Holiday Gift Shopping Ways to Reduce Impulse Spending
It is time to shop for holiday gifts and your budget is tight. You only have exactly what you need to purchase gifts for family, friends and co-workers. One impulse purchase could blow your budget out of the water so you need to really watch those dollars. Methods of staying on track with your spending include these sensible steps:
Make a list
Before you begin your shopping expedition, sit down and write out a list of exactly who you need to buy for, suggested presents and your firm budget for that person. While shopping, stick firmly to your agenda and stay within your written guidelines. You can be flexible though - if something is on sale for one person, it may allow you to spend a little more on another. Or, on the flip side, if you spend too much on one individual, pricing on other gifts may need to be adjusted.
Decide on specific stores
Some businesses are much more expensive than others and you may need to make a firm decision to steer clear of those stores with higher pricing. Even though they may have wonderful products, if they are out of your budget you need to make a point to walk past them without even looking in the display windows. Visit only those stores which you know you can afford.
Think about It
Before buying an item, sometimes it is best to take a step back and see what else is out there - especially if it is more than what you want to spend. If it appears that it might not be on the shelf for long, ask the store clerk to hold it for you for an hour or two. After continuing your shopping, you may find an item that is less expensive or something cheaper that fits that particular individual's taste more.
Use cash only
Credit cards sometimes give the illusion that there is a never-ending supply of funds available. By using cash, what you have is all you have. You can physically divide your funds and stay within your means by only using money set aside for a specific gift. Be careful not to pull out large amounts of bills though - you may find yourself a victim of a mugging or theft or even worse.
Your holiday shopping can be a fun and less stressful experience if you just stay within your budget guidelines. There is a feeling of great satisfaction when you have completed your quests for those perfect gifts and remained inside a strict budget.
