Holiday Shopping
Consumers Get Happy for the Holidays
What: Start getting psyched, because the stage is being set for 2009 to be an exciting holiday season — for retailers, at least. A new survey released this week shows that Americans are “optimistic” about the economy right now, which could lead to a robust shopping season in the coming months. Although the survey found that many consumers are still planning to spend less on gifts this year than in the past, they are actually planning to spend more on “nongift items” like entertainment, clothing for themselves, and furnishings for the home.
What Reuters Says:
“This is certainly good news for discount chains like Wal-Mart Stores, Inc as well as off-price retailers. Discount stores continued to hold the top spot as a shopping destination with nearly six out of 10 people saying they expected to shop at discount/value department stores, according to the survey.”
What We Say: With less than a week until November—and the early holiday shopping season upon us—it’s good to hear that this year’s holidays aren’t forecasted to be a total drag. The only thing we find a little odd is that consumers are planning to spend less on gifts and more on furnishings for the home. We guess they were holding out for the holiday deals, even though you can always score a deal, if though you can always score a deal if you know where to look. Nonetheless, we’re excited to go bargain hunting for deals on gifts for our family and friends this year. How about you?
Gift Cards Remain the Go-To Holiday Choice
What: As the holiday season rears its way back on our calenders, it’s now the time to start planning your gift list. And if you’re not sure what to buy for everyone on your shopping list, it looks like gift cards are a fairly safe bet. At least judging by a new survey by the National Retail Federation, which found that gift cards were the most requested item for the holidays this year. In addition, the survey found that the average shopper plans to spend $682.74 on holiday items, while 50.6% of those between the ages of 18 to 24 say they plan to do most of their holiday shopping online.
What the NRF Says:
“Retailers of all shapes and sizes are now selling gift cards, and not only their own: shoppers can get gift cards from department store, specialty apparel, restaurants, electronic stores and home improvement stores at local drug stores or supermarkets.”
What We Say: We love getting gift cards as presents, since we can wait until the after-Christmas sales and get even more with our gift card money. But, if you’re hoping to impress people with your creativity, gift cards probably aren’t the ideal option. And as always, if you do plan on buying gift cards as presents, remember to read the fine print and make sure there aren’t any hidden fees or expiration dates that could lessen the amount of money on the card.
HoliDAILY Contest #25: Win One of Five $20 Macy’s Gift Cards!
From now until Dec. 31st, Kathyrn and the gang at TBF will be giving away daily prizes to lucky TBF winners. Check back everyday at 9am to enter.
At midnight, five lucky TBF readers will win this prize, from Macy’s.
The Prize: A $20 Macy’s Gift Card
Why you want this: The holidays probably have you tapped out, so just in case Santa completely ignores all those subtle hints you’ve been giving (like, say, that catalog page taped to the bathroom mirror), we’re thinking a $20 gift card to Macy’s could help you pick up something you REALLY wanted. (A side note: right now Macy’s is donating $1 to the Make A Wish Foundation for every letter to Santa dropped off at their stores, so we’re all about supporting that holiday spirit!).
To Enter this Contest, Tell Us Why You Shop at Macy’s in the Comment Section Below
The Rules
- no purchase necessary
- contest ends the day of the posting at 11:59pm
- must comment below in order to enter this contest
- must be a US citizen.
- recipient is responsible for any federal, state or local taxes associated with the prize package
- must respond within 72 hours (3 days) or prize will be given to another entrant
Yesterday’s Winner
Congratulations berrybinx on winning the Eco-Me Home Kit in yesterday’s Holidaily Giveaway!
Final Shopping Dates: Get it By Dec. 24! Part 2
Christmas is a week away, you’re still not done shopping, AND between work, parties, school holiday programs, and your visiting in-laws, your time available to shop is, well, zero. You’re not alone, but if you’re hoping to pick up a few things online you’ll need to plan carefully—take a deep breath and scan these “last chance” online shopping dates to have items arrive by Dec. 24 (and a couple of last minute Hannukah dates, too). Don’t see your favorite store? Check out this TBF post from earlier this week for more shipping dates :
Order by 11:59 EST, Dec. 19
Standard Shipping—Order by Dec. 18
Second Day Express Shipping—Order by Dec. 19, 1 pm EST
One Day Express Shipping—Order by Dec 23, 1 pm EST
Order by Dec. 21, Midnight EST
Standard Shipping—Order by Dec. 18, 11 pm EST
Priority Delivery—Order by Dec. 19, 2 pm EST
Order by Dec. 20, 1 pm EST
Standard Shipping—Order by Dec. 19, Noon PST
Two Business Day—Order by Dec. 22, Noon PST
Next Day Business—Order by Dec. 23, Noon PST
Ground Shipping—Order by Dec. 17, 12 noon PST
Express Shipping—Order by Dec. 19, 12 noon PST
Overnight Shipping—Order by Dec. 22, 12 noon PST
Order by Dec. 23, 1 pm EST
(for Hanukkah—for overnight delivery, order by Dec. 18, 1 pm)
UPS 2-Day—Order by Dec. 22, 11 am EST
UPS Next Day—Order by Dec. 23, 11 am EST
2 Day Express—Order by Dec. 22, 12 pm EST
Next Day Express—Order by Dec. 23, 12 pm EST
(for Hanukkah—Next Day Express, Dec. 18, 12 pm EST
Standard Shipping—Order by Dec. 18
Two Day Shipping—Order by Dec. 21
One Day Shipping—Order by Dec. 22
(depending on availability)
Final Shopping Dates: Get It By Dec. 24!
