Starting your holiday shopping early may help you save money, avoid
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Summer isn’t officially over, yet some Americans already have the holidays on their minds.
In fact, 27% of holiday shoppers plan to begin buying gifts before the end of September, according to a survey by CreditCards.com. That includes 13% who started or planned to start in August. The poll was conducted by YouGov Plc. Aug. 18-20 and surveyed 2,410 adults, of whom 1,810 qualified as holiday shoppers.
“Some people are hyper-organized. Others may still be worried that stuff will sell out or take a lot of time to be delivered,” said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at CreditCards.com.
“Some people are always in this bargain-hunting mode.”
Deals are typically found around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but last year the Covid pandemic pushed more shoppers online. As a result, retailers started slashing prices in the beginning of November — or earlier.
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Now as the second pandemic holiday season approaches, the delta variant has created uncertainty about what stores will be open on Black Friday and at what capacity, said Kate Ellsworth, executive editor of commerce content at Reviewed.
There are also concerns about being able to get products due to supply chain issues. The last thing any parent wants is to miss out on that must-have toy.
Here’s how to figure out the right move for your wallet — and your wish list.
When shopping early makes sense
If you start early, you may find some deals and will be able to compare prices with no pressure. Just stick to your list.
“One of the risks of starting early is maybe overbuying,” Rossman said.
The big reason to get a jump on your gift-buying is concerns over inventory, since Covid has disrupted the supply chain.
If there is something you really want, you may be taking a gamble by waiting for a discount, Ellsworth said. If you value the specific product over getting a bargain, the ideal time to act is September and October.
That goes especially for toys — not only will there be supply chain issues but there may be massive demand. Some Lego advent calendars are already selling out, Ellsworth noted. Other hot items include Squishmallows and a plush toy of the Morris character from the Marvel movie “Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings.”
“Keep an eye on what toys you want to buy and buy them ASAP,” Ellsworth said.
If you wait until Black Friday deals for appliances, don’t count on getting them for the holidays. Your better bet for holiday availability is to look for sales now, she advised. Meanwhile, furniture has had immense shipping delays, so that isn’t even in the running for an end-of-year delivery.
Keep an eye on what toys you want to buy and buy them ASAP.
Kate Ellsworth
Executive editor of commerce content at Reviewed
Video game consoles will also be impossible to find…
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