News & Advice

Avoid some holiday stress by following these tips to save money while holiday shopping. 

SET A BUDGET

Making a budget is classic advice for a reason — it works. Setting a realistic budget is one of the best ways to avoid overspending during the holiday season. Start by making a list of who you would like to buy gifts for, then add ideas for gifts and their costs. This can help you stay on track when holiday shopping.

COMPARE PRICES

Always compare prices while shopping. While ordering from Amazon is easy, you might be able to score better deals from a brand’s own website. Price comparison apps and a quick Google search can also help. When holiday shopping, you can even compare a store’s prices to its own prices — check a store’s app to see if there’s a cheaper deal and ask if the store will honor that price in person. 

Or, compare similar items from different brands. You could save a lot of money just by getting something that’s not name-brand. 

FIND WAYS TO AVOID IMPULSE BUYING 

Budgets go off track from overspending, so find a way to avoid impulse buys. This could look like bringing a responsible friend with you (this means someone who won’t egg you on in the Target dollar spot) or only bringing a specific amount of cash with you. Tracking your spending is another way to curb impulse buys. You should always know how much of your budget you have left to spend. 

For some people, shopping online can be helpful because you might get less easily distracted by other items. When shopping online, you can choose to pick up orders via curbside. Curbside pickup can save you money on shipping costs and keep you focused since you won’t be able to wander the aisles. 

START EARLY

It pays to start your holiday saving and shopping early. Look for deals on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Small Business Saturday. If you wait until the last minute, the items you want may be gone, and you could face inflated shipping costs to get items in on time. 

USE REWARDS APPS AND STORE APPS 

Many stores offer exclusive flash sales through their apps. Signing up for rewards is a free option for many stores and businesses. You might even get a special discount just for signing up. 

SKIP SHOPPING ALTOGETHER

There’s something special about a low-cost, homemade gift that shows the gift giver put in time, thought, and effort. You could knit a scarf, record a version of your loved ones' favorite song, make a collage or painting that fits their aesthetic, or bake their favorite treats. 

Or, create a tradition. Experiences like turning on a holiday movie, building a fort in the living room, or driving around to look at Christmas lights don’t cost much more than your time. 

SAVE MONEY WITH INOVA 

At INOVA Federal, we want to keep the holiday cheer going. That’s why when you buy gifts for others, we’re going to give back to you! This holiday season, we’re giving you extra reward points on INOVA debit card purchases and 8.99% APR for three months on INOVA Visa credit card purchases, from November 1 through December 31. 

Stop into one of our convenient locations, or visit us online to learn more about these specials and how you can get an INOVA Debit Card or Visa credit card.