Confession time. I’ve already started holiday shopping. I actually shop all year long and hide my gifts in the attic. If I see something I know my family would love, I grab it while I can. BUT I have SO MUCH MORE TO GO! 
American Express has asked me to take their ‘Holiday Shopping Challenge’. They are giving me 40,000 Membership Rewards points so I can purchase a gift for 5 of my family members. I need to start thinking about all of this!!
One thing I know for sure is that I will take advantage of Small Business Saturday. Have you heard about this yet?
American Express is encouraging everyone to SHOP LOCAL this November 26th and will even reward you for participating in the initiative. Get a one-time $25 statement credit when you register an eligible American Express Card and use that Card for a purchase of $25 or more at a small business on November 26th. How amazing is that?! Take the pledge and get ready for that bonus to show up on your statement next month!!!!
Getting paid to shop? Yeah… I can get down with that.
Now, I need your help! By offering up these tips, you are entering to win a gift card of YOUR CHOICE valued at $250! Please note: this contest is opened to US residents only.
For the prize: What are some of your personal tips for staying within your holiday budget?
How can you enter? EASY!
- Leave a comment on this post
- Tweet your tip to @ShopSmall and @VeraSweeney
- Leave your tip on the American Express Fan Page Wall
Each bullet counts as one entry! Contest winner will be announced on November 30th! Come back then to see what I ended up purchasing as well.
* This is a sponsored post
Vera Sweeney is a mom of two beautiful children and the founder of 
at 5:40 pm
My tip for staying on budget is to have a list of everything you want to get BEFORE you get to the store and stick to it! If you decide to swap something on the list make sure it’s in the same price range so that you stay on budget!
at 7:45 pm
What are some of your personal tips for staying within your holiday budget?
Using prepaid cards to shop online are a great way to stay in budget, help protect your identity and avoid interest of credit cards.
at 10:50 pm
i use coupons and balance my checkbook daily! I also always check my bank account
at 10:53 pm
i tweeted my tip!
http://twitter.com/#!/MeandBells/status/139189160413114370
at 2:18 am
Use coupons with codes, onsale /clearance items and link thru cashback. Save up cards and use for gifts and items you need for gifts. Don’t overbuy, yes I buy undies, socks, etc but buy at least one fun thing for kids that they wanted. More bought does not mean happier kids, it means more cash out of pocket. Buy what you can afford and do not feel obligated.
at 7:20 am
My tip for staying within a shopping budget is to stick to a list and search online for the best deals.
at 7:21 am
tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/kellysaver/status/139317543809712128
at 8:39 am
don’t over spend. i like to shop year round so i don’t spend too much towards the holidays.
at 8:41 am
tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/1amypugmire/status/139337637113761792
at 9:05 am
I find that the more I stay away from stores and stop looking at ads the less I spend. I don’t even miss having the item that I might have bought.
at 9:07 am
My tip for staying within my holiday budget is to shop all year long. I hit the sales at the end of each season to get great deals on items my family will love. I also keep online “wish lists” for each family member. It helps me keep track of what people want and what I need to still get, so I can keep my eyes open for good deals.
at 9:07 am
I tweeted to both under bluebowgifts.
at 9:10 am
tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/maybaby522/status/139344992471748611
at 9:13 am
I couldn’t figure out where to put my shopping tip on the American Express fan page.
at 3:14 pm
you can put it on their wall
thanks
at 10:20 am
Some of my personal tips are to set a price limit for each person’s gift and to research/compare prices for items online via different websites and forums.
at 10:23 am
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/139363242605682688
at 10:25 am
I wrote my tip under this post on their fb page https://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday?sk=wall#!/SmallBusinessSaturday/posts/307533415931255 (amanda sakovitz)
at 11:30 am
I set a budget for how much I want to spend per person and stick to it.
at 11:40 am
I search around for the best deal. I rarely splurge on something unless it’s an item that I’ve decided I HAVE to have and if I can’t find any deals on it.
at 6:30 pm
I also try to shop throughout the year, when the good sales come out. I stock up on gifts for xmas, bdays etc, put them in my storage and go get them as needed.
sweokgrl@gmail.com
at 6:33 pm
I tweeted
sweokgrl@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/bdiane34/status/139486719820050432
at 7:50 pm
My tip for staying within my holiday budget, is to refrain from big purchases until I’ve thought about it for 24 hours. Buying on the spur-of-the-moment is a bad idea for my budget.
at 7:54 pm
I wrote my tip on https://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday/posts/307533415931255
at 7:55 pm
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/kc98765/status/139507427224723456
at 8:52 pm
I stay within budget by using the deals out there (cash back sites like ebates, coupon sites like retailmenot.com, etc). The other way is by making lists and sticking to it
at 11:19 am
Thanks for the chance! I create a budget and try to stick to it through use of deals throughout the year and great coupon match ups!
at 11:22 am
tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/DeeGee13/status/139740255682179072
at 7:25 pm
My strategy for staying on budget is sticking to the following guideline for all the children on my list: something to wear, something to read and something to play with. It surprisingly helps a lot!
at 7:59 pm
My tip for staying within my holiday budget is to use prepaid cards for shopping, so I’m not tempted to go over budget.
at 8:00 pm
I left my comment of the amex wall under the post:
https://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday/posts/308149415869655
at 12:57 am
I use lots of coupons, try to get the deals from Kohls and other stores where they give you $10 or $15 for spending $50. Making a list and sticking to it, sometimes that is hard though, I love to shop!
at 5:57 pm
My tip for staying on budget is making very careful lists, having store maps in hand, and not deviating from my shopping plan. I only buy items off my list if they’re on sale or I have a coupon. Researching coupons on line is really helpful.
at 5:59 pm
I wrote on their FB wall with my username Mary Happymommy–http://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday/posts/309362515748345
at 6:01 pm
tweet–https://twitter.com/#!/mami2jcn/status/140565702896656384
at 7:58 pm
I use coupon code and shop on line, save gas money. I also compare the price before i place order.
at 7:59 pm
http://twitter.com/#!/HappyTina0115/status/140595566009786368
tweeted my tip
at 8:50 pm
I stay within budget by shopping around for the best buys for gifts on my family’s holiday lists
at 8:51 pm
Tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/SAHMofDQ/status/140970699832565761
at 8:53 pm
Posted on their wall my tip under this post http://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday/posts/308149415869655
at 8:39 am
I wait for great sales!
at 8:40 am
Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/#!/calidreamin87/status/141149402298462208
at 3:58 pm
Don’t be a compulsive buyer, look online and ads for deals. Set a limit. Look for cents off coupon sites online. Also make a list ahead of time which your budget listed and how much to spend. And get out of the stores fast because you will be temped to overspend. @MCJunkie
at 4:03 pm
JuSt tweeted my tip. @MCJunkie I hope you see it?
at 4:07 pm
I left my tip on Facebook. I’m Michelle mcjunkie Singer there and @MCJunkie on twitter.