While some are avoiding holiday shopping stress by purchasing gifts online, others are still looking forward to the hustle and bustle of overflowing parking lots and crowded malls to find the perfect gift.
After a Gallup survey conducted Nov. 3-6, Americans currently estimate they will spend an average of $764 on Christmas gifts this year – $50 more than the $714 they estimated this time last year.
On the other hand, according to Forbes Insight, affluent consumers are planning to spend close to $1,850 during the holiday season – an increase of 2 percent over 2010 and 5 percent over 2009.
Whether you’re on a budget or have free flowing cash to spend at a mall or retail store, the National Retail Federation recommends following these tips for smart holiday shopping:
Shop after 6 p.m. the evening before a sale is advertised to begin. Many retailers program the registers the night before, so the sale may already come up in the register even if they have not changed out signs on the selling floor yet. Ask the associate in advance for any possible upcoming sales, especially on big ticket items.
Avoid crowds by shopping during stores’ early and late extended hours.
Staple a gift receipt to the merchandise tag in case it needs to be returned or exchanged. Keep your original receipts with any warranty paperwork for the life of the warranty.
Be vigilant. Make sure to stash your cash in a safe place within a wallet while shopping. When paying with cash at the register, only pull out of your wallet what the amount totals, not the entire stash. This also applies to personal items you carry through the stores, including shopping bags and purses.
When parking in a large parking lot, make sure to keep all items in the trunk of the car and out of sight. It also helps to park near a light if you know it will be dark by the time you are done. Mentally locate the nearest security office or officers in case an emergency occurs so that you can easily track down appropriate personnel.