The holiday shopping season is growing shorter by the minute, meaning that if you intend to shop online, you better know what kind of shipping deadlines you’re up against—there’s nothing worse than finding the perfect gift, only to be left empty-handed and scouring the picked-over last-minute-gift bins on Christmas Eve . . . So, to avoid that unpleasant fate, you’ll want to consult our handy list of “final shopping dates” to get your items in time for Christmas (and there are more to come):
Banana Republic,Piperlime
, Old Navy
, Gap
Standard Shipping—Order by 11:59 pm PT Dec. 16.
Express Shipping—Order by 12 pm PT Dec. 21.
Next Day Shipping—Order by 12 pm PT Dec 23.
Standard Delivery (UPS Ground)—Order by Dec. 22, 11 am EST (starting Dec. 16, Bluefly will upgrade all orders placed with Standard shipping to Expedited shipping at no additional charge)
Expedited Delivery (2-Day)—Order by Dec. 22, 11 am EST
Express Delivery (NextDay)—Order by Dec. 23, 11 am EST
Ground Shipping—Order by Dec. 16, 11:59 PM EST
Standard Shipping—Order by Dec. 21, 11:59 PM EST
Free Overnight Shipping—Order by Dec. 23 by 5:15 PST
Standard Shipping—Order by Dec. 18
Ground Shipping—Order by Thursday, Dec. 18
Expedited “2nd Day” Shipping—Order by Sunday, Dec. 21
Premium Next Day Shipping—Order by Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 9am
Ground Shipping—Order by Dec. 17, 12 noon EST
Express Save—Order by Dec. 19, 21 noon EST
Standard Overnight—Order by Dec. 23, 12 noon EST
Macy’s (in stock merchandise)
Standard Delivery—order by Dec. 19, 11:59 pm
Premium Delivery—order by Dec. 21, 11:59 pm
Express Delivery—order by Dec. 22, 11:59 pm
Standard Shipping - Order by Dec. 18, 11:59 PM EST
Express—Order by Dec. 17, 12 noon PST
2-Day—Order by Dec. 19, 12 noon PST
Overnight—Order by Dec. 22, 12 noon PST
$20 Off Plus Free Shipping With Code from Gap!
The Deal: Get $20 off your Gap.com purchase of $100 or more plus free shipping wide code 20FREE at checkout.
The Lowdown: Through Dec. 14, 2008 only, get $20 off a purchase of $100 or more at Gap.com and get free shipping—and the timing couldn’t be better, as the deadline to order online and get gift items delivered by Christmas is drawing near.
We shop the Gap for a couple of reasons: versatile classic pieces that we can use as foundation items for the more trendy clothing in our rotation; and we’ve had good luck with the quality, particularly for the price. No, Gap isn’t the cheapest retailer out there, but the goods will last a lot longer than something from, say, Forever21.
Any—or all—of these pieces would be great additions to any closet: Funnel Neck Moleskin Coat, $78; Low Rise Bell Jeans
, $49.99; and a Flower Print Scarf, $29.50
Shop: Gap.com.
Old Navy: 20% Off, Free Shipping with Code
“THIS SALE HAS ENDED” and “THESE PRODUCTS ARE NO LONGER BEING SOLD”
The Lowdown: This is the last day for this deal, so you’ll have to hurry—and we have some suggestions to help you spend your 100 bucks wisely. First, we’re all about gift guides and Old Navy has one—filled with things they deem “colorful gifts”—with a little something for everyone, including these super cute striped Performance Fleece Scarves (perfect for that tween, teen, quirky girlfriend on your list) for just $5. Don’t limit yourself to Old Navy’s picks, however—perusing the accessories (because most of the fashionistas we know are crazy for a cute accessory), we found these Faceted Bauble Necklace
, also just $5 apiece. At this rate it’s going to take awhile to tally up 100 bucks worth of stuff (don’t forget you still get an extra 20% off those prices), so you might as well treat yourself too, to something fab like these Ribbon Trimmed Patent Mary Janes
, on sale for $19.50.
