What if a store owes you a refund and you didn’t even know it?
Trying to do price matching on your own can take hours. And who has time for that? Why not let Paribus do the work for you.
With this amazing money-saving tool, all you do is shop online as usual. Then, Paribus tracks your online orders and monitors over 25 major retailers (including Walmart, Target, Macy’s) for price changes.
If they spot a price drop, they notify you and can negotiate to get you the lower price.
But wait, there’s more!
Because, not only does Paribus track for price drops, but:
They also track your shipments from select online retailers like Amazon. And they can get you compensated for any late deliveries.
Plus, they track return policy windows so you won’t miss out on return deadlines.
Now here’s a new site that I recently learned about and had to try.
The Honey browser extension is a free download. It automatically searches over 40,000 retailers for the best coupons and promotional codes you can apply when you shop online, including Amazon.
Plus, shopping with Honey earns you Honey Gold. And for every 1,000 in Gold, you earn a $10 gift card to your favorite stores. Again, that includes Amazon.
So, it’s just one more way you save and earn without any extra effort on your part.
Trim Finacial Manager is a virtual personal assistant that looks for ways to save you money.
It can cancel your old subscriptions, track your monthly Uber spending, and fight fees automatically.
This may help you find more money, which can increase your holiday spending budget.
But to help with your mission to shop smart, one of the best features of Trim is the ability to set spending alerts.
And we all need as much free help as we can get in the battle against overspending and holiday debt!
Layaway Is Better Than Credit
Here’s another great way to stretch your budget and shop smart. Try placing the items you want on layaway. It’s a perfect way to pay as go without incurring interest.
I’m so surprised at how many major retailers still offer this amazing service. Some of them include Walmart, Marshalls, Burlington, and more.
However, here are a few key things you should find out beforehand:
How much time do you have to pay off the items
The frequency of the payment schedule
Can you make payments online, in-store, or over the phone
Are there any account set up fees
How much is the down payment
Are there any cancellation fees
When is the pick-up deadline and where
This has been one of my “go-to” shop smart methods in the past. And I think I’ve done layaways at every store mentioned above — and then some, lol.
Speaking of things that are better than credit, make sure to sign up for store loyalty and rewards cards.
They’re free, and yet another way to earn or save money at places where you already shop.
Case in point, you can save up to $1 off gasoline with a Krogers card. Or up to 2.5% savings on merchandise at Best Buy. And Walgreens will even give you up to 1.2% savings for exercising with their balance rewards card.
If you want a list of more awesome rewards, then click here for tips on the seventeen best store loyalty programs to join.
Ask For A Better Deal
Is it possible to get merchandise for a lower price than what is marked?
The answer is, “yes,” it is absolutely possible!
Some retailers ARE willing to negotiate prices for customers who are brave enough to ask.
I’m not a natural haggler myself, but I have been known to score a better deal from time to time just by asking.
I figure if they say “no,” then what did I lose? Nothing, right? And, I always have to choice to either buy it or walk away.
I just tell myself that it’s their loss and chances are, I probably didn’t need it anyway.
Always Save Receipts
Some people thrive off the energy and atmosphere of in-store holiday shopping. And if you’re one of them, then here’s a helpful reminder.
Make sure to save your receipts! And keep them in a safe location where you can find them if you need them.
That way, if you purchase something and the price drops within the next couple of weeks, you can ask to be refunded the difference in the cost.
The tricky thing is that you have to watch for in-store price changes yourself. Remember, Paribus only works for online shopping.
I’ve done this before several times, and it worked well! However, it all depends on the store’s policy.
But some stores that allow price matching will even refund you the difference based on their competitor’s ads. Hey, not bad, right?
So hold tight to those receipts, because you may be able to put even more money back into your own pocket!
The Bottomline
It can be super easy to get enticed into spending more than you can afford.
But after Black Friday and the holidays have come and gone, don’t be left with more debt than you started with.
Fortunately, you can use all or some of the great tips and tools mentioned above to help keep your budget intact.
And you can end this year with a BANG instead of a BUST!
So remember, always shop smart. But most importantly…
Enjoy the season!
Hey, don’t forget to Grab Your FREE No-Debt Checklist!
9 Replies to “How To Shop Smart For The Holidays And Avoid Debt”
I love the Dollar Tree for gift wrap supplies! Lots of variety and since the rolls are on the smaller side I never have to store stuff year to year! I buy 2 rolls and a few gift bags and I’m set!
You’re so right about the variety Kari! And it is affordable enough so that you don’t have to worry about looking for a deal…because it’s all a deal! Plus, I like that you buy just want you need for the season and don’t have all the leftover supplies taking up space, like I do, lol!
Great tips for shopping smart and avoiding holiday debt! I feel like I could have written this post myself. One thing I do is add money to a holiday savings account all year long. I start at Christmas the year before so that by November, I have all the cash I need to pay for holiday purchases.
That is excellent Rebecca! It requires being focused and planning ahead. And as long as you spend only what you have saved, you won’t find yourself still paying for this Christmas by the time next Christmas rolls around. Smart idea! Plus, thank you for the compliment because I love your writing! 🙂
These are great tips! I always overspend on holiday shopping and am determined to stick to budget this year, so thank you for this great info, it will definitely help.
I’ve definitely been there with the whole overspending for the holiday thing. I’ve found that it’s best to set a hard spending limit based on what you can comfortably budget for — without creating debt. And then, stick to it! I know you can do it!
My husband and I are fully embracing all the great online deals this year while also shopping outside of the ‘usual shopping hours’, freeing up our time to hustle in our work lives during the day!
That sounds like a great strategy! And you’ll probably have a more peaceful experience. Thanks for sharing!
I love the Dollar Tree for gift wrap supplies! Lots of variety and since the rolls are on the smaller side I never have to store stuff year to year! I buy 2 rolls and a few gift bags and I’m set!
You’re so right about the variety Kari! And it is affordable enough so that you don’t have to worry about looking for a deal…because it’s all a deal! Plus, I like that you buy just want you need for the season and don’t have all the leftover supplies taking up space, like I do, lol!
Great tips for shopping smart and avoiding holiday debt! I feel like I could have written this post myself. One thing I do is add money to a holiday savings account all year long. I start at Christmas the year before so that by November, I have all the cash I need to pay for holiday purchases.
That is excellent Rebecca! It requires being focused and planning ahead. And as long as you spend only what you have saved, you won’t find yourself still paying for this Christmas by the time next Christmas rolls around. Smart idea! Plus, thank you for the compliment because I love your writing! 🙂
These are great tips! I always overspend on holiday shopping and am determined to stick to budget this year, so thank you for this great info, it will definitely help.
I’ve definitely been there with the whole overspending for the holiday thing. I’ve found that it’s best to set a hard spending limit based on what you can comfortably budget for — without creating debt. And then, stick to it! I know you can do it!
My husband and I are fully embracing all the great online deals this year while also shopping outside of the ‘usual shopping hours’, freeing up our time to hustle in our work lives during the day!
That sounds like a great strategy! And you’ll probably have a more peaceful experience. Thanks for sharing!