How much do you expect to spend this holiday season? The average shopper is expected to spend about $833 on gifts and holiday items – a few more dollars than last year, according to the National Retail Federation.
A good way to stretch your budget is to comparison shop. Jamie Lettis, associate editor at Checbook.org says online tools can make the job quick and easy.
“We’ve tried Honey, Price Grabber, Shop Savvy, and Yahoo Shopping,” Lettis said. “None of these is a perfect tool, but they all work, and if you take the time to use them, you can save some money.”
You can even price shop while you’re at the store. Just take out your phone, and see if another retailer has a lower price.
“Many stores will definitely price match. They don’t want to lose your business,” Lettis said. “You go to customer service, and you say, ‘Look, here I am, I want this item. You have it, I want to buy it from you. But I could save $25 if I buy it somewhere else. What can you do?’ And most times you’re going to get that price match.”
More Info: Checkbook’s Top Holiday Shopping Tips
