If you’re going to shop, you may as well shop smart

I always check the prices on Amazon before I just make a purchase, and more often than not, Amazon is the leader when it comes to low prices and fantastic selection. You’re going to buy some gifts this Holiday season, so you may as well buy them with your eyes wide open.

The Amazon team has pulled together some of the top products for this Holiday gift-giving season. Whether you’re interested in the Kindle, Amazon’s powerhouse book reader, traditional books, movies, clothes, electronics or more, you’ll find great buys at Amazon. I just bought myself a great digital SLR camera for $150 LESS than at any camera store and $100 LESS than Sam’s Club. It was even cheaper than eBay … and it was new!

Kindle

Kindle is the #1 bestselling, #1 most-wished-for and #1 most-gifted product on Amazon.com. Kindle is the perfect item to give to the book reader in your family and now it’s wireless! Today’s Kindle has wi-fi, a 6″ display, and a new lower price of only $139!

But did you know there’s a bigger Kindle available? It has a 9.7 inch screen and 50% better contrast, making it much more “readable.”

Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Holiday Deals
Amazon doesn’t think people should have to stand in line to get a great Black Friday deal. That’s why they’re starting Black Friday early – November 22 – and they plan to keep adding new deals all day through November 27. Find terrific prices on hot gift items on Kindles, Cameras, Video Games, Movies, Computers, Kitchen, Sports, Toys, and more. Then they’ll keep the deals coming for their two-day Cyber Monday event, November 28-29, and add even more for their Top Holiday Deals event, November 30-December 23.

Electronics

• Black Friday starts early – save big on HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc players, home audio equipment and more from top brands starting on 11/22. Come back every day to see their latest deals.
• Save on the 3D experience with bundles from top manufacturers: Sony, LG, Samsung, Toshiba and Panasonic will run promotions before year’s end.

Toys

New this year: Save 25% or more on popular kids’ gift items in the Holiday Toy List. Amazon will help you find the perfect gifts for kids by age, gender, category, and price. Save on top toys, games, electronics, video games, and more in the 2010 Holiday Toy List

Movies & TV

• Black Friday Event with savings up to 70% on over 3000 eligible DVDs and Blu-ray discs from 11/22 – 11/29
• 77 DVD and Blu-ray Specific Lightning Deals from 11/22 – 11/29 with savings up to 70% on eligible new releases on DVD and Blu-ray

Books: Amazon.com Best Books of 2010

What was the best and what was only so-so? Discover Amazon.com Editors’ Picks for the Top 100 Books of the Year, including the unanimous #1 favorite, Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The Best Books of the Year is one of the most eagerly anticipated annual events in the Books category, and with their wide selection of editors’ picks, Top 100 Customer Favorites, and Top 10 lists in nearly two dozen categories, it’s a perfect destination for any holiday shopper looking for that perfect gift.

Music

• Deluxe Editions: Hundreds of CDs and DVDs including the 25th anniversary edition of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, with prices starting at $8.99
• Box Sets: Hundreds of box sets, including Hank Williams Sr., with prices starting at $12.99
• Greatest Hits: Hundreds of titles, including the Beatles, with prices starting at $6.49

Clothing: Special Holiday Clothing Sales

This holiday season, the Amazon Clothing Store is offering some serious deals.  The amazingly stocked Denim Shop is also on sale from November 16-December 16, with $20 off orders of $100 or more. In addition, check the Amazon Clothing Store every Thursday at 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT) for Clothing Lightning Deals, blink-and-you-miss-them discounts on gift-worthy apparel and accessories.

