'Tis The Season for Shopping

Josh Smith

This year U.S. consumers will spend, on average, $714 on holiday shopping for their friends, family and on their own holiday indulgences. With so much spending going on it can be easy to overspend, leave savings on the table or lose money on a holiday shopping scam.


We’ve compiled a list of holiday shopping do’s and don’ts to help you get the most for your money during the busy holiday season.

• Do research your purchase: It’s easy to find out if something is a good buy thanks to the Internet and a plethora of apps. Retrevo will tell you if a product is rated a good buy, CamelCamelCamel will show price history for many items and apps like Milo Local Shopping app for Android show prices and reviews on the go.

• Do ask your friends for advice: Before you buy ask friends on Twitter or Facebook about the brand or model to see if it’s worth your money. The BarcodeHero app for the iPhone allows you to scan a barcode and see what others have to say about an item.

• Do search for discounts: There’s no reason not to look for a coupon when you do holiday shopping. Hit up sites like RetailmeNot, CouponSherpa, Dealnews and others for coupons and deals. Don’t forget to check Free Shipping offers from over 650 stores on Free Shipping Day which takes place December 17th, 2010.

• Do know when to buy: If you’re buying clothing for yourself, you’ll score bigger deals by going out the day after Christmas. When it comes to HDTVs, December is a decent time to buy higher end sets, as is holding off until January for SuperBowl savings. Here’s the best time to buy practically everything.

• Don’t buy something that seems too good to be true: Scammers love the holidays because shoppers looking to save are more likely to take a chance on an unbelievable offer. These tips for safe online shopping from the BBB are a great reminder of how not to get taken this holiday season.

• Don’t keep waiting for a better deal: Do your research early enough and know what you want. If a gift hits your price range, go for it rather than holding out for the next big deal. 

• Don’t spend more than you plan: There’s no reason to pay for a credit card Christmas for the next three years, make a holiday shopping budget and stick to it. If you save money with coupons put it in savings. Just because you score a great deal you don’t need to spend the extra money.