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| Pentagon City Mall Food Court (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
1) EAT BEFORE YOU GO
Don't
go to the mall with an empty stomach and full wallet. That way, at the
most you will splurge on a snack for the kids (and at $5 and more for a
pretzel or ice cream cone, even that can get pricey).
2) LEAVE THE CREDIT CARD AT HOME
Instead,
put the amount of money you plan to spend in an envelope marked "Christmas Shopping" that you keep
in your wallet. Once the money is gone, then it is time to go home or
window shop.
3) MAKE A LIST
To
prevent falling for the hundreds of CHRISTMAS SALE TODAY signs, make a list of
what you need. If you find that item on sale, great, buy it. But if that
polka dot alligator must-have purse is not on your list, then it stays
on the shelf.
4) GIVE THE KIDS A CHRISTMAS GIFT ALLOWANCE
Give
each of your kids $5, $10, $20, whatever you feel is within budget and
age-appropriate for them to spend. Your child can choose to
spend the money on a gift for someone else, donate it to a local holiday charity, or save it for the next trip to afford more expensive
items. It is even better if they have to EARN the money.
5) IF YOU NEED TO EAT, EAT AT THE FOOD COURT AND SPLIT IT!
Even
at inexpensive restaurants, you end up paying more to cover overhead,
tip, drinks, etc. At the food court, you can order a large meal that is
split between the kids, can split drinks, don't need to pay a tip, and
sometimes can even get free refills. You can easily cut your food budget
in half!
6) THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MUST-HAVE!
No
matter what the commercials say, you do not HAVE to have anything at
the mall. Most holiday items can be bough much cheaper online or at a thrift
shop.
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| English: Food Court in Onaizah Mall (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
7) JUST SAY NO TO FADS
You
notice how commercials blast us with bizarre clothing and tell us we
NEED to buy it? You want gawdy jewelry? Go to the thrift shop for some
80s classics, don't spend $55 on a pair of cheaply made earrings at
Macy's. Want those ridiculous loud prints...Goodwill has plenty of LOUD
leftovers waiting for you. While the Christmas Furbee is something your child really REALLY wants, try to find something longer lasting or something that encourages creativity or has a special personalized touch. Anything from a personalized homemade doll to an engraved children's Bible to a bike will be something remembered and cherished for long periods of time.
8) MAKE A MENTAL LIMIT FOR WHAT YOU WILL SPEND ON CLOTHING
I
used to work retail and I know what clothing is worth. Mark-up is often
200+% on actual worth of the clothing. Instead of waiting till Christmas to shop for clothing holiday gifts, make a mental note to keep an eye out for cute t-shirts, accessories, and outfits throughout the year.
9) CATCH THE CHRISTMAS BLOCKBUSTER MATINEE
If
your local mall has a movie theater, catch the matinee movie. Depending
on your location, you can easily save $1-3 per person. Also, keep those
student IDs, military IDs and senior citizen discounts handy. And don't bother with
the overpriced candy and popcorn. Nowhere else is $5.75 for a single
candy bar ok.
10) BUY AT OUTLET MALLS AND STORES
Places
like Ross, Marshall's and other outlet stores sell last year's clothes
at relatively inexpensive prices. Be careful, though. Some upper crust
stores have tried to get into the outlet market, selling unwanted
electronic, jewelry, clothing, etc. at regular prices.
And the easiest way to save money a the mall is not to go at all.
While inexpensive forms of entertainment, malls are meant to part you
with your hard-earned cash. You wouldn't watch a TV channel dedicated to
selling you unnecessary items all day, so why go to the mall? Rediscover your crafty side and create homemade Christmas cards, personalized Christmas mix CDs, photos of the family in decorative frames, and other low-cost memorable gifts.
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