions, check out the store’s social media account.
This is the most direct way to get the latest info. And, as a great incentive, many retailers’ social media accounts often announce flash sales or coupons exclusively to their followers.
Not only that, but you can do quite a bit of shopping right there on the social media platform. No holiday traffic or long lines at the register necessary!
In fact, nearly half of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 say they’ll be doing their shopping on social media this year. Not only can this save you time and money, but it can also help you avoid the last-minute crowds that are synonymous with the busy holiday season.
Online Holiday Shopping in Privacy Mode
Here’s a good way to gain the advantage – if you’re shopping online, make sure to turn on your browser’s privacy or incognito mode.
It may sound strange at first. But when you disable retailers’ ability to track your shopping behavior, you take away their ability to raise prices on the things you buy.
See, they use all the information they’ve gathered in order to predict how much you’re willing to pay for certain items. But if you appear as a generic customer, they won’t be able to use your shopping history against you.
Not only that, but some online stores will also charge you more based on your location, what time of day you’re doing your shopping, and if you’ve browsed that particular item earlier.
Shop in privacy mode. You may snag a better deal.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Once all the turkey’s all gobbled up and pumpkin pie’s polished off, the shopping season kicks into full gear. Hopefully these tips will help you ride the waves of deals, coupons, and flash sales.
Have a great Thanksgiving, and thank you for your continued support!
And for everything digital marketing and communications, remember the name Smart Link Solutions!
