Ben's 7 DEFENSIVE HOLIDAY SHOPPING TIPS

#1    Credit Cards: Know What You've Got Before You Go!  Before you even leave your house, do yourself a favor first! Get out your wallet and take out all of your credit cards and make a list of the cards that are issued to you. Write down:
    The company issuing the credit card
    The name as it appears on the cards
    The account number and expiration date (if any is listed--most vanity/mono-use cards like Sears or Nordstrom's, etc. don't have expiration dates)
    Turn the card over and get two 800-numbers: One is for Customer Service and the other for reporting a lost/stolen credit card.

With all of this information collected, keep it in a safe place...and that's not your purse or wallet! 

Congratulations! You're now a member of an elite group (less than 5% of consumers across the country) who have a complete and up-to-date list of this extremely important information. Remember, your liability under Federal law for lost/stolen credit cards is $50 per card. With the average American having 7 cards to their name, let's do the math..... 7 cards X $50 per card = $350 potential liability in the event of loss

 

Ben's Bottom Line?  Do not take every single credit to your name with you when you go shopping! You're making yourself one helluva target for thieves that know many consumer feel like they've got their "plastic security blanket" with them by taking all of their cards.

#2    Plan Your Attack On The Malls!  

        a. Take only the card/cards you'll need that day for shopping. How do you know what you need to take? Make a list, first! It's like going grocery shopping without a list but with a huge appetite...you're asking for trouble and waste!

        b.  Prioritize your purchases! Go after the "hot" item that will sellout early first (remember Cabbage Patch dolls or Tickle Me Elmo?).  Buy those items and then (if you can) play the waiting game. Remember, the closer you get to D-Day, the better prices you're going to find! (Like tickets for a ballgame are always cheaper from the guy trying to unload them after the game has started.
        c.   Consolidate your purchase location...then minimize the number of cards you have with you.

#3    Credit Cards Are Safer!  Being an advocate of cash over credit makes this hard for me, but you know, using credit cards wisely is okay...but few of us actually practice this. Credit cards are safer because:

The liability issue in case of theft/robbery is well defined up front (as discussed earlier) It's easier in many cases to enforce warranties and return policies on a credit card purchase than cash/check

#4    Buying a watch or jewelry this holiday season? Post-date your receipt!  Get the seller to write that their return policy will extend your time to return/or exchange an item from the 12/25/03, not the actual purchase date. This gives you more time if you need to make an exchange/return.

#5 Hit your local pawn shops!   I've done segments over the years on this, and it's always worth repeating. Pawn shops offer tremendous values or pre-owned and new jewelry and watches. Almost all come with (if not the original) a nice presentation/gift box and warranty information/cards intact. And unlike regular retail establishments, pawn shops will deal! They'll negotiate like a street vendor in Mexico, especially if you're buying other stuff there.  Dover's easy "I'm almost out the door" negotiating tip?  Tell 'em this: "Okay, I'll buy it if you throw in the sales tax.  This usually gives you an extra 7-10% savings, depending on your local/state tax rate...and almost always works.

 

#6 Shopping for expensive jewelry? Go on-line!  Not a pawn shop fan?  Then go on-line to get the best deals of diamonds, rings, gold, silver, Rolexes and other high-end watches: It depends where you go.  One terrific source that delivers safely sells over $1 million a year on-line: Dallas Gold & Silver Exchange is the international leader in trustworthy, on-line buying (or selling) of jewelry-related merchandise.  They're a publicly-traded company, meaning they've gotta keep their books clean and treat their customers right.   Check out their on-line store and prepare to stretch your holiday budget. 

 

If you do decide to do your shopping at one of the major bookstore chains like Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc., it's an opportunity to save time and brain-damage on wrapping your gifts! Most of these stores will offer free gift-wrap...one less expense and hassle in one of the most stressful times of the year.

#7    Don't let emotion put you into deeper debt! So many people shop when they're emotionally driven to the mall, and that's the kiss of financial death. Make your list and stick to it. Pay cash (check) whenever possible. And don't let guilt from the other 11 months creep into your wallet now

 

Summary: The average responsible consumer will spend January - August paying off their holiday expenditures.  Tax refunds from the IRS are another frequent source of money to lump-sum retire holiday recklessness.  "Others" (the majority) will roll this debt into their already bulging debt load, and try to make minimum payments for the rest of their lives. (Making minimum payments can take anywhere from 12-31 years to pay off a debt if no additional charges or late fees are added.)

