Consumer Alert: Holiday savings

Black Friday marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Many braved the crowds Thursday night and Friday morning, but experts say there are other ways to save.
Experts offered the following dos and don’ts for saving while shopping for the holidays:
  • Do shop online to compare more prices in less time.
  • Use deal websites that automatically compare prices.
  • Buy clothing on Cyber Monday: Prices are low, and more sizes are available.
  • Don’t rush to buy electronics: Black Friday prices may look good, but shoppers can often do better by waiting.
  • Never pay for shipping: Many retailers now offer free holiday shipping.
Some experts say the best thing shoppers can do to avoid buyer’s remorse is to set a budget in advance.
“If you spend $100 on a gift and you put it on your credit card and you don’t pay it off in 30 days, very quickly that $100 becomes $110, $120, $150,” said Paul Oster, a consumer credit counselor.