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The force is strong during Christmas shopping
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From an educator's perspective, here are my top ten shopping tips
1. Santa was right all along. Make a list of those family and friends you are buying for- and possible gift items for each.
2. Determine how much you will spend on each gift before you go out into the holiday shopping frenzy.
3. Stick to your list. Impulse Buying Syndrome (aka IBS) affects 99 percent of all Americans during the holiday season.
4. Merchandise displays are subliminally laid out so that they attract a shopper’s attention. This force is strong. Rely on Yoda’s famous line, “Beware of the dark side!”
5. Be weary of buying electronics with rebates by mail. Just recently one large rebate company filed bankruptcy. I may be out of $100!
6. If you buy electronics, beware of the added “warranty” plan. All electronics come with a warranty, most for one year. There is no need to double-up your warranty power, unless you are purchasing a high end digital television or a Porsche.
7. Make sure to eat a good breakfast before journeying out to the mall. If you are hungry, then you are more likely to rush through your shopping in order to get home to eat (you want to save money by not eating out so often). When you rush, you tend not to find the best bargains, which leads to spending a lot more.
8. Shop around. If you are looking for a laptop, wait until Sunday before you start shopping. Check out the Sunday newspaper advertisements, which are thicker than the entire news section of the paper during the Christmas season. Make sure to compare apples to apples. If you are not sure, ask a friend!
9. Smile. Christmas is a time to reflect on family. Be thankful, even for the smallest pleasures in life.
10. Remember the reason for the season. You don’t have to outspend your brother or sister when buying gifts. As I have grown older and wiser, I realize how much I love to give to others during the Christmas season. The gifts that I receive during this time of year are abundant and free, yet they are worth more than their value in diamonds or gold. To watch the joy on children’s faces when opening up their gifts on Christmas day. To see the innocence when children sit on Santa’s lap. To spend time with family and friends in a world when spending time with family and friends has become a luxury. There really is a Santa Claus.
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