Tips for saving money while shopping for holiday gifts

Inflation might be the real scrooge this holiday season, and higher prices have shoppers stressed about buying gifts. There are some ways you can save money this season.

40% of holiday shoppers blame inflation for changing the way they shop, according to a Bankrate.com report.

Half of those surveyed say they started shopping before Halloween, they’re planning to buy fewer items, less expensive brands, and they’re planning to put more on their cards.

“So, people are going really think twice, and they’re probably gonna go into debt over the holidays. I expect a lot more debt to be incurred over the holidays,” said Jeannette Bajalia, president and founder of Woman’s Worth.

One thing the experts like Bajalia say to do is start buying now if you haven’t already. It will allow you to spread out your cash flow and find the best deals.

“If you’re gonna buy your kids, grandkids gifts, then start now finding them at low affordable costs. That’s the first thing. The second thing is do a budget,” Bajalia said.

You can also use a gift-tracking app like Santa’s Bag, where you can keep tabs on what you’ve bought, the cost, and who it was for.

To save even more, sign up for loyalty programs and earn points for merchandise and take advantage of discounts. You’ll be the first to know about a sale or a product coming in stock.

Go online and use credit card rewards combined with online shopping portals and store coupons to save even more.

You can also snap photos of your receipts and then use an app like Fetch Rewards to earn points that are good toward free gift cards at stores like Amazon, Target, and Walmart.

“Just don’t spend any more than you can afford,” said Bajalia.

If you can avoid using credit cards that you can’t pay off, you should do so. If you have to charge, use cards that offer points or cash back.