I’m a Shopping Expert: Top 7 Ways I Personally Save on All Things Holidays
Written by
Cindy Lamothe
Edited by
Levi Leidy
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Having a financial strategy in place is the best money move you can make over the holidays where overspending is tempting. Thankfully, you don’t have to worry about coming up with one on your own. GOBankingRates spoke with shopping expert Kevin Shahnazari, founder and CEO of FinlyWealth, to discuss the ways he has personally saved on all things holidays.
“My holiday shopping approach starts months before December,” he said. “Using my company’s data analytics tools, I track price patterns across major retailers. This year, I started purchasing holiday gifts in August when I noticed significant price drops in electronics. I bought my nephew’s gaming console at $150 below its current price using this method.”
Read below for more of his top savings strategies.
Credit Card Stacking
“Credit card stacking forms the foundation of my savings strategy,” Shahnazari explained. “Last holiday season, I combined my rewards credit card’s cash back with store loyalty programs to maximize returns.”
During Black Friday, he purchased $1,000 worth of gifts while earning $180 in cash-back rewards, plus an additional $75 in-store credits.
“I carefully time these purchases with promotional periods, sometimes earning up to 25% back on holiday spending.”
Price-Tracking Tools
Price-tracking tools play an equally crucial role in Shahnazari’s shopping strategy.
“I set alerts for specific items months in advance. When my daughter wanted a particular art set, I tracked it across six retailers.”
He said his patience paid off when he caught a flash sale, saving $85 off the regular price.
“These tools helped me save over $600 on my total holiday shopping last year.”
Store-Specific Strategies Yield Substantial Savings
“I buy discounted gift cards from reputable resellers, typically saving 5%-10% before making any purchases,” he said. “For example, I recently bought a $500 department store gift card for $450, then used it during a sale event, multiplying my savings.”
This technique alone saved him $200 on holiday shopping last season.
Cash-Back Portals Multiply Savings Significantly
“By routing my online purchases through these platforms, I stack rewards on top of credit card benefits,” Shahnazari said.
His biggest win came from buying winter coats for his family.
“I saved $245 through a combination of cash-back portal rewards, credit card points and strategic timing.”
Loyalty Programs Require Strategic Planning
“I map out store rewards events months ahead, timing bulk purchases to maximize points earnings,” he said. “Last year, I earned enough reward points through strategic holiday shopping to cover $300 worth of gifts for this year’s holiday season.”
Digital Coupons Need Systematic Organization
“I maintain a spreadsheet tracking expiration dates and combining opportunities,” Shahnazari said.
He said this organization helped him save $400 on holiday groceries and decorations last year by perfectly timing purchases with overlapping promotions.
Price Matching
“Price matching saves me endless driving around,” Shahnazari explained. “I screenshot competitors’ prices and have retailers match them, saving both time and gas money. This strategy saved me $175 on tech gifts last season while avoiding cross-town shopping trips.”
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