How to Save Money Buying Christmas Gifts

Christmas, for many people, means breaking the bank and going into debt for months to come in the quest to buy everyone on their list the perfect gift. It needn’t be so! Check out these ways to stretch your dollar Christmas shopping.


Peruse the sales flyers.Whether or not you have a specific item in mind, scanning the daily and weekly sales ads will alert you to great deals at your local stores. Compare prices for the same item at several different stores and find the best deal. Pricing changes quickly, so make sure to take the time to shop while your item is still being advertised at the lower price. Once inside the store, don’t get caught up in the shopping moment and start grabbing items willy nilly. Many times the best deals are offered as “loss leaders” in the hopes you will continue shopping and pay full price for other items.

Clip coupons.Many major department stores offer an additional percentage off coupon in their sale flyers. Combining this with a reduced price item really pays off. I was able to shop at Macy’s, usually one of the higher priced merchants, using a coupon worth 15 - 30% off in combination with their after Thanksgiving sale to find some great bargains. I didn’t pay more than $20 for any gift! If there is a particular store you favor, be sure to sign up at their website to receive any special deals. Oftentimes you will receive a coupon or special offer before it is offered to the general public.

Shop the Internet. Even if you find an item at a similar price in a store, it pays to order it on the Internet as many times the website does not charge tax or offers free shipping. This will save you both time and money! Sometimes will be worthwhile to place one large order which may offer you the maximum discount. Many times, however, it is better to make one purchase as the online vendor may offer a discount on a future purchase to returning customers. I did this with Sharper Image. After placing my first order and signing up for their Email specials, I was immediately offered a 10% discount on my next order so I went back and finished shopping with an additional 10% off.