Tips for Moms » Holiday Shopping

Should I Use Cash or Credit Cards for Holiday Shopping?

Tips for Moms — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:22:36 +0000

In answer to the question “Should I use cash or credit cards for holiday shopping“, you may be surprised that while cash is preferable, it may be necessary to use a credit card.

If you are shopping at department stores or malls, of course, the best advice most experts offer is to pay with cash or a debit card. The less debt you have after the holiday season the better.

However, if you plan to shop online this holiday season you will need to use a credit card. There is one caveat, however; try to pay the balance of the debt before Christmas.

Someone once remarked that cash will be obsolete in a few years time. Actually, that may not happen. In this digital age of computers, there is no argument to be made that it is easier to use a credit card for just about any purchase. However, with the new swiping machines at coffee houses, office supply stores, supermarkets, and department stores, it can make the shopping experience a more pleasant one.

What is overlooked is the cost to the consumer. The prices of retail items surge whenever a department head decides to make improvements that “benefit” the consumer.

In the old days, our grandparents rarely bought anything on credit. That is to say, while they may not have used charge cards, they would often ask the merchant to put the purchased items on the books to be paid at a later time. The point is, if they couldn’t afford to buy something, they just didn’t buy it.

Christmas during those days did not encompass mounds of gifts under the tree. It was all about family – coming together to celebrate an event that had meaning and purpose in their lives. If there were any gifts given, they were tokens of affection.

Although credit cards may be considered a convenience today, they are often nothing more than the start of ongoing debt that can be devastating to families who barely make ends meet. Buying on credit offers short-term satisfaction with long-term pain.

If we can avoid credit card debt now, perhaps they will have a future to look forward to that doesn’t involve bankruptcies, foreclosures, and a long-awaited retirement that may never come.

Suggested Reading:
+ Debt Financing and Equity Financing

Tips on How to Keep your Cash Safe when Shopping

Tips for Moms — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 12:53:01 +0000

With the holiday season just around the corner, you will most likely make frequent visits to your local department stores. Here are some tips to keep your cash safe when shopping.

Let’s face it; we carry everything we own in our pocketbooks. But, during the Christmas holiday season, with the hoards of crowds invading most shopping malls and stores, it is advisable to utilize these tips to protect your cash and your personal information as well.

* Purchase either a neck pouch or money belt to wear when shopping. Carry the minimum amount of items such as car keys, license, cash and/or credit card.

There are a myriad of thieves who scour the stores just waiting for some unsuspecting man or woman to turn away, or bump into them to steal their wallet or the wallet out of their purse. Yes, they are that good!

By not bringing a purse or pocketbook, you are protecting not only the cash on hand but your personal information as well. Imagine if your purse was stolen and inside were your credit card, cash, license, even a copy of your social security number. The damage this can do to your financial life is immeasurable.

During the holidays, carry as little with you as possible. Try not to make it any easier for the thieves to carry out their plans using you as their victim.

* Always be aware of people around you. If you take money out of the ATM machines, cup one hand over the keyboard as you type in your account number. Check to make sure no one is standing behind you with a cell phone. This is how they steal your account number, by taking pictures as you punch in the numbers.

* If you are shopping during the peak holiday season, plan your route within each department of the store. Check out, beforehand, where the items are located and buy just those items and leave. Don’t stop to browse or look for items not on your list.

In the old days, our grandparents used to carry cash in a little pouch and use a safety pin to attach it to the inside of their clothing. Perhaps this is where the pouch belts used today first originated.

While it’s a sad commentary on our society that we have to stay ever vigilant during certain times of the year, it is nonetheless important to safeguard your cash, possessions, and your person.

Holiday Shopping 101

Tips for Moms — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:25:50 +0000

With Christmas just around the corner, here are some shopping tips and suggestions that can save you money and help reduce the time spent shopping.

Department Stores

* Make your gift list before you shop.
* Assign a dollar value to each gift and stick to it.
* Begin shopping earlier in the year, preferably in the spring or summer.
* If you shop at department stores in the late fall, plan on arriving early in the morning and at the beginning of the week.
* Go directly to the department where you’ll find your gift items.
* Try not to stray from your destination by browsing.
* Pay with cash whenever possible or use a debit card.
* If there are sales in any given week, arrange to arrive early and buy several of the same items in case you need an extra gift. Check your local newspapers daily.
* If you have to use a credit card, bring only one with you. Pay off the purchase when the bill is received.
* Give yourself two or three days to complete your holiday shopping.

Online Shopping

* Only shop on secure websites. Look for the lock at the bottom right hand corner of the website as well as the “https” in the URL on the payment page.
* Use one credit card only for all purchases.
* Go to coupon sites to check what merchandise is available with a discount.
* After you have placed your order, clear your history on the computer.
* Never leave your computer on after you have made purchases. Clear your cache, history, and shut it down. (This applies to cable modem users).
* Ensure that the website has an address and telephone and/or online communication in case there is a problem.
* Most well-known sites will send you an email immediately after purchase to confirm.
* Print out all purchases. Keep track of confirmation numbers as well as tracking numbers.
* Ensure that your computer has the most updated security software.
* Check your credit report in January. You are allowed free access annually.

These are just some tips and suggestions to think about during the holiday shopping season. You may have arrived at other great suggestions that have offered you a pleasant shopping experience.

If you carry cash, purchase a pouch that you can wear either around your waist or around your neck. Never leave your purse open in a store and always keep your purse close to the front of your body. Make sure you leave the store with your credit card, and always be vigilant about the people around you, especially when retrieving money from an ATM machine.