How To Know What’s Up (and Down)

The stores will release their Black Friday circulars highlighting the advertised deals in advance of the day following Thanksgiving. Consumers are encouraged to really look at the ‘deals’ being offered in this advertisement. Notice on the fine print of some items, there is a notice that outlines limitations on the sale. For instance, the circular will say “Limit 2 per store”, “No Rain Checks”, or “While Supplies Last”.

Additionally, this year’s advertisements have also small-print warnings that let consumers know that some products are only being sold in small quantities in the store. Topping the list on the ‘limited quantities in store’ products are big-screen plasma televisions and washer-dryer combos.

Deals Not That Cool

Consumers who are not aware of these common practices need to wise up about the battles ahead, Many complain that advertised deals should be backed up with sufficient quantities of merchandise or at least the option for a rain check. It seems many shoppers feel that retailers are not working much at all to bring in customers or make them happy once they are in the store. Consumers and experts alike have a hard time believing that many of the major retailers only supply 4 or 5 televisions to each store during the most-hyped shopping day of the year but spare no expense when advertising full-page specials of the same product.

Sadly, it is the excitement of getting one of that limited supply that keep consumers coming out each year. It is the same situation that caused the death of a shopper during last year’s Black Friday rush when a crowd essentially stampeded them to death, trying to get their hands on a ‘limited supply’ item.

Be Skeptical of Promises

If you are planning to brave the holiday shopping madness in-store or online on Black Friday, remember to be skeptical about deals before you get excited. Double check the small print and look for the ‘limited quantities’ disclaimer. Do not rely on rain checks to be honored if they are even offered. Even online orders can be canceled weeks after the purchase was made if the company cites the product is out of stock.

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Never Too Late to Save

While many consumers have gotten in the habit of starting a Christmas Club early in the game, many more either do not think about it in time or feel they have no money to spare. But whatever the case, even $5 a week will make a dent in your shopping needs. But for those who haven’t yet saved, there is still time. Take the remaining amount of months left until the shopping season (August to November = 3 months). Consider the amount of money you think you will spend on gifts and other holiday-specific needs and divide it by three to gain a better understanding of how much money you need to tuck away each month.

Never Too Early to Shop

While a budget may prevent a lot of miscellaneous spending, there may be benefit in purchasing items you find on sale. If you are lucky enough to find great sales on your gift ideas, make sure you keep track of what you have purchased and for whom. Don’t just throw it into a closet and forget about it until the week before Christmas or you will likely overspend on other gifts that weren’t even needed. In addition to spending a little bit at a time instead of one lump sum, you also have the advantage of finding items easier as opposed to when they are in the highest demand. By giving your self more time, you’ll also come up with better and more unique Christmas gift ideas.

Nothing Wrong with A Gift from the Heart

If you have enough time because of early planning, you may be more inclined to create gifts for others. There is no rule that says all gifts must be store bought and with the exception of some children, many people would be delighted with a homemade gift from the heart. This approach can only work if you start early so there is no rush to bring the project to completion. If you are a knitter, a woodworker, or craftsperson, there are a wide-range of items that could be worked on. Anyone with a hobby can turn a little time and effort into big savings.

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A friend of mine uses this system for everything, including presents that she purchases outside the realm of grocery and healthcare items. She has a series of envelopes stored in a safe in her home. Every year she marks a series of envelopes with the name and birth date of everyone she buys for, along with special envelopes for the new purse, new shoes, or whatever other item she considers a luxury, and the amount she intends to spend.  There are also envelopes earmarked for her vacation funds and any side trips she plans to take.

Every pay day, a set amount of money is taken from the paycheck and distributed equally into each envelope. The amount she takes from her check has been pre-determined based on her bills and other budget considerations. The amount is not that large each two weeks, but over time it builds up. When she has saved the amount of cash she needs to make the purchase, she goes shopping! She shops without the guilt, without the credit card bills, without the worries of being able to afford it. She doesn’t worry about being able to buy gifts for loved ones and she never misses a birthday or special occasion.

While it may take longer to actually buy the item you desire, financially it is well-worth the wait. Impulse buys are ceased and there is plenty of time to mull the purchase over beforehand. It also makes it easier to focus on saving money. If you have a set goal of $200 to buy the new television set you want, it is easier to focus on that $200.

