Image source: Getty Images
We are only weeks away from the biggest shopping day of the year. Like many people, last year I waited until Black Friday to start shopping for gifts, and I’m often forced to scramble throughout December to find suitable gifts.
But this year, I’m trying to start my holiday shopping early, and you might want to consider that too. Here are three reasons.
Find out: This credit card offers a rare $300 welcome bonus
More: These 0% APR Introductory Credit Cards Made Our Top List
1. Many companies are already offering deals
Businesses are no longer waiting for Black Friday to start offering holiday deals. Some start as early as October with the aim of attracting even more customers throughout the holiday season.
Start browsing the offers already available and make a list of the items you want to buy. Even if they’re not on sale right now, researching ahead of time will help you know where you can buy the items and what they normally sell for so you can spot bargains when they start. to appear later in the month.
2. Some companies suspend price matching during the holiday season
Price matching is where a business agrees to charge you their competitor’s price if you can find the same item available at a lower price elsewhere. There are often rules that offers must follow, including being a regular priced item and not a sale item. Some companies also don’t allow price comparison during the holiday season.
You don’t have to buy all your gifts from one place, but it can save you shipping costs. So it’s nice to have the price match option if you’re trying to limit the number of retailers you buy from.
Check the store’s policies to learn more about its price matching program and how that might change during the holidays. You can usually find this information on the company’s website or by contacting the retailer.
Do your comparison shopping early and, if you see an opportunity to price match, try to do so as soon as possible before companies retire that option for the rest of the year.
3. Store stocks have not yet run out
Some in-demand items can sell out quickly, especially once the big holiday sales begin. If you care about a specific item, you might be more likely to get it if you shop early rather than waiting for everyone else to buy gifts as well.
If you’re not ready to buy yet, you can at least make a list of retailers that carry the product and the prices they charge. That way, if it’s sold out with one company, you can turn to another to buy it. However, this may not work with some items that are only available from one retailer.
Ultimately, the goal for most holiday shoppers is to get as many items as possible at a price that’s easiest on their bank account. Shopping before all the Black Friday sales might seem a bit counterintuitive, but you never know what you might find. Set aside some time to see what happens. If you can’t find anything good yet, you can always wait a few weeks and try again.
Alert: The highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% introductory APR through 2024
If you use the wrong credit or debit card, it could cost you dearly. Our expert loves this top pick, which features an introductory APR of 0% until 2024, an insane cashback rate of up to 5%, and all with no annual fee.
In fact, this map is so good that our expert even uses it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
Read our free review
We are firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are our own and have not been previously reviewed, approved or endorsed by the advertisers included. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. The editorial content of The Ascent is separate from the editorial content of The Motley Fool and is created by a different team of analysts. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
#reasons #start #holiday #shopping #Black #Friday