Holiday Shopping With Credit Cards and Debit Cards

For many people, the holiday season is the very best time of the year. During the festive season, smiles from passers-by, wonderful smells of food and evergreens and beautiful decorations take the edge off the chill in the air. Finding that just-right gift and wrapping it in beautiful paper and ribbons, preparing for get-togethers with family and friends and traveling to Grandma's house are enough to cheer all but the grimmest Grinches.

Holiday shopping is one of the season's most enjoyable traditions. Credit card companies and merchants alike mark their calendars for the holiday season with anticipation of ringing cash registers. However, the temptation to overspend with credit cards and even debit cards can make a bright season gray. Nonetheless, it is possible to keep your spending within reasonable levels and still enjoy every aspect of the festive season.

Start Your Shopping Early

Early shopping in this context does not refer to Black Friday. In fact, savvy holiday shoppers begin gathering up staples and hunting down gifts long before November.  Keep an eye out on canned goods and non perishable foods that you can stock up on, which will leave that much less to hunt down for the holiday meal. Pick up items on sale that recipients on your holiday list are sure to love - what difference does it make to your intended recipients whether you pick up those perfect gifts in August or December?

Set a Budget and Stick to It

It's all too easy to get caught up in the emotion of the season and wind up spending far more than you can afford. To avoid this situation, sit down in advance of the holiday season and take an honest assessment of your finances. Draw up a realistic budget for travel, holiday dinners and gifts - and stick to it. If your finances are tight due to job loss or other financial difficulties, bite the bullet and rein in your holiday spending. Make the tough choices to keep your budget in line and let your loved ones know in advance. There is no need for a dramatic announcement. A simple "things are tight so we're not buying gifts this year" will suffice.

Double Dip on Perks from Credit Cards and Debit Cards

Many credit cards and debit cards carry perks. Check out the perks offered in association with your credit cards and debit cards for deals associated with your favorite clothing stores, electronics dealers and other local companies for opportunities to "double dip" with in-store savings and card-related perks. You could rack up significant savings on items that you planned to purchase anyway.

Avoid Holiday Online Fraud

Unfortunately, the holidays inspire fraud schemes designed to play on your sympathies toward less fortunate people - or your desire to score a great bargain. In many cases, these scams arrive in your email inbox in the form of spam. The best thing to do with email from senders you don't recognize is to delete it without opening it.

If  you happen to open an unsolicited  email message containing deals that seem to good to be true that are available only through clicking on a live link - don't. If you must satisfy your curiosity, copy the shortcut to the link and paste it onto the address bar of a browser on your computer. You may be surprised to find that the actual address is in no way related to the "merchant" described in the email message.

Every year, tragic events occur that move people to want to help. However, unsolicited email messages from obscure "charities" you don't recognize are often little more than cover for fraud and identity theft. If a particular appeal is particularly moving, check with the Charity Commission to ensure the charity is legitimate before writing a check or authorizing charges against your credit cards or debit cards.

Be Savvy About Holiday Travel

If you plan to travel during the holiday season, pack a dose of patience along with your clothing and personal effects. Take as little as possible to minimize fees and risk of loss or theft. Consider shipping gifts ahead or shopping online and letting the merchant take care of delivering your gifts for you. Many companies will even wrap your gifts and attach personalized cards for a modest fee.