Online Shopping Tips: Avoid Taxes: According to the law, you can only be charged sales tax if the seller or the chain of stores is located in the same State as you. It would help if you can find a seller located in a different state to avoid these extra charges.
Holiday Shopping on a Budget: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission: Use credit and debit cards with care. Save your receipts. You need them for returns and exchanges. Check credit and debit card sales and return receipts against your monthly bills and statements, and report any problems to the credit card issuer promptly.
Holiday Shopping on a Budget: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission: Shop around. A sale price isn t always the best price. Some merchants may offer a sale price on the item you want for a limited time; other merchants may offer items at a discount everyday.
Holiday Shopping on a Budget: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission: Ship early. If you re sending gifts to out-of-towners, factor in extra time for shipping. If you wait until the last minute, you may pay a hefty price for express or overnight shipping.
Holiday Shopping on a Budget: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission: 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. Include the cost of cash gifts, holiday travel, extra food, wrappings, decorations, greeting cards, and postage. If it relates to the holiday season and it costs money, add it to your budget.
Holiday Shopping on a Budget: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission: Look for price-matching policies. Some merchants will match, or even beat, a competitor s prices.
Holiday Shopping on a Budget: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission: Keep good records. Whether you re ordering by mail, phone, or online, it s important to keep detailed information about the transaction, including your order number, shipping costs and dates, warranties, and refund and return policies.
Holiday Shopping on a Budget: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission: Keep an eye on your wallet. Don t flash cash. Keep an eye on your credit or debit card during transactions, and get them back as quickly as possible. If your cards are lost or stolen, report the loss or theft immediately to the card issuers.
Holiday Shopping on a Budget: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission: Go online. Check out websites that compare prices. If you decide to buy from an online merchant, keep shipping costs and delivery time in mind.
Holiday Shopping on a Budget: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission: Consider layaway. Layaway purchase plans are designed for people who want to buy merchandise without using credit or paying the full price immediately. When you use layaway, you typically make a deposit