November 30, 2009 
By Estelle Allen
Navy Federal Credit Union
Thanksgiving week signals the beginning of the holiday shopping season. The hustle and bustle of shopping can create unwanted stress. Whether you are stateside shopping for a loved one overseas, or planning to give gifts to family members, shop smart, always be aware of your surroundings and follow these tips to stay on budget.
Make a list and set a budget. List the people you plan to buy gifts for, the type of gifts you plan to buy and how much you plan to spend. View circulars such as bfads.net and blackfriday.info/sales/ to get a jump-start on the kinds of can’t miss deals in your area.
Shop around. Remember, a sale price isn’t always the best price. Look out for marketing phrases such as “While supplest last,” “Minimum two per store,” “No rain checks” or “All items are available in limited quantities.” Have an action plan for shopping on Black Friday.
Daylight shopping has it advantages. If you need to shop at night, go with someone else and park in a well-lit area. Remember, there is safety in numbers. If shopping alone, try to walk to your car with a crowd or ask mall security for an escort to your car. Have your keys out and stay alert. Always check inside the car before entering. Lock your doors as soon as you are inside.
Avoid carrying too many packages. Always have one hand free. Do not leave packages visible in your car. If you continue to shop after placing packages in your trunk, move your vehicle to another location.
Go online. Check out price comparison Web sites such as PriceGrabber.com, Pricescan.com or Shopzilla.com. Cyber Monday (Nov. 30) is the l kick-off for the online holiday shopping season. Retail companies often provide free shipping on items purchased online.
Use credit and debit cards with care. Keep a paper trail by saving your receipts. Ask for a store receipt and a gift receipt. Without one, a customer may not be eligible for a refund, or the retailer may offer a store credit at the lowest price the item was sold for, which could be less than the amount paid. Check credit and debit card sales and return receipts against your monthly bills and statements, and report any problems to the credit card issuer.
Ship packages early. If you’re sending gifts out of the country or to out-of-towners, factor extra time for shipping. According to the U.S. Postal Service, Dec. 11 is the last day priority mail is sent for arrival before Christmas.
As a final note, iTunes has an application for those of us who need to dash in and out of malls as fast as possible. Mall Maps – You Are Here, is a portable database of mall floor plans for your iPhone or iPodTouch.
Make the most out of your holiday season by shopping online, on the phone or at your local mall.
Estelle Allen is a public relations specialist at Navy Federal Credit Union in Vienna, Va. She writes for the Money Chat forum on CinCHouse.com. Visit navyfederal.org for more information.