6 Smart Shopping Strategies for 2009 Holidays

Even though the recession is purportedly ending, there’s no reason to abandon the money-saving strategies you used to purchase last year’s Christmas gifts. In fact, 73 percent of American consumers plan to save money on gifts this year by finding deals online, according to Pricegrabber.com. And, finding online bargains is not the only way to save on gifts. Here are six other smart shopping strategies for buying gifts this holiday season:

1.)Get Picky. Do you really need to buy a gift for your receptionist or your mail man? It seems that more than half of American consumers don’t think so. Pricegrabber.com data reports that 53 percent of consumers polled will cross coworkers off their shopping list, and 57 percent will leave their acquaintances with a lump of coal.

2.)Shop earlier (meaning now). Don’t wait until late November to shop for gifts, start now. Truth be told, you may be behind when it comes to shoppers who want to save. Pricegrabber.com revealed that 22 percent of consumers start shopping in October in order to get deals on their holiday gifts.

3.)Use gift cards to buy gifts. Now would be a good time to use the gift card a friend gave you last year. Don’t be afraid to use it towards the purchase of holiday gifts. What’s more, you shouldn’t be afraid to buy a gift card in increments of $10 – $30 for friends. And, the National Retail Federation (NRF) reports that consumers may prefer a gift card to a restaurant or store instead of an actual gift.

4.)Be Thrifty. It turns out that thrift shops and second-hand stores may be a saving grace for shoppers strapped for cash. The NRF’s holiday survey of shoppers found that 11 percent of respondents said they would guy gifts from a second-hand store this year.

5.)Bake your gift. More consumers are buying food products to bake or give as gifts this year. In fact, it’s one of the few places people are willing to spend a little extra. Candy and food spending rose about $10 per person, according to the NRF, and people are inviting friends over for a dinner as a gift, or baking desserts and gifting them.

6.)Don’t rule out department stores. Stores such as Macy’s, Kohl’s, and JC Penny’s are still popular with young adults ages 18 – 24, reports the NRF. And, these stores have kept prices down in an effort to keep customers coming back. Keep these shops on your radar as you do your holiday shopping.

Do you have a shopping strategy that you want to share with other military families? Share it with our military spouses on our discussion forums. And for more saving strategies, visit Military.com’s Banking and Savings Channel.