How to Shop Smart This Christmas

Christmas time is about giving and celebrating Christ. Sometimes in the spirit of giving and sharing our love with others, we forget to shop smart. Here are some of my tips:

1. Set a Budget: Set a budget within your means of what you can spend on Christmas (that doesn't mean putting it on your credit card). If you set a budget and stick with it then you won't risk overspending and causing more financial stress in the new year.

2. Utilize Ebates, Coupon Codes,  Coupons, Free Shipping and Sales: If you're shopping online, utilize free shipping deals, coupon codes and Ebates. The time it takes to shop smart is always worth it. Ebates is paid a commission for sending consumers to stores and splits the commission back to you. Hundreds of stores utilize Ebates: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Toys R Us, etc. If I buy anything online, I check to see if it's on Ebates before I make a purchase. I've been a member since 2010 and have gotten over $200 back on online purchases. Ebates will also list coupon codes for you to use to save additional money on your purchases. Click here to find out more.

3. Have a Plan: I've seen many people who wander around the stores trying to find the right gift. You should make a plan of what you're going to get before you walk into the store. That way you can look for the most affordable price that fits your budget and be able to shop around. You also lower your risk of overspending.

4. Utilize Reward Programs: If a store asks you to be a reward member (and it's free) I always say yes. Reward programs will often send high value coupons and sometimes your spending may help you reach an additional perk. For example: JcPenney Rewards sent me a $10 off a $10 or more purchase over Black Friday weekend to use at their store just for being a member. Whenever they send out the coupons, I usually head straight to the kid section and can usually pick out 1 or 2 items just over $10 and get them cheaper than I would pay for secondhand clothing. Other reward programs I like: Kohls Rewards, Red Robin Royalty, Eddie Bauer Adventure Rewards.

5. Spend What You Can, Not What You Can't: Spend what you can on gifts without getting yourself into financial trouble. If you only have $10 to spend on gifts, then spend $10. If you don't have any money to spend on gifts, then spend nothing. You can always make gifts, write a note of appreciation or do something nice for someone else.

What are some of your tips?

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