Here we are, only two shopping days before Ho Ho Ho gifts’ day! Hopefully, most of us have been good consumers and bought early, using previous advice on how to save money both online and in stores. If not, though, don’t despair. Any gifters who must brave the masses for last-minute presents, please check out these suggestions:
* If you’re going to brave the stores, shop early in the day. Extra-long checkout lines and throngs of shoppers are two of the biggest stresses of shopping in-store, particularly the final few days before Christmas. But many stores are open early and late during the holidays. To escape the crowds of fellow procrastinators, head in during these times. Early hours are the better of the two because store employees will organize and restock shelves overnight, making it much easier to find what you need. By late evening, many items will have been picked over and shelves can be a jumble.
* Grab discounted gift cards. Maybe the item you want has sold out, or you finally realized you won’t find the perfect present. Hence, a gift card. Without repeating earlier discussion about gift cards, this is the easiest gift to grab and one that gives the recipient the flexibility to buy what he or she wants. In fact, we frequently can get deals on gift cards all the way up to Christmas Eve, such as a $50 gift card for $40. “You can actually pay 8 to 20 percent less than the gift card’s face value by using websites like GiftCardGranny.com, CardPool.com, Raise.com and GiftCards.com,” according to expert Kyle James, founder of Rather-Be-Shopping.com. Take a look at the section on gift cards at Dealnews for some options, or check the websites of restaurants or brands your intended recipient likes. You can even find good deals on gift cards at, of all places, the local gas station.
* Think about gifting an “experience.” Everyone is searching for presents they can wrap and put under the tree, but research shows that spending money on experiences rather than items often yields greater satisfaction. In addition to this type of gift about which I’ve written this month, think about a shared experience. A trip, a cheaper shared movie or Broadway theatre ticket, for example, gives us a sense of kinship that a wrapped present under the tree usually does not.
* Consolidate your shopping. This means heading to places such as department stores, garden centers with gift shops, drugstores with great ranges of goodies, warehouses, and even the supermarket. Purchasing as many gifts in the one place as possible maximizes efficiency.
* Use your talents. Painting, pottery making, photography, bridge lessons, a cooking class, car repair, or even “non”-talents, such as dog-walking or manicures make for a really thoughtful gift. Create a colorful coupon offering your service to be used in the weeks ahead to avoid some of the pressure of traditional gift-giving.
* Regift. If it’s come down to the wire and you’re really in a pickle, as a last resort consider regifting. Just make sure your gift doesn’t fall into the hands of the person who originally gave it to you. (This happened to me a few years ago so now I make a list of who gives what so as not to repeat the embarrassment!)
And, finally, my traditional close to loyal readers and beyond for this special time each year: Regardless of your faith, culture, or inclination, have a very Merry Christmas!
Ellen Phillips Contact Ellen Phillips at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com.