December 6,2006
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How Not To Break the Bank This Holiday: Part 3 of 3
Happily, you've made it through the hardest part of holiday money-saving. You learned in Part I about how to tackle your personal gift-buying strategy, and plotted your presents in Part II. All that remains is sticking to your guns. And not spending any extra money! We can all do that, right?
A good way to avoid temptation is to stay away from the malls and big-box/department stores. These shopping meccas are bound to be nonstop factories of holiday cheer in December, with the Christmas music blaring, the decorations looming, and the teeming hoards of package-laden shoppers mulling around in a haze of pre- and post- spending euphoria. This is not the environment that a disciplined consumer needs to place themselves in.
One way to buy your gifts without fighting for a parking space is to purchase all your gifts via Internet. Online shopping can be done in the convenience, privacy, and quiet of your own home, and its skyrocketing popularity assures you that the selection will be just as good –if not better!- than your local mall. Plus, there will be no fisticuffs with ornery soccer moms over the last Elmo doll.
Now that you have the basics of guilt-free holiday shopping, you should feel free to celebrate and be merry this holiday season. Spend time with your loved ones, and remember what the holidays are really about. Hint – it's not about who can spend the most on gifts.