Shopping With Gift Cards

For Christmas, my husband and I received a few gift cards from family and friends. Some people, armed with several gift cards, might be tempted to go on a power-shopping spree, and spend most, if not all of the funds at once. However, I believe in pacing myself, and for two reasons. The first reason is that drawing shopping out for months means more trips to the stores, which in turn means more fun for me. (Aren’t we shopaholics all the same?) The second reason is; you want to wait for better prices on the things you want. Here’s the thing: after the Christmas shopping season is over, it’s time for stores to get rid of their Holiday overstock, and make room for new stuff. So, you might have your eye on a really cute sweater, or a pair of jeans at 50% off just after New Years, but if you wait a couple more weeks, that same cute sweater, or pair of jeans might be another half off, which now means 75% the original price for you! Awesome! I love sales on redlines, don’t you? They make a girl feel so warm and fuzzy and cashmere inside!

So, to all my fellow shopaholics, tightly clutching your Holiday gift cards of free spending money, take my advice in this: when it comes to gift-card spending and getting the most for the amount, slow and prolonged can be better than quick and shortened. (Oh wait, that’s my advice for better sex. Well, it works for shopping, too.)