10 tips to save money on holiday gifts

The term “retail therapy” implies that some people delight in shopping, but others grumble like Scrooge at the very thought of scouring the internet or trekking to a mall or big box store. Whether shopping brings you joy or pain, the holiday buying season has arrived.

Here are 10 surefire ways for you to save money and avoid hassles. And see the ratings and advice free of charge until Jan. 5 at Checkbook.org/Inquirer/Shop.

Consumers’ Checkbook’s researchers spent 33 weeks tracking sale prices at 25 major retailers and found that most stores’ discount claims aren’t really discounts because the same items are almost always on sale. Even if a retailer promises savings of 60% or more, it’s probably not a genuine discount — and likely not the lowest available price. Shop around to make sure you’re not overpaying.

There are dozens of apps and websites that can help you shop for the lowest prices quickly, including Honey, PriceGrabber, and ShopSavvy. Amazon’s price-checking tool is integrated into its mobile app. CamelCamelCamel, which tracks price histories of items sold by Amazon for the last year, is often helpful. An internet search will usually help you determine whether a store is offering a low or high price. Also check prices offered by the store’s main competitors.

» READ MORE: Stores have expanded the Black Friday shopping season, with some having offered sales since October

When checking out online, you’ll often see spaces for coupon codes. Do an internet search for codes. Several websites track these deals: We most often check CouponCabin, RetailMeNot, and SlickDeals. Sometimes the codes are expired, but a few minutes of effort is worth the savings. We recently cut $20 off a $100 Foot Locker buy, and snagged 40% off at Gap.

If you’re a senior, military or veteran family, teacher, student, or first responder, check whether you qualify for a special discount. Some retailers give these discounts only in a store, but others apply the discount to online orders after a verification process.

Many online retailers pay referral commissions to businesses that send them customers. Online shopping portals, including BeFrugal, Rakuten, and MrRebates, give their customers a cut of those: Adidas was recently offering 15% cashback via Rakuten, and Nike was offering 10%. That extra coin can make a significant difference in your total spend.

Connect with retailers on social media and sign up for promotional emails, which retailers use to share discount codes and deals. Many stores offer onetime discounts of 10% to 25% when you agree to sign up for their email lists. Following Instagram influencers can also pay off when retailers partner with them to offer special deals.

It may seem passé, but many retailers still hit mailboxes with catalogs and coupons. The trick is to avoid temptation for things you don’t need and save only the ones you know jibe with your shopping list. If there’s a coupon code, snap a pic with your phone and trash the catalog to avoid a junk pile.

If you’re shopping in-store, and find a lower price elsewhere, ask a salesperson or cashier for a price match. Many stores will honor lower prices offered by their competitors, and we find most stores make it quite easy to do.

You should also keep an eye on retailers’ sites for a couple weeks after you’ve shopped to see if prices have dropped. Many stores will refund the difference. Check polices on websites, some stores offer an adjustment within seven days of purchase, some 30 days or longer.

You can usually get a big onetime discount for your first purchase made with a retailer-issued credit card, and with some you continue to get smaller regular discounts or rebates every time you use their cards.

Know that each application will trigger an inquiry on your credit report, and might negatively affect your credit score. Even more important: Most store credit cards charge very high interest rates (routinely 25% APR or higher). Pay the bill in full each month to avoid interest.

In addition, when you pay with plastic you get strong consumer protections. If you’re a victim of fraud, get a defective item or service, or otherwise encounter problems that the seller won’t make right, you can dispute the charge and likely will get your money back.

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) is relatively new, but the basic model is simple: Buy what you want and pay back the loan in equal installments, often without interest.

While BNPL is marketed as a smarter, more consumer-friendly way to pay, these point-of-sale loans can lure you into buying things you can’t afford. Not all BNPL offers are the same; check the terms and conditions before using a service. Most BNPL loans have late fees, which in some cases, may be reported to the credit bureaus and damage your credit history.

Delaware Valley Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help consumers get the best service and lowest prices. It is supported by consumers and takes no money from the service providers we evaluate.