Holidays are a time of the year that present lots of opportunity to spread joy and warm hearts, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that they tend to be stressful. As you visit the common shopping stores you begin to hear the holiday music playing through the various speakers of your favorite retail outlets, and then the pressure is on. Luckily, with the use of effective gift guides, as well as conditioning of natural awareness, it can be quite a fun time overall.

The pressure of the holidays doesn’t have to be something that puts you into a state of panic. It can be something that you merely recognize and set as a reminder for what ‘to do’ during the holiday’s and the shopping journey, as well as what ‘not to do’.  Here are 5 mistakes that are best avoided when you are shopping for your gifts for the holiday.

1. Not making a list– If you go out shopping and you just think you’re going to ‘wing’ it, then more likely than not you are going to over-spend. If you put together a list you can proceed to ‘educated shopping’ and have an awareness at remotely how much you’re going to spend.

2. Not considering coupons– Coupons are promoted heavily during the holiday season to encourage customers to come and shop at ‘X’ location. Several consumers overlook this concept when the overall savings that can be obtained can lead to a very large amount of money. Don’t make this mistake and realize you couldn’t have saved 30-50% off when it’s already too late.

3. Home-made gifts – Don’t overlook the idea of creating a gift for certain loved ones. Some people simply love the idea of a sentimental gift, as opposed to a materialistic gift. If this is the case then taking the time to make something special for that particular individual will not only save money, but it will make them happier as well. It’s a win-win situation.

4. Budget – Not keeping track of the amount of money being spent can lead to a hefty bill to pay off later, and that doesn’t do anyone any good. Take the time to consider what you can afford to spend, and as you are shopping track the expenses as you go. Set an amount that you can likely spend for each person and work from that number.

5. Opening a new credit card – Several stores promote that if you sign up for their credit card, then you will receive 10-15% off. While in theory this sounds good, you actually aren’t saving money when you do this. The high interest rate of the card if you carry a balance cancels those savings quickly, and in addition to that, your own credit score will be impacted for the entire year on account that you applied for new credit. The claim that you need this to complete holiday shopping is further validation that you don’t need it, you simply need to put together a budget you can afford without making your life more challenging.

When it comes time to shop for the holiday the wrong approach can set you behind in several ways. Have a safe and productive holiday and keep in mind what truly matters, the genuine feel of happiness and joy.

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