Mother and daughter holiday shopping.

5 Simple Tips for Smart Holiday Spending

Personal Finance

With Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other holiday sales, the most popular shopping season is now upon us. Whether you’re shopping online or heading to the store, keep these five smart shopping tips in mind. Your savings account will thank you for it.

1. Create a Holiday Budget

This can be a simple budget. Based on your current account balance, you may have a number that you don’t want to exceed, or you may have a limit for each person you need to buy for. However you create your budget, just be sure to stick to it — no matter what.

2. Shop Around for the Best Price

Just because you find an item 30% off at one store doesn’t mean you won’t find it 40% off at another. It’s easy to shop around online, but if you’re going to the store, do some online research beforehand.

3. Sign Up for Emails

Many retailers will offer a discount just to sign up for emails. As the holiday season approaches, you’re likely to receive exclusive email offers that will help you save even more money on gifts.

4. Avoid Using a Credit Card (Try a Personal Loan Instead!)

Credit cards seem like the obvious choice for holiday shopping, right? They have rewards and discounts. But be cautious because credit cards can have extremely high interest rates. If you can’t pay off the full balance right away, it will turn into unmanageable credit card debt.

What’s a better alternative? A Personal Loan. With a rate far lower than a credit card, you can use the money you borrow to pay for your purchases and pay back your loan at a low rate. It could save you a significant amount of money in the long run. Learn more about Personal Loans and take a look at our competitive rates.

5. Open a Dividend-Earning Savings Account

The best way to handle holiday shopping is to prepare early. Our Savings Accounts are designed to help you save cash for holiday spending (or travel, emergency funds — you name it) while earning a yield. The best way to stick to a savings goal is to set up direct deposit right into the account, giving you a cushion of cash for holiday costs.