The day is here.
No more holiday spending.
When everyone was opening your gifts, did you see the wide eyes of surprise and glee you expected? At the end of the day, will you have a bout of buyer’s remorse?
Buyer’s remorse is a self-induced, purchase-related guilt trip. Think of why you bought the items, particularly those big-ticket items you hadn’t planned to buy until you saw them in the store.
Everyone would like to get the biggest and best gifts, but maybe you were really just trying to beat the other gift-givers or make up for any misgivings you had through the year.
There are ways to keep yourself from experiencing buyer’s remorse.
■ If you are buying something that costs more than $100, wait and think about it. Perhaps ask a friend or spouse for advice. They will be honest with you and tell you if you really need it.
■ Research your purchase before you buy. Assess its benefits, understand what you need and make sure it fits into your budget.
Once you have decided on your item and made your purchase, get out of the store. Don’t look around, and don’t spend the next week trying to find a better price. You did your research, you bought it and you can feel good about it.
■ Is it an emotionally charged purchase? Ask yourself why you are buying. If it’s because you want to reward yourself or you’re having a bad day, put it back. It won’t make you feel better tomorrow.
■ Again, work from a list. This will stop any impulse buying.
I have fallen victim to buyer’s remorse. The worst for me are the people at the kiosks in malls. Yes, I bought the hand soap, and I can’t tell you why. But I’ve learned from my mistakes.
If you buy a potentially remorse-inducing item, bring it home and wait a day to open the package or remove any tags. Look at it again the next day and see if you still want it.
If you can’t return the item, you might be able to regift it. Maybe you know of someone whose birthday is coming up who would love it. Be creative when getting rid of your guilt items.
Overall, enjoy the gifts you give to others. Happy holidays.
Freebies
■ Blockbuster is giving away free batteries on Christmas Day until supplies last. You can get two packs of AA or AAA batteries. Additional battery packages will be sold for 99 cents.
■ Snapfish is offering a deal on photo books. When you buy one classic cover or custom cover book, you will get two for free (up to $90 savings). The offer is good until Monday. You can get three different books or three of the same. Just make sure they are the same size and style. You do have to pay shipping and handling.
■ HP is offering many free printables for New Year’s. They include activity pages for kids, party invitations, holiday cards and letters.
■ Receive a free 2012 bird-watching calendar from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
■ Get a free coupon for a junior jamocha shake at Arby’s.
■ Get a free belt wear gauge from Gates. Test your car’s belts for wear.
■ Sign up for Hertz No. 1 Club Gold to rent a car for free. A $60 membership fee will be waived until March 31.
■ If you missed any of your holiday deliveries and had to pick them up yourself at UPS, check out its new service, UPS My Choice. The free service enables you to get delivery alerts before your package arrives and electronically authorize packages to be dropped off.
■ Get a free personalized ESPN Share and Print poster.
