Tips for Holiday Bargain Hunters

Ho, ho, ho, it's that time of the year again. With the holiday shopping season upon us, many of us may be looking for ways to make that holiday dollar go just a little further. This is especially important for the many individuals who may be suffering because of the economic crunch that's facing our nation. Here are some tips and ideas which may help you become a more savvy holiday shopper and get a little more bang for that hard earned buck.

1. Keep an eye out for early sales: Many retailers are trying to entice shoppers to shop early by offering sales right now, rather then waiting for Black Friday. This will benefit the retailer of course by getting that merchandise moving, and it can also help the consumer. If you feel you don't have the money to take advantage of those early bird bargains, try putting your purchases on layaway. More and more retailers are offering layaway plans this holiday season and it could be a good way for you to scoop up some of those early bird savings.

2. Free Shipping: If your an online shopper, which many of us are nowadays, check out those free shipping deals. Many of the online retailers like Amazon, JCPenney, and Target, just to name a few, offer free shipping on many of their items with a minimum purchase. This can save you a lot of money if you don't have to pay postage on your holiday gifts. Online shopping is becoming a more popular option every year for holiday shoppers. It can definitely be a time saver.

3. Easy Pay Offers: QVC, HSN & ShopNBC offer a number of items on easy pay plans. With these plans, you're able to divide your payments up over a number of months on some of your purchases. Unlike layaway, easy pay items are shipped out as soon as your credit card is approved for the first payment. This is a smart way to stretch those holiday dollars if you find something that has a good price and your not able to afford the entire cost at once. Watch for those easy pay items that also may be offering free shipping. Your dollar will go just a little further.

4. Shop for used and secondhand items: Last Christmas I purchased a used Playstation game system for my grandkids. They wouldn't have gotten it if this grandma had to pay full price for it. Make sure there is a warranty on the secondhand item so you don't get stuck with a dud. This is an especially good way to purchase those big ticket items like electronic game systems, cameras etc. It can save you some big bucks if your a smart shopper. Amazon.com is a good place to find bargains on used electronics I found.

5. Purchase with a partner: If that Christmas gift list has items on it that are out of your price list, consider going together with someone else who's purchasing a gift for that same individual. On my teenage grandson's gift list , there is a request for a Letterman's jacket. That's a pretty pricey item, more then I can afford anyway, so all of his grandparents are going together on purchase of this jacket. Rather then purchasing separate gifts for him, he will be able to get this one special gift that he really wants.

I hope these holiday tips on helping you stretch those holiday dollars will make your holiday shopping just a little less stressful and a lot more enjoyable. Happy holidays!

Source: personal experience