‘Tis the Season to Save
Seven tips to stretch your money this holiday shopping season.
By Melissa Prashad
As you prepare your holiday shopping list—and your budget—remember, a little bit of planning can go a long way to achieving a financially healthy holiday season. With the holiday shopping season upon us, here are seven essential money-saving tips for consumers ahead of the busy spending season.
- Build a holiday budget—and stick to it. There’s so much pressure during the holiday season to buy and it’s easy to spend more money than you planned. Consider using tools like Budget, or another budgeting app, to help you stay on track and prevent overspending.
- Open a dedicated savings account. You might consider opening a holiday-specific savings account to put money aside each week. Saving for later will help make a difference when it’s time to buy gifts for your loved ones.
- Explore your credit card offers. Many credit cards have special offers based on your previous purchases that can help save money on holiday gifts, while others give special cash back deals for online purchases. Take advantage of those discounts and be flexible. If you can’t find a good deal on the gift you originally planned to buy, see if any of the special offers you qualify for might appeal to someone on your list.
- Use credit responsibly. Credit cards are handy financial tools, as long as they’re used responsibly Make sure you pay the balance each month by the due date to avoid interest charges or pay at least the minimum payment to avoid late fees. Resist the temptation to spend more than you can pay in any given month.
- Take advantage of coupons and discounts Retailers have already started holiday sales and, of course, all of the popular discount days—Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday– present opportunities to save. You can also use money-saving apps like Retail Me Not, Honey and Rakuten to get cash-back deals and discounts automatically when you shop online.
- Cut back on other expenses. The holiday season is a good time to cut back on impulse shopping or frivolous spending. Cutting out those unnecessary expenditures will allow you to account for the season’s natural surge in discretionary spending.
- Sign up for credit monitoring. The holiday season is a particularly vulnerable time for credit card fraud. Millions of people fall victim to fraudulent activity every year, and scams are more frequent than ever. Make sure you monitor your credit score and identity with confidence and sign up to receive alerts from Chase’s Credit Journey.
Nikole Hannah-Jones Hosts Black Read-In When Schools Wouldn’t
Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Howard University professor, is hosting a Black read-in event in Waterloo, Iowa, after...
Perfect SAT Score
During his four years at West Orange High School, Sahli Negassi balanced two sports, led two clubs, and excelled in...
DEI Benefits many Groups, not just Black and Brown Communities
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs were created to support communities that have historically faced barriers to equal opportunities in...
Take a Minute. Make a Plan.
Diageo North America; Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD); the National Football League(NFL); and Uber Technologies, Inc. form a unique partnership...
5 Books to Start 2025 off Right
This curated collection of books offers insights and guidance on personal growth, spirituality, and holistic well-being. From James Clear’s actionable...
Debt Nearly Buried Them
Decades ago, lawyer John Glover stood in a bank lobby, struggling with financial ruin and...
How to Educate Your Kids About Creating Long-Lasting Healthy Money Habits
As you solidify your New Year’s resolutions, it’s a great time to start having a...
Stay Safe from Scams
Falling victim to scams that can steal your cheer. Falling for a scam can lead...
HCCI Past, Present, and Future
Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI) and its affiliates continuously demonstrate a holistic approach to...
On Business, the Future, and Positive Change!
Greetings! As we enter into another holiday season, thank you to everyone who has stood...
M23 Rebels Push Further East
Last month, the Tutsi-led M23, backed by Rwanda, seized Goma, the main city in mineral-rich eastern DR Congo. The Congolese...
Read More
East Orange Hosts Fathers Make a Difference Conference
The City of East Orange kicked off Black History Month with an impactful Fathers Make A Difference Conference, a collaborative...
Read More
The Story of My First Love
By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie My father was a professor, and we lived on the University of Nigeria campus in a...
Read More
Congo Says it Will Join Peace Talks
The Democratic Republic of Congo will send a delegation to Angola on Tuesday for talks aimed at resolving the escalating...
Read More
Black Boycotts 2025
In response to corporations scaling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Black activists, clergy, and consumers are turning...
Read More
A Guide to Black Women’s Health
In her new book, Melody T. McCloud seeks to change the trajectory of Black women’s...
Frontotemporal Dementia
Frontotemporal degeneration is one of the most common forms of neurodegenerative dementia. It refers to...
How to Have a Healthier Thanksgiving
As we go into the kitchen to prepare another Thanksgiving dinner, food may be more...
Running Toward Recovery:
Sy Smith’s Unexpected Journey Through Breast Cancer By R.L. Witter Sy Smith—to see her is...
RWJ Barnabas Health and Saint James Health Celebrate National Health Center Week, Open new Health Center at Newark’s East Side High School
L-R: Hasani Council, President, Newark School Board; Helena Vinhas, Newark School Board member; Ketlen Baptiste-Alsbrook...
