2008 Woodie Awards
Budgeting key to holiday shopping
Make a list, compare prices to save money on gifts
By: Tim Ottusch
Issue date: 12/5/07 Section: Lifeline
- Page 1 of 1
Holidays may be the greatest time of the year for some people, but they also can be one of the most stressful.
With the semester coming to a close and the holidays nearing, shopping has come to the forefront of most people's priorities.
College students notoriously are broke, so buying on a budget becomes vital to stay out of debt.
"By the time all the cheering and the good times end, most people have a financial burden on them at the beginning of the new year that at times can seem unbearable to get out of," said John Gawryk, manager of financial services.
To avoid starting the new year in the hole and still being able to get your friends and family something special, a budget and some good thought are essential.
Gawryk suggests planning early for budgets by putting away money every month, so a person's budget is known and defined when the shopping season arrives. For people who don't do that, setting a budget amount that is realistic becomes the next best thing.
When working on a budget, having a plan is important. The things that make working with a budget and actually keeping to it are: making a list of who you want to buy for, shop with a list of what they want to buy and most importantly, compare prices and always look for the best one.
"If you're meeting with friends and family after the holidays, if you could delay buying that gift until after Christmas, you could receive a deep discount on that particular item, rather then buying it during the holidays," Gawryk said.
While sticking to a budget, there are some things that help cut the spending and add sentimental value. Scavenging through photo albums for a classic/memorable photo of friends and family with yourself is thoughtful and cheap. Making copies of 4 X 6 photos cost only $0.26 at Walmart and picture frames can cost as little as $2 at Walmart.
"Pictures always have memories for you," said Rob Sherwood, owner of Rob's Photo, 600 S. Mission St.
One of the most popular, inexpensive gifts are movie gift cards. They can be used to purchase tickets or refreshments and during the winter, it is the perfect activity to keep people entertained while staying out of the cold.
"It's just an easy, convenient and fun gift choice that pretty much everybody will enjoy," said Chris Couling, General Manager of Celebration! Cinema, 4935 E. Pickard Road.
lifeline@cm-life.com
With the semester coming to a close and the holidays nearing, shopping has come to the forefront of most people's priorities.
College students notoriously are broke, so buying on a budget becomes vital to stay out of debt.
"By the time all the cheering and the good times end, most people have a financial burden on them at the beginning of the new year that at times can seem unbearable to get out of," said John Gawryk, manager of financial services.
To avoid starting the new year in the hole and still being able to get your friends and family something special, a budget and some good thought are essential.
Gawryk suggests planning early for budgets by putting away money every month, so a person's budget is known and defined when the shopping season arrives. For people who don't do that, setting a budget amount that is realistic becomes the next best thing.
When working on a budget, having a plan is important. The things that make working with a budget and actually keeping to it are: making a list of who you want to buy for, shop with a list of what they want to buy and most importantly, compare prices and always look for the best one.
"If you're meeting with friends and family after the holidays, if you could delay buying that gift until after Christmas, you could receive a deep discount on that particular item, rather then buying it during the holidays," Gawryk said.
While sticking to a budget, there are some things that help cut the spending and add sentimental value. Scavenging through photo albums for a classic/memorable photo of friends and family with yourself is thoughtful and cheap. Making copies of 4 X 6 photos cost only $0.26 at Walmart and picture frames can cost as little as $2 at Walmart.
"Pictures always have memories for you," said Rob Sherwood, owner of Rob's Photo, 600 S. Mission St.
One of the most popular, inexpensive gifts are movie gift cards. They can be used to purchase tickets or refreshments and during the winter, it is the perfect activity to keep people entertained while staying out of the cold.
"It's just an easy, convenient and fun gift choice that pretty much everybody will enjoy," said Chris Couling, General Manager of Celebration! Cinema, 4935 E. Pickard Road.
lifeline@cm-life.com
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