If you are living on a tight budget, think of simple ways to supplement your income in order to contribute more money to your envelopes. Mow the neighbor’s lawn, cook dinner for an elderly couple, or run errands for a busy parent. You may not get rich from odd jobs but you can certainly fill up your envelopes faster.

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To be truly successful at giving gifts to women, you just need to remember three things. 1) She wants to know you cared enough to put some thought into the gift. 2) She wants to know you are giving up some of your time to give her that gift. And 3), she wants to know you are willing to spend time with her (and only her) at least one evening a year. (Of course, you do get extra points by turning an evening into a full day.)

Since Valentines Day is the obligatory male-female day of connection that comes but once a year, it is especially important to prove your love on that day. If you “forget” or “just don’t want to give into another day created by Hallmark,” points will be deducted in a big way. However, going the extra mile doesn’t have to be expensive to curry favor…it simply has to fit within the three parameters above.

Now to be truly frugal this Valentines Day, and yet make it the best Valentines Day ever, consider turning Valentines Day into a week (or even two). Some of the ideas below can be done daily and will make the woman in your life feel like a queen without buying her the tiara. All women really want is what they see in the movies…an expression of passion and thoughtfulness.

1. GIVE HER ONE FLOWER A DAY FOR TWO WEEKS: Every day, deliver any kind of flower to her in a unique and thoughtful manner. Stick them under her windshield wiper, in the toothbrush holder, in the fridge (and so on) and you will delight her each time she finds it. That’s because you are going out of your way to 1) come up with ideas, and 2) get the flowers (even though you really just stole them from your neighbor’s garden). At the end of two weeks, she will have a lovely bouquet and fourteen days of enchanting memories.

FOR EXTRA POINTS: Put a flower under her windshield wiper when she’s at work or an appointment and she will know that you went way out of your way as soon as she sees it.

1. STICK POST-ITS DECLARING YOUR LOVE FOR HER ALL OVER THE HOUSE. Put one in her coat pocket, in her purse, on the visor in her car, in her planner, etc. This is something you can do all at once, yet she will find these notes over days and weeks. It’s free to do, but your “thoughtfulness” and the romantic sayings will get you two points per note…a win-win situation.

FOR EXTRA POINTS: Use flower-shaped or heart-shaped post-its for a little extra romance.

1. DRAW HER A BUBBLE BATH WITH CANDLES LIT ALL AROUND. I know…this is an old cliché…and yet it never grows old. Even though she may want to take the bath without you in it, you’ll get points for drawing the bath, the bubbles, and every candle you lit. Throw some rose petals on top of those bubbles, and you are bringing the magic of the movies into her life.

FOR EXTRA POINTS: Throw her towel in the dryer just before she’s ready to get out for that special spa treatment.

1. HAVE A MYSTERIOUS GIFT DELIVERED TO HER WORK. Make a special plan for the evening and deliver something that she will need for that event. For example, a pair of her comfortable boots for a nature hike, or one of her favorite sweaters for a night at the beach. She’ll be trying to guess all day what you have planned, which adds excitement to what may otherwise be an ordinary date. Always include a single rose.

FOR EXTRA POINTS: Make that a brand new gift and you’ll get extra points for that as well.

<!–[if !supportLists]–>5. <!–[endif]–>TAKE HER TO A ROMANTIC LOCATION FOR A PICNIC. You don’t have to be fancy with the picnic fare. Grab her favorite sandwich from Subway or some pre-made chicken and potato salad at your local grocery store. Take her someplace you might have taken her when you were teenagers…someplace where making out could be an option…and don’t forget the blanket to sit (or lay) on.

FOR EXTRA POINTS: Make that picnic occur at sunset. If the weather is cold, find an indoor location where you can watch the sunset in comfort.

Feel free to use these ideas without deviation, or brainstorm to think of a few of your own. Just remember, all the woman wants to know is that you are willing to go that extra mile…even if it is a requirement.

How to Be Cheap on Valentines Day Without Getting Your Butt Kicked was created by and is property of American Consumer News.