High-tech holiday savings
We already know holiday shopping is no longer limited to the mall, and that buying online can help you compare prices and find exactly what you want. But this year, the rise of social media and smart phones brings shopping to a whole new level. The good news: It makes saving even more accessible.
With only 16 days ’til Christmas, you may think it’s too late to shop online, but there’s still plenty of time to take advantage. Here’s a roundup of helpful tips:
Social holiday savings
Channel your inner techie. This year, you can use your smart phone to spot Twitter-only last-minute airfare rates and check into stores via your Foursquare app for exclusive coupons. You can even ask cashiers to scan your coupon barcodes right from your phone. Kelli Grant at SmartMoney.com has all the details in this segment for CBS News.
Online savings tips
On top of avoiding crowded stores and long lines, you can come up with unusual gift ideas by shopping online. Farnoosh Torabi, author of Psych Yourself Rich, has lots of interesting suggestions. Two of my favorites: Since local deal sites like Groupon and LivingSocial are so popular, why not buy a voucher for a friend when an offer seems up her alley? Or if you already have a gift in mind, use a free online personal shopper (who even knew those existed?!) to find it at the best price. Simply enter details about the item into sites like Shop It To Me, and they’ll email you when a bargain pops up.
Free shipping day!
Friday, December 17 marks the third annual Free Shipping Day, when more than 1,000 stores will offer complimentary delivery by Christmas Eve. Participating stores include L.L. Bean, Macy’s, and the Apple Store, a wide enough variety to cover most people on your list. See all the participating stores, but beware: most of the stores listed have restrictions hidden in fine print.
Have you scored any deals this year? Tell me all about your holiday shopping tricks.
