How To Save the Most Money When Shopping Small This Holiday Season
Written by
Nicole Spector
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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Small Business Saturday is coming up, drawing attention to the droves of mom-and-pop shops and other indie establishments that help make the economy go ’round. Wedged between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday highlights the important message that most small retailers can’t afford to roll out blowout savings extravaganzas like the big-box giants do — but they’re still more than worthy of our patronage during this make-or-break shopping season.
After the fallout of the pandemic and continued supply chain issues, now is a crucial time to support small businesses — and you can do so without hurdling over your budget. Just like when shopping with mega retailers, a little consumer savviness can go a long way. Here’s a look at 10 ways you can shop small and save more.
Follow Your Favorite Businesses on Social Media
“More businesses than ever are using social media for advertising, so make sure to follow the businesses you frequent,” said Erica Seppala, financial analyst at MerchantMaverick.com. “Through social media, you can learn about new products and services, current and upcoming sales and promotions, and even receive exclusive coupons and discounts just for being a fan.”
Sign Up for Loyalty Programs
“Many small businesses will implement points programs to reward all your purchases. If you start shopping early — and frequent — enough you can build up those points now,” said Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com. “But even if you can’t afford to do that, by shopping for gifts at small businesses that have these programs you can still be earning those points right now and then you can use them to treat yourself later. Often these points will translate to things like free items or coupons and many small businesses have these programs set up so that they’re tied to your phone number or email, which means you won’t have to worry about pulling out a punch card every time you visit.”
Sign Up for Mailing Lists
“See if your local business has an email or snail mail mailing list,” Seppala said. “By signing up, you may get exclusive previews of upcoming sales and events, coupons, or other promotions delivered right to your mailbox.”
Buy in Bulk
“Depending on what kind of local shops you’re supporting, you may be able to buy select items in bulk,” Ramhold said. “For instance, a local tea shop may offer promotions like buy 2, get 1 free, while a coffee shop could offer discounted rates on beans that they roast themselves.”
Take Advantage of Discounted Swag
“Even if you aren’t looking at food items locally made, you may find the shops have merchandise discounted for the holidays,” Ramhold said. “If you like to show your support for your favorite businesses, this is a good time to buy t-shirts and tote bags to show off your love for them.”
Use a Rewards Credit Card
“No matter where you end up shopping over the holidays, be sure to use a credit card that pays rewards, such as cash back or points,” said Laura Adams, MBA, a personal finance expert for Finder. “Plus, many cards offer extra perks, including extended warranties and travel insurance, which help make most of your purchases.
Use Cash-Back Browser Extensions When Shopping Online
“Rewards platforms like Rakuten work with hundreds of small business retailers to allow consumers to shop locally, as well as earn Cash Back on top of it such as LIVELY, Rothys, Little Passports and more,” said Kristen Gall, president of Rakuten Rewards. “Earning Cash Back for your holiday purchases is a great way to earn money back to save or put toward additional gifts on your list to purchase this year.”
Opt For Personalized Gifts
“Small businesses are more willing to work with you on ensuring that the personalized gift that you are purchasing is perfect to cater to the recipient, while being more flexible about extra fees and costs,” Gall said. “Larger companies often are harder to get in contact with, and charge additional fees for customization and creativity for their items, if an option.”
Ask For a Discount
“You may feel bad about doing so, and there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to do it, but it can’t hurt to ask, especially if you’re spending a significant amount of money,” Ramhold said. “Don’t be pushy and don’t be greedy — in fact, don’t put an amount on it at all if you’re going this route. Instead, just ask politely if they can offer you a discount for what you’re purchasing. If they say no, be gracious about it — thank them anyway and don’t hold it against them in the future.”
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