As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, I am reminded of how much of a pain buying gifts can be. You have to come up with a gift idea and then go find that gift. You can be traditional and go with jewelry, or you can come up with a custom made gift. There are so many options for gift giving that it can be overwhelming. My main goal with anything regarding gifts is to find the right gift at the right price. I like to roll with the Debt Roundup way!
P.S. There is a great $100 cash giveaway entrance form at the bottom of this post. In need of a gift, use this money to please your loved one!
There is nothing worse than finding the the right gift for your loved one and then overpaying for it. Some don’t really care as long as they find the gift that works (like my wife!). I have always been one that wanted to not only find the right gift, but also pay the right price for it. I can get a little sour when I overpay for an item. In order to stave off the dreaded over-payment, I harness the power of the internet.
Equipped with my smartphone, I make sure that I am not overpaying for my gift idea. I like to touch and feel gifts in order to get a better idea if my wife would like them. I like to check the quality and all of the important aspects that go into a gift. Yes, I could just pay whatever the store charges, but what is the fun in that? I fire up my cell phone and go on a little price comparison spree. I check Amazon, then use Shopping.com or any other comparison shopping engine. If I have the tools at my disposal, then why not use them. My number one rule for gift giving is to never overpay for said gift.
If I locate my gift at an online retailer, there are many ways to score an even better deal. You can check to see if there are any online coupons to score you a nice discount or even free shipping. Most reputable retailers offer coupons to entice you to shop with them, so make sure you check. One tool that puts even more power in your hands is a sweet little browser plug-in called Coupons at Checkout. This plug-in shows you coupons codes automatically for anything you buy as you go through the checkout process at your favorite store. You don’t have to go out and find these coupons because they are just delivered to you in your browser. How easy is that?
I work hard to figure out what kind of gift I want to give a loved one, so I don’t want to work hard in order to pay the right price for it. If you don’t take a little time to price compare, then you could be throwing money in the trash. Who wants to throw money in the trash? If you do, then please put that money in an envelope and then email me for my address. Don’t waste money, just shop smarter. Not only should you give a great gift, but you should gift yourself by paying the right price.
As a bonus, here is the entry form for the $100 cash giveaway. What a better way to start your gift shopping than with $100 cash. Enjoy!
About Grayson
When we first started dating my husband sewed a stuffed kangaroo for me because he knew I loved them and couldn’t find one. I still have it 20 years later. The best I ever gave was a secret. I dropped a grocery store gift card and some toys at a needy friend’s house on Christ,as. She still doesn’t know who did it!
That is pretty awesome of your husband. If you can create a quality made gift, then I would go for it.
I like the online coupon idea – coupons at checkout.
When I buy stuff on the internet and see the field for coupon code, I often wonder where you’d actually find them. Also, I use a smartphone app called shopsavvy, which is basically a barcode reader, it then compares the prices of a product with other retailers selling it near you, handy!
Matt recently posted..10 Tips for Buying a New Mobile Phone
It is a novel idea. I usually go scouring the internet to find a coupon code, but now I don’t have to do that. I installed the plugin and it works well. I use a couple different barcode scanners and they are great.
There is another app that locates shops nearby that offer a better price as well. Don’t remember the name thought. Sometimes it is worth driving an extra couple of miles to another store than pay for shipping, or even make sure you are there to get your package.
Pauline recently posted..Valentine gifts and $100 giveaway!
Yeah, there are many cost saving apps that are great, but I don’t do too much shopping from my smart phone. I like to shop from my computer browser, or now, my tablet!
I always like to shop around and make sure I am getting the best deal. Often you will see me standing in the shops looking at my phone making sure I can’t get an item cheaper online before buying it locally.
Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank recently posted..Giving Gifts on a Budget
It is essential. You have to shop around because you most likely won’t get the best deal at the first place.
I really should use mobile apps to compare prices more often. I definitely fall into the trap of “I’m at the store, I might as well just get it here”. A great fail example of this was about a week back when I was at Sherwin Williams and I bought one of those roller extension rods so I can paint the ceiling. Cost like $15 and it broke on the second day of use… I might as well have gotten it for $5 on Amazon and be protected with an awesome return policy!
Listen Money Matters recently posted..Budgeting for Dummies, the Complete Guide
I would recommend that you try out some apps or at least sit on the decision for a little bit. The store catches you in and you don’t want to have to wait for shipping. Sorry to hear about the roller extension rod. That sucks!
I hate overpaying as well and do my best to find the best deal online. I love the Amazon app and used it to save a little bit of money over Christmas. It would embarrass my wife for me to pull out my phone and check Amazon when out at a store, but it did tend to save us some good money.
John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted..$999.99 Giveaway: iPad or no iPad? Welcome to my Money Problem!
Me too John. I hate overpaying, but my wife just doesn’t care. We get into it sometimes because of this.
I think this is going to be a week of major giveaway! Readers aren’t going to know what to do…
WorkSaveLive recently posted..Financial Responsibility And Kids: It’s Never Too Early To Start
I agree Jason. I have three going on this week. It is going to be nuts!
I always forget to check for online coupons. I need to get better at that. Usually, if I don’t see a coupon in print form, I don’t take it with me. I guess I’m stuck in the old school. I am totally missing out on some good deals!
Greg@ClubThrifty recently posted..The Perfect Valentines Day Gift…and a Giveaway!
It happens Greg. If I am purchasing online, then I always look for the coupon. You never know how much you could save.
Is there anything better than hunting down a deal for a gift, you find out its half your budget, so you end up buying that person twice as much? We do this for the nieces and nephews every year for their birthdays, and we always end up with so much for them!
My Money Design recently posted..Believing In Yourself After Finding Out That You Suck
Haha, been there and done that MMD. I should just stick to the one gift and if it is well below my budget, then good.
I’ve gotten a little bit better at checking for online coupon codes, but overall I am still pretty bad at it. I did book a hotel recently and rememebered to google for a coupon code (saved me $20). I am going to make a conscious effort in the future to comparison shop online retailers and look for coupon codes.
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted..$100 Giveaway – Valentine’s Day Gift Edition
It is a quick and easy way to save.
Happy to be co-hosting with you again!
The Happy Homeowner recently posted..Creative Valentine’s Day Gifts on a Budget….and a Giveaway!
Same here. I hope it goes well for you.
I hate feeling like I overpaid for an item. I once did a price match from my cell phone in the store. I saw that I could get the item cheaper at another store, mentioned it to the cashier and she called the manager who matched the price on the spot (I was at Macy’s in case anybody’s curious). She actually gave me a better deal then competitor’s price and I didn’t even have to get in the car to go to the other store. Score!
KK @ Student Debt Survivor recently posted..Flood Your Car to Save Money
Oh the power of technology. Nice win!
Lately, my wife and I have been just planning nights out as gifts to each other.
We’re both rather busy lately, and we think that time together is the best gift we can give each other (yeah, sappy I know). *grin*
Alex recently posted..Happy Thoughts List: Battling a Funk
I am with you there Alex. Since having our baby, we don’t get much time together with just ourselves. I am hoping to get grandma to babysit and then we can just relax and enjoy each other’s company.