Smart Holiday Shopping Tips!
If you have not started your holiday shopping this year, relax. Don’t let the stress and hype of anticipated supply chain shortages cause you to panic-buy and fall victim to holiday scams or over-spending this holiday season. Below are a few tips to be aware of while shopping for the holidays!
Be Flexible: Come up with an attainable budget and a flexible shopping list. Some alternative gift examples include shopping local, purchasing gift cards or delaying gift giving, telling kids they will get the highly coveted presents later, and or considering experience gifts as opposed to tangible gifts.
Lookout for Scams: The FTC reports, “A lot of things you might buy for the holidays, like toys, have chips in them, so the shortage means prices are likely going up, and items that have chips can be harder to find. Scammers follow the headlines too — and just like with the mask shortage, scammers will set up shop, “sell” what everyone is trying to buy — but not deliver.” To avoid getting scammed the FTC recommends researching sellers by doing an online search of the retailer’s name and product, along with key words like “scam” or “complaint.”
Purchase and Pay Wisely: Do not allow the urgency of this season to cause impulse buying and overextending your budget. Use this year’s shortages as an opportunity to spend less, instead of spending more. If paying with credit cards or variations on “buy now, pay later” beware of your consumer protection rights with each purchase.
For more tips, read our blog! 
https://www.aodfcu.com/article/protecting-your-financial-information-and-understanding-fraud-prevention/
