Wait 'Til January & Other Great Last-Minute Shopping Tips

Can we swap gifts in January? The wait-and-see approach to holiday gift giving is one of my favorite tips from this guest post from Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS).

Here's the piece:



"Review your gift-giving list—Jot down all the people you still need to find gifts for and how much money you can allocate to each gift. This will help keep you on target to stay within your holiday spending budget. If there are people you won’t see until after the holidays, you may be able to postpone purchasing their gift and take advantage of sales in late December and January.



Look for retailer discounts over the next few days—The next few days are crunch time for retailers and many are or will be offering steep discounts and other incentives to encourage shoppers to buy. Retailers are competing for your business and are offering great deals, particularly on electronics and toys. While these deals can help you save on items you already planned to buy, try and avoid making impulse purchases just because something is on sale.



Order online—At many online retailers, you still have a couple of days to make your online purchases and have them delivered on time. You will pay substantially more for overnight delivery, so be sure to factor those costs into your budget. Be sure to look for last minute discount codes at sites such as http://www.couponcabin.com/. If you’re looking for a special item, don’t forget auction sites such as Ebay as a place to find the perfect gift.

Make it personal —When you make your list, make notes about each person’s interests. For the beach lover, pack a beach bag with sunscreen, flip flops and a couple of paperback books. If you’ve got a movie junkie on your list, a gift card to the local video rental place along with some popcorn and candy might be just the ticket. Download some tunes and make a custom CD of a friend’s favorite artists. If your special person spends a lot of time working out, you can go to their gym and prepay their membership for a month. Magazines are also a great gift idea. Know someone who loves to cook? Wrap up a single issue of a cooking magazine with a note letting them know they’ll be getting one every month.




Be creative— Looking for the perfect gift for friends and family members? Framed photographs or inexpensive scrapbooks that you put together or have done online are always a hit. Spend a weekend baking and give containers of goodies to neighbors and coworkers. Maybe the people on your gift list would prefer a service to a tangible item. Who wouldn’t like a commitment for getting the car washed, a free night of babysitting, the garage or gutters cleaned, the lawn mowed, the dog walked or even the dinner cooked? Write your gift of service out on a nice card or print it up on your computer. Sign, seal, wrap and deliver. Remember that some of the most appreciated gifts don’t cost a thing.



Avoid adding to your stress by asking for ideas. You can also opt for a gift card, which will allow the recipient to choose something you know they will like. Be sure to read the fine print on using gift cards, including what happens if it is lost or if it isn’t used right away.



Avoid using credit cards for last minute purchases—It is very tempting to spend more than you’ve planned, especially when you are rushed for time and feeling the stress of holiday shopping. Leaving your credit cards at home will help ensure that you will stick to your budget and avoid the post holiday blues."
--Source: Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast (CCCS).

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Previous Posts
Today
Free Online Typing Drills: 10 Frugal Business & Craft Classes
Yesterday
Deep Breaths & Shallow Worries: 10 Holiday Changes for Next Year
How a Red Spiral Notebook Helped Me: The Power of Written Goals
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Recycled Cinderella: Same Outfits, Different Holiday Balls

Who cares if you wore that same outfit to last year's holiday party: "No one goes crazy and says: You had that on last year," my dad tells me. In fact, for a recent holiday party, my mom wore a 10-year-old red suit that was purchased for a retirement party. No one else knew or cared. The outfit was expensive at the time, but a decade later the suit still sings: "I got so many compliments," said my mother after returning from the party.

Cinderella had a fairy godmother and I have my parents, who provide lots of advice about recycling party outfits. I've needed their magic wand. In the last few weeks, I've been on the party circuit: 3 weddings, 2 bar mitzvahs and a few other dressy events.

And for the last seven events, I've trotted out the same three outfits: two embroidered silk suits and one long black skirt, with a bolero jacket. By the way, all three outfits (designer labels) are hand-me downs, from either relatives or wealthy friends. I've learned about the art of recycling formal wear from my mom and dad. "We make use of things we already own. We don't go out and buy something new every week," my father says.

Here are M&D's rules for dressing for formal events without spending a lot.

1. Check out your closet. "The first thing you need is a clean closet so that you know what you have." That's my mom quoting Suze Orman. This advice makes sense, my mom says, adding that through better organization, she has learned to stop buying the "same thing over and over." That saves money.

2. Organize clothes & shoes by color: A whole new wardrobe emerged when my mom started to arrange her outfits by color. She had a clearer picture of what she owned and which pieces worked well with others. She's even done that with her shoes and that bit of color coordination has saved money because she realized that she had way too many black shoes and didn't need to shop for more.

3. Play dress up: Try it on. Mix it up. Create your own dress rehearsals.

4. Play with accessories: Dollar Stores, thrift stores, discount chains are all great sources for playful jewelry, dress-up pieces and trendy items. "I just change up accessories," says my dad. "I just switch around." With the same basic suit, he'll wear different ties, shirts, etc. By mixing it up, he creates a new look.

5. Purchase quality basics: Although my mom will pickup accessories on the cheap, she enjoys shopping for quality for the basics: the dress, the suit, the slacks. "Buy things that you really like and feel comfortable in," she says. Above all, make sure the garment fits.

6. Don't dress for praises: "People don't look at the details of what you're wearing," she says. "They look at your overall appearance and the fit of your clothes." And if by some weird chance someone notices that your outfit has been recycled: "I would say so what!?!," my dad says.

7. Avoid trendy items. Wear elegant, but non-basic clothing.

8. Buy vintage fashion at a (real) thrift store. My parents love the Goodwill outlet near their home. Some of the items --especially the formal clothes -- are new or barely worn. (My father, however, scorns used shirts or pants, which may be too worn for another wearing.

9. Buy a fun outfit on eBay. I've seen amazing formal wear at eBay for less than $10, including shipping.

10. Party with strangers: My parents have gotten extra mileage by wearing the same outfit to different events with different crowds of friends and strangers.

My Previous Posts

Today:

Saving Money with CFLs: A Formula for Bright Lights & Lower Expenses

Yesterday:

My Jane Austen Biz Plan: 10 Smart Career Moves: An English Major's Aria

Brewing Ideas in the Hot Tub & Other Tips from Carnival of Smarter Investing

Turn Garbage Into Liquid Cash: Save 1000s of Gallons of Water

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