Fashion

The Recessionista Recovery Program Holiday Survey: How do you Buy? The Results

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Pictured: Tis the season for shopping addiction, cartoon from comments Junkie.com

As some of you may recall, I posted a little survey pre-Black Friday on my blog about shopping habits regarding saving and spending over the holiday buying season. Well, the results are in, and I wanted to let you know how we are doing as we all try to shop smart and stay within our budget.

So here are the results. The key takeaways are:

  • It’s nearly an even split between those who plan to shop more for themselves (45%) or more for others (55%)
  • 100% of readers said they sometimes buy things they may not need because they are good deals
  • 50% of respondents have money saved up for their purchases and another 42% plan to put them on credit cards

This survey was conducted in association with a site called LifeTuner that is working to develop financial guidance, tools and tips for young adults plus monitor holiday shopping habits. They have an interesting section on their site called Eight Habits, which offers advice that Ben Franklin who said ” penny saved is a penny earned” would treasure. You might want to give it a look.

Some of you may have seen another survey that the Associated Press ran pre-Black Friday on spending habits. According to that survey, we are all shopping less this holiday season and doing more saving. In the AP survey, most shoppers, 80%, said they’ll use mostly cash to pay for their holiday shopping. Frankly that surprised me, but in this year of the cracking down on the credit card companies for excessive financing fees, I’m very glad to see shoppers cutting out the ones who charge way too much for giving us credit.

Rock on Recessionistas and keep shopping smart. And by the way, here are some savvy shopping tips:

  • Starting Friday, December 4th, our friends at Loehmann’s will be offering luxe cashmere, fur accessories, jewelry and more at savings of up to 64% off department stores prices.
  • Look for more Kohl’s power hours coming up to help you stretch your dollars.
  • Bloomingdales Private Sale started yesterday; if you’re a cardholder, you should have gotten your $25-off coupons in the mail. (Thank you Target-Addict.)
  • If you’re on Banana Republic’s mailing list, you should have received a 20% off coupon good for purchases between Dec. 7-13.
  • If you’re on Macy’s list, you should’ve received your Friends and Family discount coupons in the mail, good until Dec. 7th.
  • VISA cardholders should have gotten two coupon cards from GAP in the mail: one for 25% off on Dec. 4-6, and another one for 20% off from Dec. 7-20. (Thank you Target-Addict.) If you didn’t get the GAP mailer, check out the promotion codes on Sale.com
  • Burberry: Finally the Autumn/Winter sale has arrived. Click here to check it.
  • Ann Taylor Loft, You’re invited to the LOFT Shopping Party: Receive an Exclusive 30% Off December 5. Drop by a Loft near you for music and refreshments while you shop the sale.

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Since 2008, Mary Hall has been the author of The Recessionista Blog, which is read by thousands of regular readers in over 160 countries. An internationally recognized expert on the art of the living the good life for less, she has been a commentator on local, national, and international radio and TV shows. Her advice has been featured in over 2,000 media outlets, including The New York Times, Reuters, Life & Style magazine, ABC News, NBC News and now The Huffington Post, among many others.

2 Comments

Cyber Monday

The Recessionista Recovery Program Holiday Survey: How do you Buy? One for you, Two for ME?

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Pictured: Tis the season for shopping addiction, cartoon from comments Junkie.com

Hello readers, my name is Mary, and I’ve been shopping for 30 yrs….. I come here every holiday season. I continually face the struggle of trying to shop smart and stay within my budget. This blog is my own The Recessionista’s Recovery program. Everyday I work on this here at The Recessionista. As you know, my shopping struggle is never-ending. Temptation abounds as sale signs scream out to me, and try to lure my money out of my wallet. Sometimes I simply can not look away as the prices continue to fall.

Sound familiar? Have you ever gone to the store fully intending to shop for others, but ended up instead, shopping for yourself. Do your palms sweat sometimes as you collect the coupons and flip the Black Friday ads. Recessionistas, have you had to STEP AWAY from the Sales Rack ? 🙂 If so, you have come to the right place! Even in a tough economy sometimes it can be difficult to curb our appetite for bargains and fashion in order to focus on the giving part of the season. A site called LifeTuner, is working to develop financial guidance, tools and tips for young adults plus monitor holiday shopping habits. To help us access our habits, the site is taking a survey called Shopaholic Shock Therapy. Naturally, this is a collection of data that is near and dear to my heart. You can take the survey, by clicking here. Below are the sample questions. You do not need to enter any personal information to take the survey. When the results are in, I’ll be sharing them here on The Recessionista to let us know how we are doing with the eternal question: Is it better to give or to receive?

Here are the questions. Let us know you thoughts!

1. Do you tend to spend more money shopping online or in stores during the holidays?
* Online
* In stores

2. Do you buy more for yourself or for family and friends on Black Friday?
* Myself
* Family and friends

3. Do you ever buy something just because it’s a good deal?
* Yes, I sometimes buy things I may not need because they are good deals.
* No, I never buy things I may not need just because they are good deals.

4. Do you ever spend more than you originally intend to shopping at Black Friday or holiday sales?
* Yes
* No

5. Do you plan to shop on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
* Yes
* No
* Both

6. How are you going to pay for your holiday shopping? (This is the toughest question)!
* Put it on a credit card and pay-off next year
* I have money saved up
* Not sure

Feel free to post a comment too and let us all know your thoughts.

Stay tuned this week as I attempt to guide you to the best deals and savvy spending. Watch for posts on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Designer Deals, Midnight Madness and more!

Pictured: Note Pad from Henri Bendi summarizing my shopping struggle: One for you, two for me. It happens 🙂
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Since 2008, Mary Hall has been the author of The Recessionista Blog, which is read by thousands of regular readers in over 160 countries. An internationally recognized expert on the art of the living the good life for less, she has been a commentator on local, national, and international radio and TV shows. Her advice has been featured in over 2,000 media outlets, including The New York Times, Reuters, Life & Style magazine, ABC News, NBC News and now The Huffington Post, among many others.