Check the calendar. No, this isnB次元官网网址檛 a dream. It really is December, and Christmas Day is staring you straight in the face.
And if you celebrate Hanukkah, itB次元官网网址檚 coming even sooner.
Where did the holiday season go? Well, no time to reminisce now.
ItB次元官网网址檚 down to the wire, but there are still methods to save money on your last-minute holiday purchases. Here are four simple ways to do it.
1. Jingle all the way to the store
YouB次元官网网址檙e not the only one still shopping. In fact, Dec. 21 B次元官网网址� dubbed Super Saturday because itB次元官网网址檚 the last Saturday before Christmas B次元官网网址� is expected to be the second busiest shopping day, after Black Friday, according to ShopperTrak data from Sensormatic Solutions.
Your first instinct may be to shop online and avoid the crowded mall. But not so fast, says Christopher Newman, associate professor of marketing at the University of Mississippi.
B次元官网网址淪hoppers can increase the chance that they get the right product at the best price by shopping in store, rather than online, just before Christmas,B次元官网网址� Newman said in an email.
B次元官网网址淭his ensures that they arenB次元官网网址檛 limited to choosing from just the products that could ship in time for the holiday.B次元官网网址�
Last-minute online shopping may also carry hefty shipping fees. Dec. 14 is the widely accepted cutoff for Christmas ground shipping this year, according to Rob Garf, vice-president of Strategy and Insights for Retail & Consumer Goods at Salesforce.
If you order online after that, youB次元官网网址檒l likely have to pay to expedite the shipment.
2. Or buy online, pick up in store
If youB次元官网网址檇 rather not shop entirely at the store or entirely online, try shopping online and picking up your items at the store. In fact, buying online and retrieving your purchases from the store is a good option for shoppers, Garf says.
B次元官网网址淚t gives (consumers) the confidence that the product is going to be there and itB次元官网网址檚 going to give them the convenience that they can walk right in and pick it up,B次元官网网址� Garf says.
He adds that some retailers may even extend an extra coupon or discount to shoppers who elect to buy online and pick up in store. Walmart does this.
This option is also good for retailers. Retailers offering buy online, pick up in store (also known as click and collect) will drive 28% more revenue share across their industry during the five days before Christmas compared with those that donB次元官网网址檛, according to the 2019 Salesforce Holiday Insights and Predictions.
Retailers also know shoppers may be tempted to purchase additional items when they show up at the store.
3. Pick private-label presents
Purchase method aside, you also want to consider which items are on your gift list. When you have limited time to shop, itB次元官网网址檚 wise to narrow down your choices. Instead of sticking to your original plan, consider switching to less expensive presents.
Certain items are known to be cheaper just before Christmas, such as toys or previous-model electronics that didnB次元官网网址檛 sell well throughout the season.
You can also save money by changing the brands you buy. Consumers can get particularly good deals on a retailerB次元官网网址檚 own private label, for instance. Think the Kindle and Echo products from Amazon, or the Kirkland Signature line at Costco.
B次元官网网址淧rivate-label products are already generally 15%-20% cheaper than their national brand counterparts, but shoppers can save even more around Christmas,B次元官网网址� Newman said.
B次元官网网址淩etailers can offer better deals on their private label brands than on national brands because their profit margins are higher on private labels to begin with.B次元官网网址�
4. Pounce on limited-time sales
The fact that youB次元官网网址檝e waited to shop until the final days before Christmas doesnB次元官网网址檛 surprise retailers. Newman says they know many shoppers delay, so they offer last-minute savings opportunities.
Be on the lookout for these types of promotions. They may be announced in advance, such as seven days of deals leading up to Christmas. Or, they may be spur-of-the-moment B次元官网网址渇lash salesB次元官网网址� that happen without notice.
B次元官网网址淪hoppers usually have to be vigilant and proactive in order to act upon last-minute flash sales,B次元官网网址� Newman said.
Regularly check your email, social media and retailer websites to locate these if theyB次元官网网址檙e announced.
And whatever you do, remember that nowB次元官网网址檚 the time to start springing into action.
B次元官网网址淐onsumers are going to wake up from their Thanksgiving hangover and realize they have a really short time to swoop up the deals and make sure the presents get on the doorsteps and under the tree before Christmas,B次元官网网址� Garf says.
Courtney Jespersen Of Nerdwallet, The Associated Press
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