The 12 Budget Savers of Christmas
We’re all looking to save a buck (or $100) this holiday season. So, before you grab your wallet, here are a few tips, including finding meaningful savings at Mercer Indigo.
Three Must-Do’s
- Stick to Your List. If someone isn’t on it, think before you buy.
- Make a Budget. You can set a dollar amount, or a percentage to spend per person.
- Use Cash (or a debit card). It’s the classic way to keep from overspending.
Three Strategies
- Start with Your Employee Discounts. You might find double-digit discounts, even on sale items. Use perks at store cafes to save on treats and holiday lunches. And check for any discounts that get overlooked, like free shipping services or reduced prices on tickets.
- Search for Coupons. The magic “Discount code for X brand” search can turn up savings at manufacturer websites or affiliate sites like RetailMeNot, Groupon, and Rakuten.
- Use Browser Extensions. If you do use credit cards, extensions such as Capitol One Shopping® or credit card shopping portals can turn cash back points into savings.
TIP: Check “buy nothing” groups in your area. You might find unique gifts, especially for someone who is a collector or doing a home project.
Three ‘Buyer Beware’s’
- Beware Fake Websites. Scammers will mimic legitimate sites to steal your credit card information or ship shoddy goods. Check urls, search for reviews, and verify through different paths that you’re on a legitimate site.
- Beware Fake Deals. Avoid social media ads. The chances you’re being scammed are high. Reverse image search items and if the deal is too good to be true…it’s a scam.
- Beware Fake Texts. Very rarely is there really an issue with shipping your package. If you think a text might be true, verify through a different path, like your account on the seller’s website.
And Three Big Money Savers
Add meaningful savings on the big-ticket items in your life through Mercer Indigo, where you can protect your finances from every day risks. For example:
- Shop your health insurance. You’ve likely seen premium increases. Shop ACA Marketplace plans easily. You can come back again and again to compare.
- Protect your income. Are your kids in sports? Need vision and dental insurance? Shop Indigo for supplemental plans like Vision, Dental, Accident and more to help close risk gaps.
- Close up budget busters. Further safeguard your savings with Pet Insurance, Home and Auto, Legal, Renters Insurance, and add-on coverages. If the worst happens, you’re not funding losses from your checkbook.
Shopping smartly makes savings easy. Get started today!