Smart Moms Saving Money

Pictured borrowed from HLN

Walmart has a notable holiday price matching policy this year, which starts today. Read about it here. Basically, it's this:

"Shoppers who buy something at a Walmart store between Nov. 1 and Dec. 25, but then find the identical product elsewhere for less, can get a gift card in the amount of the difference."

Shoppers need to bring in the original Wal-Mart receipt and the local competitor's print ad. Gift cards will not be given out after Dec 25.

The official policy excludes Black Friday.

A few guidelines as you get in the right spending mindset this holiday season:

Start shopping a few months ago! Ok...so start ASAP! You can find great deals year-round and buying early helps you avoid spending too much at the last minute.

-Budget. The reality is, we all spend on ourselves around Christmas, so come up with a total dollar amount you can afford to spend on others AND yourself! Assign a specific amount to each person and stick to that number.
-Keep a list. And carry that list with you when you shop. If you overspend on one person, reduce the amount you allocated for the others, or for yourself, until it all fits within your intended budget.
-Cash is king! Lose the plastic before heading out to the stores. That means when there’s no more cash, there are no more purchases. And retailers are helping you do this: In addition to Wal-Mart’s programs, Toys R Us has its own layaway program to help consumers pay cash this holiday season.

 Thank you to HLN