Making a Plan: Part 2

Hello there!

Did you get a chance to use the Holiday Spending Plan to create your budget for the 2022 Holidays? How much are you planning to spend? The National Retail Federation reports that an average American consumer spends $997.73 on gifts and holiday items. This year, with inflation on the rise, about 25% of consumers are planning to spend less this holiday season.

To keep you on track with your holiday budget, tasks and events, use this calendar to plan and keep track of all your holiday expectations and expenses. Use the calendar to make note of paydays, expenses, activities (and their costs), shopping days, decorating and crafting days. Add as much information as you can so that you have a clear picture of what you plan to accomplish.

Holiday sales are every retailer’s bread and butter. This year’s economic forecast of continued inflation has retailers offering early sales as a way to get in front of consumer’s fears of inflation and keep consumers shopping longer. It’s good to remember that retailers employ a lot of tricks to get you to buy more once you are in the store. Here are some common tactics that work in favor of the retailer:

• Bulk Pricing – Ten for $10! Even if you don’t need 10, it’s a great price – so you buy 10.
• Large Shopping Carts – Three items in a large cart makes it look like there is room to add more things, and generally people do. Next shopping trip, grab a small basket and see if you stick to your list and budget. Once you touch an item or put it in your cart, you are more likely to buy it.
• BOGO 50% Off – This offer is really 25% off two items type of sale. If you only need 1 item then you are paying regular price, and buying 2 generates only a 25% discount on each. You are still paying more than anticipated for the sale.
• Featured Items – That great sale price on the front table is probably a high profit item for the retailer.
• Large Signs With Small Details – “Up to 70% off” from across the store looks like 70% off all items, but when you look through the display you realize that very few things are 70% off.
• Upselling at the register – “Did you see the matching wallet? It’s on sale for 50% off”. Cashiers will try to get you to buy more as you’re checking out, be careful of this!
• Store Dollars – Earning $10 on a $50 purchase encourages you to spend $50, even if you only planned to spend $35. Plus, it gets you back into the store to spend again (when prices are not discounted). This becomes a never-ending cycle of earning and spending store dollars.
• Countdown Clocks – While shopping online, a countdown clock may appear on sale items, which encourages you to act quickly to secure the purchase.

This season, stay alert to retailer practices so that you keep your budget on track. While in the check-out line, review what’s in your basket, was it on your list? If you did not plan on the item, leave it in the store. Your budget will thank you.

This week, we will start doing what might be the most daunting task to some – tracking our spending! No worries, we will get through next week like budgeting pros😉.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Your Holiday Helper,

Irma♥