Shop: Old Navy
Bluefly.com’s Gift Guide Sale
The Deal: Get an extra 20% off everything in Bluefly.com’s Gift Guide
The Lowdown: Today only, get 20% off everything in Bluefly.com’s featured Gift Guide, which translates to up to 60% off designer gifts for, well, everyone. It’s not just apparel of course—select from handbags, sleepwear, cashmere, and some really glam designer jewelry—like this A.V. Max set of three gold-plated bangles, on sale for just $37.60 (it’s not five golden rings, but we’re thinking it’ll do). Further incentive to shop? A $7.95 flat rate shipping fee doesn’t hurt, and a money back guarantee.
Shop: Bluefly.com
eDressme.com Free Shipping
The Deal: Free shipping from eDressme.com
The Lowdown: Get your ideal party dress—remember, New Year’s Eve is just around the corner—and have it shipped to your doorstep for nada. We always check out eDressme.com’s dresses for under $99—like this Gorgeous Twisted Bodice Dresses, for just $92.
Shop: eDressme.com
New York & Company Free Shipping
“THIS DEAL HAS ENDED”
The Deal: Free shipping on purchases of $50 or more at New York & Company —use this link or code 7274
The Lowdown: We can’t seem to get enough of New York & Company, mostly because they’re taking this whole holiday shopping thing seriously and offering up all kinds of great deals—like free shipping when you spend $50 or more online. It’s not just apparel either—we love NY&C for it’s accessories too, like this City Style Red Dangle Necklace, perfectly holiday-appropriate and on sale for only $9.95.
Shop: New York & Company
Holiday Shopping Tips from TBF
Need some holiday tips about, well, everything—fast? Never fear—a round-up of The Budget Fashionista’s best holiday-centric advice thus far:
~ It’s the second week of December, and you don’t know where to begin? Read Kathryn’s Holiday Shopping Plan—guaranteed to keep you from going off the deep-end (well, almost).
~ Feeling less than glowing? Check out these cheap and easy tips for creating a little Holiday Beauty on a Budget.
~ Gift budget being stretched to within an inch of it’s life? Get some relief with these Holiday Gift Tips on a Budget.
~ Before you break out the credit cards, brush up on the risks (besides spending so much you’re forced to eat pb and j for dinner until March): Holiday Hazards for Credit Card Users
Charlotte Russe $15 Off $50 or More
The Deal: At Charlotte Russe, get $15 off orders of $50 or more through Dec. 25
The Lowdown: Whether it’s picking up something to deck yourself out for the holidays, or marking some fashionable friends’ gift requests off your list, Charlotte Russe is a budget-friendly option for fun and trendy styles. Right now, get more for less with $15 off orders of $50 or more—and for a change of pace we’re thinking of adding this festive green Satin Bow Tie Dress in our shopping bag . . .
Shop: Charlotte Russe
HoliDAILY Contest #8: Tickets to New York Shop!
From now until Dec. 31st, Kathryn and the gang at TBF will be giving away daily prizes to lucky TBF winners. Check back everyday at 9am to enter.
At midnight, 10 lucky TBF readers will win this prize, from the New York Shop: Best Bets for the Whole Family event
The Prize: A ticket to attend the New York Shop: Best Bets for the Whole Family event in New York City on Saturday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., The Altman Building, 135 West 18th St., NYC
Why you want this: The event features 40+ exhibitors featuring great deals on clothing, accessories, beauty products, books, toys, home décor and more - up to 60% off - creating a one-stop destination for holiday shopping. Which, with the holidays rapidly approaching, is the only way to go. Tickets are normally $20 apiece, and for those who don’t win here but would still like to attend, are on sale now at www.nymag.com/shop—you’ll be doing good at the same time, as a portion of proceeds will benefit Room to Grow, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development . . .
To Enter this Contest, Tell Us Your Favorite Holiday Shopping Strategy in the Section Below
The Rules
- no purchase necessary
- contest ends the day of the posting at 11:59pm
- must comment below in order to enter this contest
- must be a US citizen
- recipient is responsible for any federal, state or local taxes associated with the prize package
- must respond within 72 hours (3 days) or prize will be given to another entrant
Yesterday’s Winner
Congratulations princejt, Pookha, azile414, shoffhaus2, and dietdrpepper, on winning copies of Kathryn’s book, How to Be a Budget Fashionista, in yesterday’s HoliDAILY giveaway!
