Last-Minute Shopping Ideas and Safety Tips
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With just seven days until Christmas morning, we are in the final stretch of holiday shopping. At this stage in the game, you might even have a hard time getting the gift(s) to arrive on time. It’s time to get creative! Sure, you can opt for a gift card or cash in an envelope, but if that’s not your style, it’s time to think outside of the box. Or rather, inside the box with a subscription box! There’s one for everyone on your list. You can select clothing subscriptions like Stitch Fix and Kidpik, beauty boxes from Ipsy or POPSUGAR, or go non-traditional with international snack boxes from Universal Yums. Check out this helpful list if you don’t know where to start.
Not feeling the subscription box? No problem. You could always name a star, symbolically adopt an animal, or donate to a (legit) charity in the name of your loved one(s).
Don’t forget a DIY gift. Bake a double or triple batch of cookies, craft your own holiday cards, or create a photo book – any one of those options is affordable, and you can coordinate a porch drop-off instead of risking a shipping delay. Win-win.
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Scammers are having a field day this year, thanks to COVID. More people are turning to Amazon and other online retailers to handle their holiday shopping, which means that there is even more opportunity to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers. You might be rushing around trying to finish your shopping, but make sure to maintain internet safety.
When you visit a website, double-check that the URL is correct. Remember, real websites will have an easy to find web addresses.
Look for the lock. This icon in the address bar indicates that the site is secure – an especially important feature when you are entering payment information.
Be vigilant when you download retail apps. Often, there are look-alikes designed to steal your information.
If you are sending money through a P2P service like Venmo, verify the sender beforehand. You want to be certain that the payment is for a legitimate service or product and that you are not being scammed.
Stay informed. Check your account regularly so you know your balance and what transactions are posting. Consider updating passwords to be more complex and when available, always enable biometric settings. A fingerprint or facial scanner is much more effective protection than any password. Don’t forget to enable e-alerts for transactions, purchases, and balances.
Don’t forget it’s never too early to start planning for the next holiday season. Winter Holiday Clubs were designed to make saving for the holidays painless. Take a look at your budget for the upcoming year, determine how much you might want to set aside for gifts, and set aside money from each paycheck to meet your goal.
Since 2020 has been so challenging, we have upped the ante. Give the gift that keeps on giving. Now through the end of 2020, refer your friends or family for membership with us, and we’ll reward you with a $50 deposit into your account. Don’t forget to send me an email to let me know who you referred!
Krista Kyte is a personal finance blogger and personal banker with over 18 years of experience in the financial industry. Krista is passionate about helping our members understand their financial situations. She writes tips that will help consumers reach and maintain financial security, and start living the life they’ve always wanted.
