Interior decorating shopping tips

The Christmas shopping season has officially begun. When most people think of holiday shopping, they think of electronics and toys, but it can also be a great time to purchase home improvement and interior decorating merchandise as well. If you’re in the midst of an interior decorating project this holiday season, here are a few shopping tips to keep in mind.

Pay no attention to doorbuster sales

Black Friday has already passed but many retailers offer doorbuster sales on other shopping days as well such as cyber Monday. They’re not worth your time. Retailers only carry a very limited number of these deeply discounted items, sometimes as few as one or two. It’s not worth waiting in line in the cold, or fighting the crowds just for a slight chance of actually getting what you came for. Even online doorbuster sales aren’t all that great. Don’t stay up till midnight with your finger hovering over the "purchase" button because as with in-store sales, there are only a few available products and you probably won’t be one of the lucky ones.

Don’t get caught up in the buying hysteria

Retailers are counting on people to get caught up in the hysteria of Christmas shopping since that means more mindless spending. Don’t let flash sales limited time offers sway you into purchasing things you don’t absolutely want or need. Have a shopping list for your home in mind and stick to it. If you jump at every good deal, you’ll find that your budget will be used up sooner rather than later.

Don’t focus all your attention on big-ticket items

Flat screen TVs and major appliances tend to get all the attention when it comes to Christmastime sales but there are many excellent deals on smaller day-to-day items you need as well. When planning out your budget, watch for sales on these kinds of items as well and set aside money for taking advantage of these deals.

Save some money for January

For some merchandise, the best sales don’t happen until January. For instance, when it comes to linens, most companies put out their new lines in February and have to get rid of merchandise from the previous year in January. The same goes for mattresses and a number of other things as well.

Shop in-store with cash

If you’re going to be shopping in-store, stop at the ATM first and withdraw the amount in cash that you’re willing to spend. Better yet, do this a day in advance and leave your credit cards and debit cards at home altogether. It’s harder to part with cash than to swipe a plastic card and you don’t want to end up spending way more than you planned to.

Shop online

Finally, take advantage of the internet during the holiday shopping season. Often the best deals can be found online. They’re also more convenient for you and you don’t have to stand in long lines, wait in traffic, and push your way through crowds. Every piece of home improvement and interior decorating merchandise can be found online whether it’s hardwood flooring, kitchen countertops, or baseboard heater covers. You may want to visit a showroom first to see what it looks like in person but when the sale hits, shop online.

Source: Realtor.com

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