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Holiday shopping is an adventure for many, a chore for some, and a nightmare for the rest of us. But these shopping tips could make it a little better for everyone. Now, what to give the letter carrier?
Holiday shopping is an adventure for many, a chore for some, and a nightmare for the rest of us. But these shopping tips could make it a little better for everyone. Now, what to give the letter carrier?
Need to know. MoneyWatch goes over a list of five things you "need to know" about holiday shopping this year. They include advice that the second week in December (that would be now) may be the best chance for deals, and this year's gift-card wrinkle, involving stores handing out gift cards as purchase inducements - probably instead of rebates.
Gov'ment tips. What has the federal government got to offer in the way of holiday shopping tips? Maybe the IRS is selling gift certificates. No. Instead, the Federal Trade Commission has this consumer alert - a basic buyer-beware checklist that suggests coupon clipping, price comparison, and sticking to a budget. A link to www.ftc.gov/moneymatters provides additional words of wisdom about avoiding scams and managing debt.
Retail federation. You might expect the National Retail Federation, which represents all those recession-battered stores, to be pushing slogans like, "Spend, or die." But this site has some relatively sound advice. It notes, for example, that many retailers are notifying customers by e-mail of sales and promotions, so there's some merit in getting on those lists, though they can tend to clutter your in-box. It also suggests shopping after 6 p.m. the day before an advertised sale, because some stores program registers early to accept the next day's markdowns.
Holiday tipping. What do you tip the garbage collector if you're out of a job this year? This "guide to holiday tipping during a downturn" ought to set you right on the etiquette, and how to "save without appearing cheap," as it says. The article from MSNBC notes that some workers are restricted in what they can accept as gifts from those they serve. Mail carriers, for example, are limited to noncash gifts valued at $20 or less.