If you’re celebrating today, Merry Christmas! And if not, happy holidays! I hope you enjoyed some quality time with friends and family. Tis the season of giving, and since many of us received gifts, today’s post is all about how to make the most of them. Here are some ideas!
1. Register Them With the Manufacturer
This is one of the less-glamorous tips, but it has major benefits. If you received any electronics (iPads, for example), appliances (like a new Dyson vacuum!), or anything else with registration information, be sure to register it.
It’s a good idea for a few reasons.
First, it will let you take full advantage of the manufacturer’s warranty. This brings peace of mind and will better your chances of having the item repaired or replaced if anything breaks.
Second, if you need to take advantage of a warranty, the manufacturer already has your contact information and proof of purchase. This makes it much easier for them to process your replacement or refund.
Third, it will make it easier for the manufacturer to notify you in case of a recall. Safety first!
To make things easier, make a file folder (hard copy or digital!) where you house all registration information, instruction manuals, and receipts, for important items.
2. Make the Most of Your Gift Cards
Boxing Day and post-Christmas sales are a gift card’s best friend! To make the most of them, shop during sales and stack savings wherever you can. That includes shopping online through cash back sites, and using coupon codes to make your savings go further.
3. Return What You Don’t Want
This one can be tricky as sometimes we want to like a gift even if it’s not the right fit. But in most cases, whoever gave you the gift wants you to have something you like. And they would rather you return it than hang on to it if you won’t wear or use it.
If you have a gift receipt, this should be pretty easy to do. You may just have to wait until post-Christmas sales end for stores to accept returns or exchanges. If you don’t have a gift receipt, you can sell it online or in person. eBay, Poshmark, or TrendTrunk are all good places to start, and you can also try Facebook Buy/Sell groups, Craigslist, and Kijiji. And check out my post on how to sell your clothes online.
Looking to return a gift card? Sites like CardCash (U.S.) and CardSwap (Canada) let you trade in your gift card for cash. You won’t get 100% of the card’s value, but you’ll get close and that’s far better than having it collect dust and never be used.
4. Take Proper Care of Them
This one should go without saying, but take care of your gifts! That can include cleaning them, running software updates, buying replacement parts, or other things. If your gift needs regular maintenance, put reminders in your calendar to take care of it. Ongoing care will make them last much longer.
So there you have it – 4 easy ways to make your holiday gifts go further. With a little planning, forethought, and care, you can make the most of your gifts and make them even more special.
Wishing you a happy holiday season!
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