A Holiday Shopping Plan that Will Keep Cash in Your Wallet and Keep You Sane
Throw everything you’ve ever thought about holiday shopping out the window because it’s time for a massive reality check. We are officially in a recession, and while the results of Black Friday may show otherwise, America is broke. So this holiday season, it’s time for you to go old school- coupons, price comparison and shopping off priced stores.
Here’s Our Stress Free, Budget Friendly Holiday Shopping Plan
1. Get Over Yourself.
Your kids are not going to remember they only received four toys instead of eight, but will remember that January when the lights were turned off for failure of payment.Your mom isn’t going to love you any less if you bought her LeCresuet pot from HomeGoods instead of Macys. She, will, however remember that you had to borrow money from her to pay your January credit card bill. Remember it’s just one day a year and, if you’re religious, mass consumerism isn’t what the season is all about.
2. Set a Realistic Holiday Shopping Budget.
Your holiday shopping budget should not exceed more than 50% of yourpost life expenses budget, which is the money you have left over after paying off all of your bills. So if all your bills equal $3000 a month and you only have $500 left over, your holiday budget should not exceed more than $250. Small? Yes. Reality? You can’t afford to spend any more without going into debt.
3. Write a List and Check it Twice.
Write a list of everyone you need to purchase presents for this holiday season. Next to each name write the maximum amount you can afford to spend based on your holiday budget. Then write two or three gifts that fit into that budget next to each name.
4. Compare Prices Online
Take the list you just made and search for the best deal possible for each item online. I like to type in the name of the item into google, but MSN’s Live Search is also a great way to comparison shop (plus it offers cashback on certain purchases).
5. Create a Holiday Shopping Folder
Print out the products sheets of the cheapest items and place them in a holiday shopping folder. This is the folder you will take with you when you go shopping and it’s the folder in which you will place all your store receipts.
6. Search Sunday circulars and Compare in Store Prices
With your Holiday Shopping folder in hand, search the Sunday circulars (and online) for special in store deals. Also head to brick and mortar stores, letting your per gift price range guide to the stores you should visit (if you can only spend $10 per person, then there’s no reason to head to high end stores.) Make sure you check out stores like Marshalls and TJ Maxx, purchase the overstock of top designers and manufacturers. If find an item that is cheaper online than in store, ask to speak with a manager to see if you can get a price adjustment. Many stores, including Nordstrom, offer price guarantees.
7. Determine the Cheapest Option and Buy!
Compare the in store price with the price of the item online (make sure to include shipping and subtract any discounts from online coupons) and purchase the cheapest one!
Holiday Hazards for Credit Card Users
Okay, even a budget fashionista is tempted to break out the plastic when the holidays roll around, and we’re not judging . . . but if you’re thinking of putting some things on credit, make sure you’re aware of the pitfalls, which these days are even more numerous than ever before. Fortunately, you can get the scoop from Americans for Fairness in Lending, through this timely tip sheet.
A few tips to get you started:
Credit Card Caveats:
Avoid Seasonal Solicitations - Beware of those attractive low introductory rates you receive before the holidays. The fine print in credit card contracts is filled with traps to catch the unwary. An introductory 0% interest rate can quickly leap to over 20% with just one slightly late payment. If you are going to use a credit card, shop around for one with a long-term low interest rate (APR), and read on to find out what you’re in for.
Avoid Late Fees - Pay your bill several days in advance of the due date to avoid sneaky late fees. If your due date falls on a Sunday and your payment arrives on Monday – surprise – you’re late and your interest rate may jump to a much higher level!
The Gift That Keeps on Taking —Even if you find the perfect gift for Aunt Betty, it’s not so perfect if it takes you over your credit limit. You’ll get hit with an overlimit fee and a penalty interest rate that will keep you paying for many holiday seasons to come.
Costly Cash Advances – Cash Advances are a Grinch’s (and a credit card company’s) best friend. The interest rates on this borrowed money are much higher than on purchases. In addition, the credit card companies apply your monthly payments to cash advances LAST so that the interest owed just grows and grows.
If you need help with credit card debt, contact the Consumer Action Help Desk online.
