How to Find Holiday Savings after Black Friday and Cyber Monday

While Black Friday sales were a record $6.22 billion , there’s still a lot of holiday shopping to be done. Many people will procrastinate and if this year is like last year, only 12% of American consumers will be finished with their holiday shopping by December 12. About 10% of shoppers will be looking for gifts on Christmas Eve.

If you are one of the last-minute shoppers, don’t worry. You can still save money on gifts and décor. Here are a few tips to that will keep more of your money in your wallet.

Did You Forget to Plan?

Hopefully, at this point, you have some idea of what gifts you will buy. If not, make a plan and a budget now. You will spend more money if you go to the mall or get online without a plan, especially if you are rushing into a store on Christmas Eve. Don’t be distracted by what seems like a good deal. Stick to your list. And go ahead and purchase a couple of extra gifts in case you forget someone.

The Best Shopping Days Are Still Ahead

We hear a lot about Black Friday and Cyber Monday but you have two more important shopping days that can save you money. Both of them are online days. Green Monday is the second Monday of December and it is significant for online shoppers. This is the last Monday you can purchase your presents and be sure they will arrive by Christmas Eve. Green Monday falls on December 10 this year. Retailers know a lot of last-minute shoppers will be looking for deals online and many will offer discounts. Waiting until Green Monday is a risk if your package gets lost but you could save some money.

Shoppers who want to procrastinate a few more days can take advantage of free shipping days. Again, retailers will offer some discounts because they know shoppers will be online. Remember many retailers offer free shipping anyway so you might not want to wait.

Check Social Media for Deals

Some retailers – large and small – will post special deals on their social media pages. Follow your favorite stores on social media and also follow stores like Etsy that sell unique handmade goods. Some of the deals are for a limited time so be prepared to act fast.

Use Your Loyalty and Reward Cards

Put some money back in your pocket by using your reward credit cards even if you have the money to purchase the gifts. Simply pay off the balance on your next bill to avoid the interest fees while still getting the rewards.

Rack up the points on your store loyalty cards during the holiday season. Many retailers have these cards that allow you to get free stuff. Kroger quadruples fuel points on purchases of gift cards through December 11. Make sure you read the fine print and make sure your purchases qualify.

Have you finished your holiday shopping? What are you doing to save money? Let us know in the comments below.

Read More

How to Afford Your Mid-Life Crisis

Easy Ways to Save Money on Food

What is the UltraFICO Score?