Smart Holiday Shopping: Tips for Planning, Saving, and Making Meaningful Memories

2023-11-02 16:27:40

“There is the possibility of doing it a little in advance and monitoring the sales. Retailers also want to sell their inventory and know that consumers are a little more sensitive to prices during inflationary periods. There are going to be discounts here and there, not just on Black Friday,” notes assistant professor of consumer sciences at Laval University Maryse Côté-Hamel.

Some brands also adopt the policy of matching the lowest prices displayed among competitors, she adds.

Get started in advance

The budget advisor at Option Consommateurs Johanne Le Blanc points out that holiday expenses are easy to plan, since they are occasional expenses.

“We can plan, for example by putting money aside from January. It’s easier to raise money like that, there’s less incentive to use credit and the risk of making a dent in your budget,” continues Ms. Le Blanc.

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Ms. Côté-Hamel agrees and adds that it is wise to have an idea of ​​what you want to offer before going to the store and to be flexible. “If we want to offer Lego, for example, it is certain that there will be other brands which will offer similar products which will perhaps be less expensive. Even if they are not Lego, the child will surely be happy to play with them,” she suggests.

Don’t lose sight of the magic of the Holidays

Both the professor and the budget advisor point out an important aspect: the holiday season is essentially a time dedicated to reunions and gatherings.

“Participating in Christmas activities, decorating your tree, going to see parades and participating in meals with family or friends will make us experience strong emotions in the same way as the day of the 24th or December 25,” expresses Ms. Côté-Hamel.

“You shouldn’t put too much emphasis on the gifts themselves, since unwrapping them only takes a few minutes.”

-Maryse Côté-Hamel, assistant professor of consumer sciences at Laval University

Johanne Le Blanc reminds us that the value of a gift does not necessarily exceed that of a precious moment spent with family.

Be open to compromise

Maryse Côté-Hamel emphasizes that we must be aware of the potential impacts of inflation on everyone’s portfolios. The professor notes that while the prices of items typically given as gifts have increased, Quebecers’ gift budgets have not necessarily followed the same curve.

An exchange of gifts can therefore prove to be an interesting avenue to avoid embarrassing anyone.

“Offering a single gift to a person you have chosen instead of giving them to all your loved ones can be interesting. We can even replace the gift period. We are increasingly seeing a movement without gifts, where gifts can be reserved for under 18s. For example, adults can exchange food or decorations.”

Along the same lines, Johanne Le Blanc suggests making your own gift or opting for second-hand items to save money.

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