Every year parents crowd into stores in search of the hottest toys of the season, the ones that every kid has asked for and is expecting to receive. And whether you have to stand in long lines, brave crowds of other determined parents, or even take part in a tug-of-war in order to get that toy, you’re willing to do it for your child. You’re probably going to pay a pretty penny for the privilege, too. This is the madness that we call consumerism, and if you’re sick to death of this dance, perhaps it’s time to try another tactic this year. Instead of trying to keep up with the Joneses and teaching your kids to do the same, why not look for ways to save yourself time, hassle, and cash this holiday season? Avoiding the hustle and bustle of the holiday crowd isn’t too hard thanks to pre-orders and online shopping. But saving money might be a bit more difficult when it comes to buying toys and games for your kids during the holidays, when mark-ups are pretty much a given. So here are just a few options you might want to consider.
The very best way to save money is to start shopping as early as possible, ideally well in advance of the Thanksgiving holiday when the madness really begins. Of course, certain items may not be available, and this is by design. But you can still get a lot done before the starting bell rings on the holiday shopping season. You likely have your eye on one or two special items for each child, and these may be hard to come by. If you’re like most parents, though, you’ll also provide kids with other gifts – clothing, toys, art supplies, and games that are already on the market.
When you start shopping early, you can clip coupons and wait for sales to get all kinds of discounts on the items you know you’re likely to pick up anyway. You can also shop stores that offer price matching, like Walmart. If they have multiple items you want on sale and a few that are at higher prices than advertised elsewhere, simply check their policy to make sure the price match applies so you can get everything in one place, saving money on fuel costs. Sure you might have to wait for that video game that hasn’t been released yet or the toy of the season that’s making its debut on Black Friday. But the rest you can get done early in order to save a few bucks and truncate your shopping during the holidays.
Another good option, if it is available, is to pre-order whenever possible. Chances are that you won’t necessarily save money, at least not on individual items. But suppose you’re planning to buy your kids a new game console this year. With new offerings from both Sony (PS4) and Microsoft (Xbox One) slated to hit store shelves in time for Christmas (in November and December, respectively), pre-orders are already underway. The way to save is by purchasing bundles when you pre-order. Yes, you may pay more than you intended up front. But chances are good that by selecting a package that comes with both the console and a few games you can save some money over buying them all separately. And you won’t have to wonder if you’ll be able to get a hot item before it sells out.
As for toys, your best bet is probably to shop online. There are so many sites (Amazon, for one) that offer discounts on the best gifts of the season for kids. In many cases you can also search for coupon codes to help you out, or you may even benefit from reward programs for Best Buy or Toys R Us that you can use towards purchases. When it comes to buying toys and games for your kids this holiday season, don’t get sucked into the same old trap of buying last minute and paying full price. Instead, start your shopping early and take advantage of the many opportunities to save on your purchases.