Struggling with your monthly house payment? You might not have to if you take this shot of Dover Mortgage-related Common Sense! Especially for Texans (God bless the intelligent voters that allowed Proposition 6 to pass last month), homeowners over the age of 62 in Texas (other states age-limits will vary) can eliminate their monthly house payments if they know where to go. Oh yeah...here's where you can find more info on how to stretch those fixed-budgets.....

Bait-and-switch is such a common landmine for consumers trying to finance (or re-fi) a mortgage. Don't get caught in their expensive traps--but take the Dover-proven route to stress-free finance, and take advantage while interest rates are STILL at incredibly-low levels! Interest rates are still lower than they were a year ago, so read what the big shots are saying about the future of those (still) incredibly-low interest rates. And since we're on the topic of good timing, what are you waitin' for? Cash in and lock in the lowest rate in decades by re-financing your current mortgage and cut 10 to 15 years off your term! It's easy to get educated about the process first...and the price is right! (Free!) Everything you need to know can be found on-line; get your own copy of Bens' 2003 Home Buyer's Guide by clicking here.


 
Time to get off your butt and start making travel plans for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend! (You're on the clock and it's now 7 days away): Stretch your travel budget and get your Thanksgiving or Christmas-time travel planning handled now.  Check out Ben's no-brainer choice for hotel room or condo deals: www.hotels.com.


Still looking for a cool birthday (or other special occasion) gift that'll keep on giving, all year long? Then give 'em a subscription to the Dose of Dover...the most reliable source of insights and no s*** ideas available on the planet. (You can afford it...it's free!) Time to share the wealth! Sign-up for a subscription to the weekly Dose of Dover Newsletter right here!


If you (or someone you know) is even remotely thinking about joining some non-profit credit counseling service, hiring a debt re-negotiation company or filing for bankruptcy, read this first: Trust me, you'll be more informed and a lot more grateful 10-minutes (or less) from now.....


It's probably time you got that unfinished business with your pals at the IRS handled for (hopefully) good: Tie down those tax-related loose-ends on your terms and get a deal worked out before it's too late. Non-filers...innocent spouses...941 (payroll taxes) for the entrepreneurs amongst us: Know all your options and learn why hiring an Enrolled Agent probably makes the most sense.


It's time to level the playing field! Check out the long-awaited new edition of Back Off! The Definitive Guide To Stopping Collection Agency Harassment:
    Read sample chapters from the new book!
    Get the inside scoop on those "non-profit" credit counseling agencies.
    Read all about the biggest thugs operating under the noses of authorities, rogue collection agencies that terrorize unwitting consumers.


Got credit problems? (Know someone who does?) Wanna know more about the inner-workings of that black hole known as the credit reporting bureau? You can get a digital copy of Ben's 1993 (#5) bestseller Life After Debt on-line, right now. Read how right here.....


Wanna buy your first home...or a bigger home...or just re-finance? Interest rates are STILL at incredibly-low levels: Ben's no-brainer choice for any/all of your mortgage needs? Easy...do it all on-line or on the phone with the official mortgage company of www.benjamindover.com and your first (and only) stop: W.R. Starkey Mortgage. Hit their website or call their Houston-area office at: (713-977-9533) or toll-free: (866) 249-7599. 


Speaking of Thanksgiving...wanna be a hero this year for a change? Instead of showing up at someone's house with a cheapo bottle of wine that either nobody will drink or it'll end up being "re-gifted" somewhere down the road, bring something that's sure to set you apart! Screw-off tops or canned cranberry sauce can be the quickest way to be de-invited for future events so spend a few bucks and do a little planning today to bring beautiful flowers, direct from Hawaii with you. Ben's affordable choice? Tropical Colors. Order on-line or give 'em a call toll-free (remember to call after 1p ET/12n CT/11a MT and 10a PT because of the time difference): (800) 965-9732.


Still looking for a cool birthday (or other special occasion) gift that'll keep on giving, all year long? Then give 'em a subscription to the Dose of Dover...the most reliable source of insight and no s*** ideas available on the planet. (You can afford it...it's free!) Time to share the wealth! Sign-up for a subscription to the weekly Dose of Dover Newsletter right here!