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Holiday Shopping Tips For Savvy Savers

November 30, 2017 It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s often the most expensive. Between the gifts, food and festivities, it’s easy to get carried away with your spending and throw caution to the cold, December wind. But with a few smart tips, you can keep your budget in check and end the year on a high note. Spend Less Without Giving Less
Although we may want nothing more than to wow our loved ones with the hot-ticket item of the season, it’s not always practical. If you’re looking for ways to save a little money, try thinking outside the box (literally), and give the gift of experiences instead. You could spend a day baking cookies and watching movies with a loved one, or treat a friend to coffee and conversation. Another inexpensive holiday gift is a framed photo of you and someone you care about. A sentimental thought can go a long way toward showing someone how much you love and appreciate them without breaking the bank. Make Your “Nice List”
Unfortunately, it’s hard to avoid holiday spending completely. But make sure you’re prepared for the financial commitment the season brings. Make a shopping list, and then check it twice! Listing the names of the people you want to shop for and the items you’re looking to buy will make you a more attentive shopper. This way, you can also easily track your spending and make sure you’re staying within your holiday budget. Beware Holiday Bargains
Whether it’s Black Friday, Cyber Monday or any of the countless other deals available this time of year, think before you swipe. With confidence up, than in years past. And while it’s great to see people feeling good about their finances, make sure you have enough cash to cover your expenses. Taking on more debt than you can realistically pay off can spell trouble down the road. But if you do find yourself struggling to pay down debt in the New Year, know that we’re here to help you make a . Plan Ahead
If this year’s holiday shopping snuck up on you, take some steps to avoid that happening again next year with a dedicated . This way, you can put away $10, $50 or even $100 each month, so when jingle bells start ringing next year, you have a gift fund ready to go. Whatever your holiday shopping strategy might be, remember that Summit is here to help you manage your spending and enjoy the very best of the season. Happy holidays! You might also be interested in Financial success isn’t how much money you have — it’s feeling good about what you’re doing with the money you have. Here are some tips on how to prioritize your debts and bills, negotiate with creditors and get your late payments back on solid ground. Even in these challenging times, there's  whole lot of good happening! At Summit, we've always believed financial success happens together and that's been truer than ever this past month. Here's what "together" has meant for our community. Navigating finances after college is hard, but you can take it one lesson at a time. Get tips for managing money and paying off student debt after graduation. Navigating finances after college is hard, but you can take it one lesson at a time. Get tips for managing money and paying off student debt after graduation. If you’re not sure if something is a scam, it’s ALWAYS better to act like it could be! Fraudsters are always coming up with creative new ways to steal from you and quick to take advantage of a crisis. Here are some of the most popular recent scams to watch for. With a little planning, you may be able to actually save a little money during the holidays. Check out these tips to keep costs down without missing out on the holiday fun. Some scams go right for your money; others try to get you to part with personal information – like account numbers, Social Security numbers, passwords, and personal identification numbers (PINs). Find out what you should look for and how to protect yourself. The holidays can be stressful & that’s why it’s important to prioritize your self-care. Use these tips to reduce stress without draining your bank account. Your home is your castle, your refuge and—let’s face it—a place where it can be very easy to sink a big chunk of money. Which is why you’re always on the lookout for “sweet spots”:  those home improvements that add comfort, safety or a little zing of style while you’re living in your house and will boost the asking price when it’s time to sell. And if you can find a way to save money on those improvements or cut home expenses at the same time, well that sweet spot just got a little sweeter! Featured Products Certificates Checking Accounts Home Equity Loans Home Loans Business Banking Certificates Checking Accounts Home Equity Loans Home Loans Business Banking Financial Education Upcoming Events Programs Tools & Calculators On-demand Webinars Podcasts Upcoming Events Programs Tools & Calculators On-demand Webinars Podcasts About Equity in Money™ About Summit Careers News Community Giving Equity in Money™ About Summit Careers News Community Giving Help & Support Contact Us Member Support Center Schedule an Appointment Find a Branch Contact Us Member Support Center Schedule an Appointment Find a Branch Please read the following before proceeding to: The website you are about to visit is solely the responsibility of the merchant or other party providing the site. The content of this third-party site, including materials and information, is solely the responsibility of the provider of the site. The Credit Union is not responsible for any such third-party content. Any transactions that you enter into with a vendor, merchant or other party that you access through this third-party site are solely between you and that vendor, merchant or other party. The Credit Union does not endorse the content contained in this third-party site, nor the organization publishing the site, and hereby disclaims any responsibility for such content. The Credit Union Privacy Policy does not apply to this third-party site, and for further information you should consult the privacy disclosures of the third-party site. NCUA Insurance Estimator Privacy, Security & Accessibility Rates, Fees, Terms & Disclosures Routing Number *  The Wisconsin's #1 Mortgage Lender designation is based on the number of loans in 2022, gathered from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data compiled annually by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The results of the data were obtained through the LEI: 254900NTAC4H10MGSU23 **  SBA Lender of the Year Award for Credit Unions as awarded by the Small Business Administration of Wisconsin in 2023. Copyright 2024 © Summit Credit Union. All rights reserved. If you are using a screen reader and are having problems using this website, please call 608-243-5000 for assistance. Insured by NCUA