The holiday season is upon us, with the number of applicable shopping days left until Christmas dipping into the double digits. While the desire to buy great gifts for our loved ones never goes away, in today’s economy the disposable income levels remain low. How can you buy great gifts for your kids, family, friends, and co-workers without going into debt? One smart strategy is to find the items you want at a discount. Here are five strategies for buying great gifts at low, low prices.
Liquidators
Liquidators specialize in buying products from stores or companies that are going out of business. Visiting a liquidator will give you access to their full inventory, that can include items as diverse as home improvement supplies, clothing, toys, and even electronics. When you’re looking for a bargain and are flexible about what you’re buying based on a store’s inventory, liquidators can be a great choice.
Craft Fairs
If you love to support local businesses or double up your buying with support for a good cause, craft fairs can be a good choice. Often sponsored by churches, civic groups, and schools, these fairs usually feature local craftsman and small businesses selling locally sourced or produced items. Some examples that you’re likely to find there include homemade bath products, handcrafted jewelry, and knitted items. These are perfect for people that love crafts or for finding stocking stuffers.
Dollar Stores
Another creative place that you might not have considered is visiting your local dollar store. Today’s dollar stores have a surprisingly wide inventory from reading glasses to food in stock. Many of their small toys or essentials are great for kids, casual gifts, or stocking stuffers. Certain items on your list, such as photographic calendars featuring puppies or lighthouses, can be obtained at a fraction of the cost you’d find them at a big box store.
Black Friday
If the thought of wrestling your way through the throngs looking for a holiday bargain terrifies you, you’re not alone. But planning ahead and doing selected shopping – especially for big ticket items like TVs or laptops – can save you a bundle. Shopping online to capture holiday deals is another excellent choice that helps you save money without having to deal with other angry shoppers.
Local Boutiques
If you’ve never wandered into the local boutiques in your town, you’re probably missing a great deal. Every city and town has small locally owned shops offering everything from jewelry to clothes to crafts. Commonly, people assume that the prices are higher than larger stores. Often, they’re shocked to learn that many items actually cost less and that the local stores routinely run big sales to clear merchandise and get people into the store.
If you’re in the market for something special this year, but don’t have much money to spend don’t worry. From liquidators to holiday craft fairs, there’s a wide variety of options available for motivated buyers.
About the author: Belinda Jones is a lifestyle writer who loves developing gift guides with different people in mind. She regularly contributes to newspapers, magazines, and blogs on shopping, beauty, and the arts.