• Contemporary Sale: Up to 50% Off
• Denim Sale: $20 off $100

Kitchen, Home and Pets

• Gifts up to 40% Off in the Kitchen, Home & Pets Holiday Gift Guide
• Black Friday Event with savings of up to 50% on a wide selection of products for the home from kitchen knives to vacuums from 11/22 – 11/27
• Cyber Monday Event with savings of up to 50% on a wide selection of products for the home from bedding to kitchen appliances from 11/28 – 11/29
• Pet Tuesday Event with savings of up to 50% on select beds, fountains, toys, and much more on 11/30

Sports & Outdoors

• Additional $10 savings at checkout on your $50 purchase of select Swiss Army Knives (Now-December 4)
• 50 products or more at 50% off or more (November 22-December 5)
• Additional $20 savings at checkout on your $100 purchase of select Coleman camping gear (11/28-December 5)
• Sports & Outdoors Overstocks: Great deals on thousands of items (ongoing)

Endless Jewelry Store

Endless.com now offers jewelry from your favorite brands- from Nicky Hilton, Mizuki, GURHAN, Devon Leigh and other well known fashion brands to niche and unique brands that are hard to find elsewhere. With over 2,000 unique products, you’ll find the best selection of bridal, statement jewelry, and everyday fashion with free shipping and free returns. Endless will add selection continuously so check back often for the latest designs.

Links to products or services may be affiliate links. See my disclosure policy on the site or on my About page.

Why do people shop? This question has been examined by psychologists and personal finance bloggers for years and the reasons are usually broken down into the old needs vs. wants dilemma. I think it goes much deeper than that.

We buy things we budget for and things we need – food, clothing, transportation, shelter, climate control, and sometimes we buy things to replace items we’ve worn out or outgrown (I’m going through sneakers and clothing like crazy with three kids!). Sometimes we buy things we want (electronics, boats, new furniture, etc) and that’s okay so long as our decision is made with an idea of where the money is coming from and it isn’t from high interest debt. It’s also a good idea to make sure the money you spend on wants doesn’t jeopardize your ability to meet your future needs.

But many times, we shop for other reasons:

1. We shop because we’re mildly depressed

It’s called retail therapy and it’s no joke. In some people, shopping causes an increase in dopamine which causes you to feel happy for a short time.

A better idea: call a friend and talk things out. That’s what friends are for.

2. We shop because “we deserve it”

After a hard day at work, or a long day at home with the kids, shopping is your personal reward for the stress and overwhelming circumstances you’ve been through.

A better idea: try taking a walk in a park. Getting out into nature can have a wonderful effect on our psyche.

3. We shop to feel more in control

That cash or plastic in your hand gives you control over your circumstances and human beings love to be in control. There’s nothing like a salesperson working to make you happy.

A better idea: prove to yourself how much self control you have and avoid the mall.

4. We shop to make a point

Closely related to #3, you may shop to prove that no one can tell YOU what to do. Your wife, your husband, your parents, or even a blog can’t control you.

A better idea: make a point to yourself by putting that cash into your savings account.

5. We shop to escape

Going through the mall is your escape from reality and it feels great to blow off everyone and everything and just clear your mind while you decide between royal blue and teal blue.

A better idea: escape to the gym or to the park.

6. We shop to be someone else

You really believe that those new shoes or that new iPhone will make your life better. Those shoes make you feel glamorous and that iPhone makes you feel important and part of the “in” crowd. Hopefully, your acquaintances will be jealous.

A better idea: remember that things don’t change people, they only reveal who you already are. The two things that will change you are the people you hang around with and the books you read. Change those to become someone else … and give up on making someone jealous.

7. We shop to socialize

Shopping is your “day out” with the girls but is isn’t just for women. No, men shop too, just check out Bass Pro Shops for the guys comparing camouflage overalls or trolling motors. Shopping satisfies our urge to socialize.

A better idea: invite friends over for a potluck or to play some board games or get a group together for a volunteer project.

8. We shop on impulse

You shop out of habit, stopping by the mall every day on the way home from work, or every Sunday afternoon as your way to relax.

A better idea: don’t try to quit ANY habit, but replace that habit with a better one like exercise or reading a book. And change your route home from work.

9. We shop to to fool ourselves

You claim to get so much exercise at the mall, that all the walking is doing your body some good.

A better idea: get your exercise somewhere else like visiting people in a hospital or by walking in the park.

10. We shop to build our ego

You love the attention salespeople give you and the way they compliment your choices. When your teenager doesn’t want anything to do with you, your spouse is wrapped up in a project, or layoffs are coming at work, those salespeople at the mall can really build your ego.

