Tips for Smart Shopping This Holiday Season

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of ShopRunner. The opinions and text are all mine.

The holidays are in full swing around us, are you done with your shopping yet? I am done shopping for my kids but I still have to pick up gifts for my husband, Grandmas, Grandpas, and Aunts and Uncles. As the holidays get closer I try my best to streamline my shopping and get the most bang for my buck as possible.

Here are some of my tried and true tips:

Stick to Your List: Never leave home to just wander, hello $100 Target trip, am I right? Decide what you want to get and go get it. Remember when your mom used to say go straight there and come straight back? That was good advice.

Avoid Extra “Deals”: This sounds like the opposite of a good thing, but most of the time when you feel like you are getting a smoking deal, you are just spending extra money. Is anyone else a sucker for a buy 1 get 1 deal, or suddenly NEED a new panini press because they are so cheap on Black Friday? Just me? When it all comes down to it, if it is not on your list it is extra money spent, no matter how cheap it is. These little purchases really add up over the season.

Don’t Over Think It: Know what you you are looking for and be smart about what you are buying. Research brands and models of items you need and decide what is most important to you, a good deal or the best product for your needs. Sometimes the least expensive item is not the best deal. Once you have made your purchase, stop looking, sales will change and deals will pop up, but know you did the best you could!

Shop Online: This has been the biggest life saver for me the past few years. Shopping online can save you so much time and money. It is so much easier for me to stick to my list when I am not browsing shelves at the store. Having everything I need at the click of the button saves me the time, gas, and lunch out, money that I probably would have spent if I hit a retail store. We don’t live near family, so I save a ton of money each year by shipping gifts directly to the recipient, too.

How do you shop smart during the holidays?