With prices up this holiday season, consumers are looking for ways to save. We’ve put together these handy tips to help you be a little more proactive with saving on holiday shopping. It all starts with a plan. Have a listing of what you need to purchase along with your budget. Here are three tips to help your holiday cash go further this year.  

1 Research major purchases in advance

If you need a larger item, such as a TV, computer, or other large ticket items, it’s always best to do some advanced research to get a good idea of what you’d like. Once you know the models or features, you can begin to research and compare prices. You can also watch for deals on those specific items. It also helps to track price changes on more expensive items, such as electronics and appliances. You can do this easily with a price tracking tool that will alert you to price changes. Here are a few we like:

• ShopSavvy - This price tracking and cashback app can be downloaded for free by both Android and IOS users. The easy-to-use price watch tool was designed to simplify the price tracking and monitoring process.

• Camelcamelcamel - this free Amazon price tracker monitors millions of products and alerts you when prices drop, helping you to decide the best time to buy. You can browse products for recent price drops or simply enter the Amazon URL to track a price. It’s important to note that Camelcamelcamel is only tracking prices on Amazon.   

• Honey - Honey is a great app for finding coupons for any online purchase. Once you download the extension to your computer, Honey searches for coupons and deals whenever you make a purchase. Adding items to the Droplist on the Honey App is a great way to watch for price drops. The Honey app has a mobile app and a Chrome extension, so it can help you compare prices and get deals from your mobile phone or desktop.

2 Use online coupons and cashback apps

Some of the apps we’ve mentioned above will provide you with coupons and other deals. With a good app, you won’t have to worry about clipping coupons or flipping through sales flyers. Here are a few of our other favorites:

• Rakuten - Adding the Rakuten app or extension to your browser will enable you to earn cashback when you shop through Rakuten. Popular cashback stores on Rakuten include Macy’s, Lowe’s, QVC, and more. You’ll also find coupons or discounts for certain retailers.

• RetailMeNot - Shop today’s trending deals and save big on RetailMeNot. Just add the extension to Chrome or download the app. You’ll find thousands of discounts. You can search a specific store by putting the name right into the search bar and then browsing the offers.

• CouponSherpa - Find coupons and coupon codes for many popular stores. In addition to in-store coupons and online codes, the CouponSherpa app and website also feature top grocery coupons. You can use the search bar to quickly look for specific merchants.

3 It’s a smart move to use your smartphone

Shopping with your smartphone in hand is a must when looking for holiday deals. It’s a convenient way to be sure you’re getting a good deal before making a purchase. In addition to ShopSavvy, which was mentioned above, here is another we like:

• RedLaser – The RedLaser app enables you to scan barcodes in-store to find outlets selling your item for less. It’s great for comparison shopping when you’re out looking for holiday gifts or other items.

Borrowing to accomplish your holiday shopping goals

If your budget is tight and you haven’t had time to save for holiday shopping, a low-rate personal loan or credit card from Spirit Financial can help you get through your shopping list. Tap to learn more about our VISA Credit Card benefits, as well as our personal loan options.

Read our blog post on the best budgeting apps for help getting back on track financially if needed.