A better idea: remember that those salespeople only like you because you’re shopping. To really build your ego and self esteem, get busy serving others and making someone’s life better.

The first step to overcoming a bad shopping habit is to discover why you’re doing it in the first place. See if any of these reasons reverberate with you and then take the necessary steps to overcome it and give your budget a break. Here’s a hint – the one that made you mad could be the one you need to work on!

Photo by Brave New Films

Links to products or services may be affiliate links. See my disclosure policy on the site or on my About page.

Know why they call it “Black Friday?” It isn’t because those sale items push retailers into the “black” (accounting speak for profitability). Those sale items are almost always loss leaders – items sold at a loss in order to lure you into the store in the hopes you’ll buy other, more profitable items. What really pushes retailers into the black are the profitable items you buy because you showed up at 4am and everything you hoped to buy was sold out and you HAD to buy SOMETHING (let’s call this a sunk cost).

Black Friday Bait and Switch

While checking out Black Friday ad scans, I peeked at the Best Buy ad. Most of the great buys they’re touting have limits on your purchase or severely restricted quantities available. To Best Buy’s credit, they DO list the minimum number of items in each store but no rain-checks will be issued.

The Walmart ad has similar language:

“All items in this advertisement are available in limited quantities. Sorry, no rain checks. We intend to have every advertised item in stock. However, we may not offer some items in all locations and quantity or availability may vary due to unexpected demand or circumstances beyond our control. In all cases, we reserve the right to limit quantities to normal retail purchases or one-per-customer or household.”

Neither the Black Friday Walmart ad, nor the Toys-R-Us ad I saw mentioned minimum quantities available at each store but the Staples ad did list them on a few items.

Some bait and switch tactics can be more sinister. Stores may drastically lower the price on slow movers. Others may feature items considered obsolete, unpopular, damaged, or returned for credit and willing buyers will snatch them up simply because it’s Black Friday.

Do YOU participate in Black Friday?

I don’t participate in Black Friday. No, I’m not a Scrooge. I just don’t relish the idea of fighting huge crowds in the hopes of buying stuff. Chances are high that whatever is purchased on Black Friday will become obsolete, won’t be used more than a few days (if at all), or isn’t really needed. One thing I can guarantee is that the things bought on Black Friday will never love you back (unless it’s a puppy!).

One year I did get up early just to drive around and watch the madness as a spectator. It was fascinating.

When someone would walk to their vehicle to stash their stuff, other drivers were racing each other to the soon-to-be-vacant parking spot. Many times the shopper had no intentions of leaving, only relieving their tired arms from the weight of their packages. The drivers would wait, turn signals blinking, only to realize their quest for a parking spot was foiled … again. They would speed away just a little too fast in a show of frustration.

Inside the store, shoppers were willingly herded like cattle through doors and chutes to certain areas, spellbound by the “deal.” They all carried ad circulars and previously purchased packages while speaking loudly of their plans and strategies. Some used their cell phone browsers to look up other deals at other stores, others announced their plans by speaking to “team members” (I’m assuming family) in strategic code over handheld radios with all the crispness and precision of a team of Green Berets. “Did you get the LCD? What’s your location? Send Bobby to get in the DVD player line and I’ll hook up with him there. Send Hannah to either the RC toys line or the GPS line and get back with me when they arrive. Over.”

Buy only what you truly need

If the siren’s song of Black Friday is too much for you to resist, make sure you’re armed with:

• Cash or your rewards credit card.
• An ad circular from the store.
• A Thanksgiving Day newspaper AND a Black Friday Newspaper (to insure you have the right information on their sales).
• Knowledge of the store’s policies for Black Friday purchases.
• Comfortable shoes.
• Bottled water or a thermos of coffee.
• Snacks?
• Your browser enabled cell phone or netbook with an air card.

Remember: when it comes to these “loss leaders,” it really is a zero-sum game. Either the store wins or you win. You win when you buy the exact item you want at the price you want or you don’t buy at all and walk away with your cash. The store wins when you buy something else out of desperation or frustration.

Black Friday photo by teejayhanton

Links to products or services may be affiliate links. See my disclosure policy on the site or on my About page.