Holiday Shopping Tips

With the economy in the state it is in, almost everyone is going to be searching for a way to save some money this holiday season. Luckily, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate and enjoy the season without emptying your pockets as much as you have in the past.

Food is a big item during this time of year. One thing I must stress is that you should not be scared of the off brands - the dreaded generic food. The infected food popping up everywhere lately is not only affecting these brands, but name brands as well. Any is just as likely as the other to be infected. Quite often, in fact, these foods are produced in the same factory, and a different label is slapped on them. Voila, a new product! The best "off brand" items I find are simple things like cereals (Malt O Meal is not bad at all), peanut butter, margarines, crackers and most other bread items, juices and juice mixes, and things like that.

Another important thing to keep in mind is to use the coupons you get in the mail and in the newspaper instead of throwing them away, as well as printable ones from the internet. The key is to write down a list of what you are going to purchase anyway, and then to go through the coupons. Don't buy an item just because there is a coupon for it - buy it because you need it or want it anyway, and you can save money on it. I know someone who has gotten many a grocery item completely free or for only a few cents after combining numerous coupons and purchasing things already on sale - never underestimate the power of that discount.

As other items go - gifts, wrapping paper, and greeting cards, for example - don't forget to take advantage of the bad economy. Terrible as it sounds, many stores are being shut down (Circuit City, for one) in Columbus, where I live, and if I were doing holiday shopping at the moment I would certainly take advantage of the incredibly large sales at those locations. Many stores are lowering prices, getting rid of their stock before they close, or offering discounts or free shipping to customers who spend over a certain amount. Keeping in mind not to buy too much on impulse, you can still take advantage of these offers if you plan to spend a certain amount as it is or have a specific item in mind.

As popular as "going green" has been lately, it can't hurt to use a different sort of wrapping paper, if you're up to it. Reusing newspaper ends, butcher paper, or something else of the sort can give the family something fun to do and save money at the same time. Decorating the paper with stamps and drawings will personalize it, is slightly more economically friendly than the wrapping paper we buy at the store, and saves your wallet a bit of money. The same thing can be done for greeting cards. Don't fear looking cheap - you'll find that most people will look kindly upon more personalized gifts and enjoy the thought and time you put into it.

Wal-Mart and similar discount stores aren't to be feared, either, especially when they sell the same toys that the enormous toy store has - the only difference is that at discount stores the price is up to fifty percent cheaper. Some items may sell quickly though, so keep an eye out. It is also always a good idea to check on local stores - dollar stores sometimes carry overstock on brand name items for a little less money - maybe the package is flawed or some such thing. Outlet stores, dollar stores, discount stores, and local shops are all things to look into this season.

Lastly, keep in mind the tip people probably hear most often - one inexpensive but well thought out gift may mean thousands more in the mind of the recipient than a lavishly expensive gift that he or she did not want.