Holiday Shopping Challenge with American Express ($250 Giveaway closed)
This time of year can be stressful for families who are on a tight budget and wanting to give their family members nice gifts. I found that I had to make a list of all the people I needed to buy for and potentially the gift I’d like to get and what my budget is for each gift.
This was the first year I actually stuck to my list and kept track of what I was buying and for who. This let me know how much money I was spending and still had to spend.
With an American Express card families can shop and stretch their budget using Membership Rewards points. This was something I never even thought about using before. For some the thought of a credit card can be scary, but the fact that American Express offers Membership Reward Points it makes for an easier Holiday shopping experience! I have already mentioned it to my husband about getting an American Express Card.
Key Benefits to Membership Rewards:
- Earn one point for virtually every dollar you spend.
- There is no limit to the number of points you can earn.
- Points have no expiration date.
Using Points
- Use points for retail purchases and access to dining and entertainment events.
- Use points to book travel or transfer points to frequent flyer and guest programs.
- Use points toward Gift Cards or Certificates for yourself or a friend.
Earning Points
- Earn up to 10X points on over 300 brands by shopping at MembershipRewards.com/Earn
- Earn 2X points when you book travel at americanexpress.com/travel
- Earn points when you use your Card for everyday purchases
We had the chance thanks to American Express to stay on a budget with Reward Points and shop for five people on our list. This was so much fun because I was just starting my Holiday Shopping and I had quite a few people to shop for still. I loved that you can use Membership Rewards points to shop at Amazon, and you can redeem points for gift cards. You can also shop directly from American Express through the shopAmEx website. I shopped for my in laws, Pat, my sister and niece and I can’t wait to share with you what I picked out!
Now, another wonderful thing to do is shop and support local business! Nov. 26th was Small Business Saturday and was great to get out and support our local businesses. We have quite a few where we live and I couldn’t wait to get out and support them!
Stay tuned for the gifts I purchased and to highlight those Small Businesses!
ONE winner will receive a $250 American Express Gift Card.
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Note: This giveaway is open to US shipping addresses only.
I make a list and keep every present under a certain amount
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I ONLY buy on sale. that helps a lot with staying on budget!
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I absolutely cannot shop without my list. It keeps me on track!
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You have to have to have to go in with a list. Never go Holiday shopping without having an idea first of what you are going to buy, thus having an idea of what you are spending!
make a list based on priority and shop around for the best deals
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
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I make a strict shopping list and will only buy items from it when I find them on sale or if I have a coupon. I also earn Amazon gift codes through Swagbucks to help out.
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make a list! budget the cost & compare what is actually spent
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I carry a list with me with the budgeted amount for everyone on my list. This way I don’t overspend. I also find that by shopping online and doing searches for discount codes and free shipping codes, that I do pretty well.
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I really keep my eyes on the sales. There are so many this time of year, I also make sure I keep all my coupons organized so I have them when I need them.
I only shop during sales online and always try to get free shipping.
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i only buy on sale, i price compare over the internet and i keep track of what i’ve bought
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I stay on budget by setting a spending ceiling with each recipient on my list and, when possible, either making a gift or else going in together with one or a few others to save money. Thanks for the chance to enter!
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Be careful of late night spending, online or on TV. Also, if you’ve allready gotten a person their gift, Stop. Don’t buy them anything else, no matter how much they’d “Love It”
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I make a holiday shopping list and stick to it.
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Try to buy a little throughout the year.
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I have your button on my blog:
http://frugalcalimom.blogspot.com
shop through online rebate sites!
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I make several lists (food, clothes, gifts) and put those in envelopes. Then I think of what I want to spend on each and put that money in the corresponding envelope. I won’t have that itch to just spend, spend, spend!
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make a list with budget and shop sales early
Make a list and buy only the items on the list.
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Amanda, My best tip is to never let my husband go out there alone! He is very impulsive when it comes to the kids…he is still a kid at heart and wants the kids to be very wow’d for Christmas so will find great “deals” and want to purchase. I would say that the best tip is to go shopping together as a team if you are married as it cuts down on impulsive buying if there are TWO people who have to agree.
thanks much!
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I commented on your Girls in 2011 post!
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I left you a comment onyour Sears challenge post!
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START SHOPPING FOR NEXT YEAR THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS WHEN THINGS ARE ON SALE AND EVERY BETTER CLEARANCE SALES
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Shop in advance and not last minute, use coupons, shop online and on black friday.
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I try to find the best deals on what people asked for and try to stick to a certain dollar amount per person.
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My tip is to make a list with amount limits and take cash and no credit cards. When it’s gone, it’s gone.
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look at ads and compare with online prices. also write lists
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I find the easiest way to stay on budget for holiday shopping is to plan ahead. Shop year-round so you can pick up items when they are on sale or clearance. Also, I enter a lot of giveaways for prizes that I would either like to give as gifts or use to buy gifts.
Thanks for the giveaway!
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Only use cash and always buy on sale/with a coupon. Going into debt for Christmas is just ridiculous.
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Take out your budget in cash so you don’t overspend on a credit card!
Write a list and stick to it!
My list helps me not only to not forget, but save money
make a list and stick to it, use only cash
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Before I head out shopping, I go through all of my mail, e-mail, and internet coupon sites and print out every coupon I can find for any store I might venture into. You would be surprised how many coupons are stackable with sales at outlet malls! I am able to buy a LOT on a small budget that way.
I make a list of who I need to buy for and how much I can spend on each one then stick to that budget.
I stay on a budget by making a list and using coupons and store discount codes. I also use cash which forces me to stay within my budget.
I’m staying within my budget this year by doing lots of home made gifts, like blackberry jam and blackberry liquour from my organic blackberries, lemon bread and the like. Then, I also shop major sales and keep my eyes open year round
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I commented on Nutcracker post
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Do your research before you shop! Look for sales, rebates, free shipping offers, and shops that price-match before you buy. Don’t be afraid to return items you end up not being pleased with, and most of all – SAVE those receipts!!!
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I carry my shopping lists with me all the time during the holiday season. This way, I know what I’ve bought, what still need to be bought & how much money I have left to spend on an item.
Thanks for the giveaway!
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Shop when the stores open and are less crowded, the more shoppers, the more likely you are to get confused and off track with your budget
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I make a list and try to look for everything on sale.
Pay cash for everything.
Thanks for the chance.
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use coupon code and shop on line,save gas money. Compare the price before place order.
I would buy some craftsman tools
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To stay on budget, make a shopping list and do not stray from it!
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I keep track of spending by making lists with who is getting what and how much I’ve spent on each.
to stay on budget you make a plan and you work the plan
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only shop with cash
I limit the number of presents that I buy and I pick up gifts throughout the year whenever I see a great sale.
use coupons always
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I need my list.
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i look for deals all yr long that way i don’t spend a ton of money at the end of the year
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we cut lots of coupons and we stay away from the mall! that is where we spend most our money on silly things
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