There are less than SIX weeks until Christmas! Can you believe it? Last week we began thinking about our holiday budget. This week it’s time to put your new budget to the test!
Start Shopping Online
Hit the web early to compare prices and take advantage of cheaper shipping. To save on postage, choose sites that waive shipping fees or those that combine multiple items into one order.
TIP: Do your online shopping through sites that give you cash back for your purchases. I’ve highlighted my personal favorite sites on my Referral Links page. Places such as Zappos.com, AbeBooks.com, and Gotfruit.com offer free shipping on every order. Amazon.com sends multiple items in as few shipments as possible.
Finalize Travel Plans
With fuel costs rising, holiday travel is growing more expensive. Compare air far with driving: Fuelcostcalculator.com lets you figure out the cost of your drive at current gas prices.
TIP: Check out kayak.com. It searches travel sites to find cheap airfares and charts ticket prices by day, so you know when to buy.
Get Crafty
If you enjoy making gifts, begin this week so you can pace yourself instead of rushing through them.
TIP: If you need some inspiration, check out the Holidays by Hand Festival. Also check out theartfulcrafter.com for hundreds of ideas.
Pool Old Gift Cards
Americans left nearly $8 billion unused on gift cards last year. Give your budget a bump by cashing in yours. Sites like cardavenue.com and plasticjungle.com let you sell gift-card balances for a small fee.
TIP: Buy gift cards at a discount at either site.
Come back next Monday for three more tips to ease your holiday shopping and stay within you new holiday budget!
Photo by Compromised Exposure
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Shannon Jones
11.17.08 at 8:18 am
Hi Anna-
Hope you and the family are doing well. Happy Holidays and thanks for the “cash in your card balances” site. Pretty cool concept. - Shan
lulugal11
11.17.08 at 10:03 am
I am only giving two gifts this Christmas and they are both computer related so I will definitely be shopping online.
lulugal11s last blog post..Blood Clot in Lung
Rachel
11.19.08 at 2:57 am
Your post reminds me that I probably still have a couple of gift cards I should use (and thanks for the link)!
Mortgage Lender Savings
06.28.09 at 4:37 pm
Shopping online is definately a great way to save money on holiday goods prior to going away or all year round for that matter. I still love Amazon but I discovered abebooks a few years back and they can be good for specific books that are less mainstream. The free shipping is always a bonus
Mortgage Lender Savingss last blog post..How To Talk About Debt Problems With Family Members
william
07.10.09 at 11:38 am
Thank you for your assistance!
Alen Mak
07.11.09 at 6:19 pm
Great post, thanks for sharing!