Post Christmas frenzy!

I hope it was a happy Christmas for all. I had a wonderful, if not totally crazy time. It was so busy, it went by like a blur. After it's all said and done, all I want to do is exhale. But for others, the day after Christmas is a day for shopping, deal hunting, and spending more money. Here in Canada, it's called Boxing Day (origins of said name are not quite known) and it's a statutory holiday for many, including banks, government agencies, post offices and some other businesses. But for retailers, the name of the game is SALES. So the after Christmas sales are designed to entice people who have just spent their buns off for months to reach into their pocketbooks and spend yet AGAIN, this time not for gift giving, but simply because the deal is irresistible. Here where I live, people braved subzero temperatures to stand in line for 3 hours at a major electronics retailer to buy televisions, DVD players, laptop computers and assorted accessories at major discounts. At another local lingerie retailer, I was told the manager had to CLOSE THE DOORS of the shop, as the lines had snaked right around the store, and the staff could not handle the bargain shopping crowds.

For many it's fun, it's a big score, it's part of the holiday season. I personally loathe the post-holiday sales. I am so sick of shopping after December 24th, that I barely darken the door of any stores for the next month, except the essential ones (grocery stores and pharmacies). Part of my issue is that I am tired of the constant unyielding advertising and I just don't care to even peruse the flyers, no matter how promising the deals may be. Another issue is that I am usually cash strapped after Christmas (this year is much the same) and I am not going to run up my credit card, regardless of the discounts. (If you can't afford it, you can't afford it! That's the truth!) The last part of the problem for me is that I work in retail, so I am exposed to Christmas advertising from November 1st until the 25th of December, and by that time I am pretty sick of the whole thing. But mostly I just want stay home with my family, enjoy the gifts I received for Christmas (which I love) and just leave the whole retail therapy thing alone for awhile. Exhale.

Shopping mission: Accomplished!

I began this week with my bank account perilously close to zero. I had precisely $200 left until payday (Friday). I had a few things to get for our upcoming U.S. Thanksgiving celebration on Thursday. I made the decision to go to Costco to get some of these things. What I did was this: make a list, and withdraw the $200 cash and vow to exit that store with at least some of that money left.
Costco can be a real minefield for the cash strapped. When I first started shopping there, I used to blow $300-$400 each time, and rarely examined the costs too carefully. Now, I always go there with a list, and I am more diligent about checking the unit costs. My experience has showed me that while there are definitely some good deals at Costco, other things are not so differently priced as your average big box store. I also find that you have to be able to dodge the diversions, the things that they keep on the ends of the aisles which often turn out to be impulse purchases.
So I brought my list, my cash, and my Blackberry to do some quick calculations in the aisles. I felt a bit weird doing the calculator thing in the store, but it was a good idea! I found myself well under budget ($110) and was able to get a couple of the optional items on my list. Total cost: $180. I walked out with a measly $20 until payday, which still isn't great, but my shopping mission was accomplished.

Black Friday Frenzy

We`re coming upon another Thanksgiving week (for my U.S. friends and family). That means Black Friday is fast approaching, and the consumer frenzy is about to begin. I have to admit that I am a relative newbie when it comes to Black Friday.  When I started dating my husband, I quickly figured out how big a deal it is in the U.S. My stepson scours the Black Friday ads online starting a couple weeks before. Then, he gets up in the middle of the night (usually 2am) and gets in line at his preferred stores (often Best Buy and Walmart) and gets the door crasher type items. I must admit, I was kind of mystified by this annual shopping holiday. Here in Canada, we have no equivalent day. I have seen a couple retailers here and there try to emulate the Black Friday phenomenon, but it really has not caught on.
I must admit, looking at some of the advertisements, it really gets tempting. I have seen some really, really good deals, especially on toys and electronics equipment. It definitely makes me want to part with some of my hard-earned money, and I guess that`s really the point. Consumers need that temptation, that little push, to open up their wallets and spend some money on Christmas gifts. In a recession tinged  year such as 2010 this has never been more true. However, it also encourages me (and a lot of others, I suspect) to sink deeper into consumer debt. I can definitely imagine having that rush, scoring that one thing I wanted to buy for 50-70% off retail. However, that rush would soon turn to guilt, watching my credit card bills climb, something that I definitely don`t want to do this year. So I guess I will be sitting out Black Friday this year, sigh.

The art of couponing

Ahhhh, coupons. They've become quite trendy with the recent economic downturn. Suddenly, economizing has become tres chic. There was once a time when it was almost shameful to use coupons in the grocery line. Like, somehow it indicated extreme thrift or poverty. Not anymore! Coupons are an essential tool in the smart shoppers wallet. It's money that you keep instead of spend. What could be better than that! The whole idea behind couponing is to use coupons wisely, for things you would buy anyway. 

Some tips:

1. Use your coupons for items that are already on sale! This is a great strategy. It's not always possible to do this, but for certain items (e.g., diapers) that go on sale frequently, it's a must! For example, at the store where I usually buy my diapers, the retail price for a jumbo pack of Huggies is $21.99. Using my Huggies coupons (I almost always have $2.00 or $3.00 coupons at all times for these), that brings the price down to $18.99 or $19.99. However, at least once every 2-3 weeks, Huggies go on sale for $14.99. A huge difference in cost $12.99 vs. $19.99.

2. Keep your coupons organized! My friend Pamela bought me a mini-accordion file that fits nicely in my purse. So I have files set up for food, kids items, hair care products, cleaning products, etc. It makes it much easier to find what you need when you are at the store.

3. Share with your friends. My friend Pamela and I often take out our files, and exchange coupons. We give each other our duplicates, or the coupons we no longer need.

4. Grab 'em at the grocery store! Often, grocery stores will have a pad of coupons for a particular item attached to the shelf. If it's a product you already use, grab a bunch of coupons, and stash them for future use. 

Where to find coupons:

I have a number of sources for good coupons.
www.save.ca  One of the best sites for coupons in Canada. You choose what you want, and the coupons arrive in your mailbox 3-4 business days later. 
www.webSaver.ca  Also a good site, not as great a selection as the previous site, but they conveniently are mailed to your home within 3-4 business days. 
www.brandsaver.ca  This site, operated by Proctor and Gamble, has a great selection of coupons for personal care items and cleaning products. Similar to the previous sites, you select what you want, then they mail the coupons to your home within 3-4 business days. 


There are many other sites out there offering great savings on goods or services. Be a savvy shopper and grab your coupons. Keep your money!