Southbourne Group Singapore, Tokyo Japan Top money-saving tips for holiday shopping | Page 2

Membership discounts: Say you want to give some movie tickets as gifts. If you're an AAA or AARP
member, you can buy them at discounted prices.
Credit/debit card cash-back: Many credit and debit cards provide rebates in the form of cash-back, or
points. Some offer larger rebates at particular stores, and many offer even larger rebates for online
shopping launched from their website's online shopping portal.
Get in the habit of launching your online shopping from your credit or debit cards online shopping portal,
and you'll save more money. If you're a member of an airline loyalty program with miles or points that can
expire, use the airline's shopping portal to shop and you'll reset the expiration date on your mileage
program.
Valuable protection: Take the time to know the benefits provided by different credit and debit cards,
so you'll know the best ones to use.
American Express' "purchase protection" will cover a purchase if it's stolen or accidentally broken within
90 days — a great benefit, which I've used in the past, that's particularly helpful for purchases of small
electronics that will be gifted to young people. Dropped your new smartphone in a lake? No problem.
Citi "price rewind" will let you register a purchase, track the price, and give you money back if better deals
turn up. Some cards will automatically extend a warranty, or the time period when returns are allowed.
Speaking of credit cards, shoppers are likely to be solicited at checkout, both in person and online, with
offers to immediately save money on their purchase by signing up for the store's credit card. Weigh such
offers carefully, because store-branded credit cards typically offer lower incentives for signing up, come
with fewer benefits and carry high interest rates.
Signing up for a credit card shouldn't be an impulse decision. Some store-affiliated cards may make sense
if they have no annual fee, you shop there often and they provide ongoing discounts. As with any credit
card, store-branded cards are only a good thing for people who avoid interest charges by paying off the
balance due each month.