Cyber Monday: Where to Find the Coupons and Deals
As if Black Friday (the Friday after Thanksgiving) weren’t enough to kick off the holiday season, in recent years we’ve acquired “Cyber Monday”, which is Black Friday’s online shopping counterpart and an opportunity to pick up all those things you couldn’t find in the brick and mortar stores. Cyber Monday (this year Dec. 1) is more our speed, actually, as we much prefer finding the deals while seated in the comfort of our own home; of course, the key word is deals—which means you’ll want to plan out your best shopping strategy to make the most of the offers of the day. To help, we’ve compiled some sites you can peruse this weekend in preparation:
CyberMonday.com—Shop by category, and scan a big list of special deals for the day from retailers like Zappos.com, Overstock.com, Lane Bryant, Target and more.
DigitalEditor.com—Lots of coupons and codes to save big on online offerings from stores like Chadwick’s, Jessica London, Clinique, and more
Couponshare.com—Gives you access to coupons currently available and a peek at coupons that will be available for CyberMonday but are not yet active.
If you have more sources for Cyber Monday deals, please share them in the comments below!
Holiday Beauty on a Budget:
During the holidays, it’s hard enough to make your budget stretch for all the gifts/parties/entertaining you’ve got to do without having to spend a fortune on looking great for all those events. Here are some budget-friendly tips that will help you get through the craziness of the next couple of months looking fabulous . . .
- Create Your Own Lipgloss. If you have a lipstick that has reached it’s end, scoop out the remaining stub and place it in a contact lens case with a dab of vaseline. Mix them together for a great lipgloss. You can add a bit of sweetened Kool Aid to the gloss for flavor.
- Get an Instant “facelift”. Braid a few cornrows around your temples to instantly “lift” the areas around you eyes. Make sure to keep them only for one night as it can cause stress around your hair line leading to breakage. You also can use egg whites to tighten skin
- Make Your Own Headbands. Feathered headbands are very in this year and you can easily make your own without spending a small fortune. Just get plastic headbands (which can be purchased from any drugstore for less than $5), a package of feathers from a craft store, and either hot glue gun or double stick tape. Glue the feather(s) on the side of the headbands.
- Budget Bronze. Save money and your skin by using budget bronzers from frugal brands like Wet ‘n’ Wild. Use these bronzers to highlight your best features like cheek bones and cleavage.
pictured: Wet ‘n’ Wild Bronzzer Compact, $2.99, Drugstore.com
Extreme Budget Halloween Costumes for Couples
Halloween’s almost here, and you and your date have a costume party to go to, and no idea what to wear (and no cash besides). Now what? Get creative, that’s what, and we can help. Here are some couples costume ideas, on the cheap:
Red States and Blue States: One of you dresses head to toe in red, and writes the names of traditionally “red” states in fabric pen on your clothing (or just pins printed-out state names onto yourself), while the other does the same with an all blue ensemble.
Total Cost: $0-$20 (don’t have head to toe red and/or blue? One word: Goodwill).
Amy Winehouse and hubby Blake Fielder-Civil: Some heavy eyeliner, a black beehive wig (available at Target, WalMart, etc. in the Halloween section), drawn on tattoos, and dirty ballet flats for her; a stretched out tank top, messy hair, and black eye for him. Possibly a pair of handcuffs, for good measure. Voila.
Total Cost: $5-$15
Laundry and Static Cling: One of you cuts the bottom out of a cheap laundry basket and fastens it over the shoulders with clothesline, and fills with a few light laundry items; the other wears dark clothing and pins dryer sheets all over (a teased up crazy hairdo will heighten the effect).
Total Cost: $0-$10
New Products from Sonia Kashuk for Target
What: One of our favorite makeup artists, Sonia Kashuk, designs cosmetics and beauty products for our dear reliable Target. Her 2008 holiday collection is debuting soon, and it’s full of gilded brush cases, eyeshadow palettes, cosmetic cases, and a gold hair brush, all for affordable prices.
The Lowdown: We’re not sure we can wait till the holidays to do our shopping with these adorable-sounding tool kits. The Glamified Brush Set ($21.99) is one part gold and silver evening purse and three parts brush case. We already know that Sonia Kashuk’s beauty tools are the best buy for our budgets. Armed with the seven brushes, we’ll apply our blush, shimmer powder, eyeshadow and more correctly instead of using one generic brush. Another product we’re going to purchase for friends, family and ourselves is the Showstopper Eye Shimmer Set ($16.99): once again packaged in blingy gold, it holds three new eyeshadow colors—a shimmery white, a glamorous gold and asphalt. If you’re looking for a miniature brush set, check out the Tooled Over Purse Set for $14.99. The one item we’re not so excited about, though, is the Golden Locks Hair Brush. Target, you let us down a bit—$17.99 for a hair brush, albeit a gold one, is a bit too much for our budget sensibilities . . .
Image: Target.com
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