If you haven't started your holiday shopping yet local experts say you are already behind.
Not to worry. There are still plenty of ways you can have great gifts under your tree without breaking the bank.
Experts say the key to saving money is getting a head start on your holiday shopping.
"I'm usually a last minute shopper," said Tammy Pedersen of Honesdale. She added this year, she's getting an early start. She has three children to shop for, and plans to get some big-ticket items on Black Friday. "Get up early, have my husband watch the kids, and hopefully I find it."
Terri Stocki of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania said starting early and creating a holiday budget are two great ways to control your spending.
"We all know what the economy is like, what the job situation is like, and it kind of puts a damper on things around the holidays, but it doesn't have to be that way. I think everyone understands peoples' situations right now," Stocki said.
Linda Dalbo said she's never used layaway until this year. One of her children is hoping for an iPod Touch this year so she is looking to layaway some gifts.
"My kids are older. They want more expensive items and I need some time to pay for these things," Dalbo said.
Layaway plans allow you to put money down and make payments every week and the store will hold the item for you.
Here are the major stores in our area offering layaway:
Sears
K-Mart
Burlington Coat Factory
T.J. Maxx
Sears and K-Mart are offering layaway online for the first time.
If you have to have it now and pay for it now, there are deals to be had if you have the time to look for them.
"We look for the sales. Like today, I was in Macy's and I saved oh, maybe $50 with their sales," said Loretta Kratz of Sullivan County, New York.
You will find lots of steals at warehouse type stores, like Ollie's near Wilkes-Barre.
Cheap Christmas cards and holiday decorations are just some of the stuff you can find, sometimes 75 percent off the retail price.
"Let's say a Wal-Mart, for example. They have extra inventory or the Wal-Mart will call us and say, we bought too much. Ollie's will buy it at a discount," explained Joseph Luongo of Ollie's Bargain Outlet.
While lots of people are searching malls and discount stores for deals, local online shopping experts said more and more people are turning to eBay for their holiday shopping.
At Snappy Auctions in Dallas Mandy Salak sells other people's stuff on eBay. So while folks are out there shopping she is selling.
"We get more Christmas themed items in, everyone wants to sell their items that have a Christmas affiliation," Salak said.
She added eBay is a great place to look for deals on big-ticket items that may not be on sale in stores. She said Apple products, like iPods, are big sellers.
"People are realizing they can get really good deals on items on eBay, so they're looking more there first as far as comparison to other online retailers," Salak said.
She added because of eBay's feedback system, it's easy to check a seller's credibility so you can be sure you're getting exactly what you are paying for.
If you'd like more tips on how to save money while doing your holiday shopping this year.
Go to wnep-dot-com and look under websites mentioned.
Not to worry. There are still plenty of ways you can have great gifts under your tree without breaking the bank.
Experts say the key to saving money is getting a head start on your holiday shopping.
"I'm usually a last minute shopper," said Tammy Pedersen of Honesdale. She added this year, she's getting an early start. She has three children to shop for, and plans to get some big-ticket items on Black Friday. "Get up early, have my husband watch the kids, and hopefully I find it."
Terri Stocki of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania said starting early and creating a holiday budget are two great ways to control your spending.
"We all know what the economy is like, what the job situation is like, and it kind of puts a damper on things around the holidays, but it doesn't have to be that way. I think everyone understands peoples' situations right now," Stocki said.
Linda Dalbo said she's never used layaway until this year. One of her children is hoping for an iPod Touch this year so she is looking to layaway some gifts.
"My kids are older. They want more expensive items and I need some time to pay for these things," Dalbo said.
Layaway plans allow you to put money down and make payments every week and the store will hold the item for you.
Here are the major stores in our area offering layaway:
Sears
K-Mart
Burlington Coat Factory
T.J. Maxx
Sears and K-Mart are offering layaway online for the first time.
If you have to have it now and pay for it now, there are deals to be had if you have the time to look for them.
"We look for the sales. Like today, I was in Macy's and I saved oh, maybe $50 with their sales," said Loretta Kratz of Sullivan County, New York.
You will find lots of steals at warehouse type stores, like Ollie's near Wilkes-Barre.
Cheap Christmas cards and holiday decorations are just some of the stuff you can find, sometimes 75 percent off the retail price.
"Let's say a Wal-Mart, for example. They have extra inventory or the Wal-Mart will call us and say, we bought too much. Ollie's will buy it at a discount," explained Joseph Luongo of Ollie's Bargain Outlet.
While lots of people are searching malls and discount stores for deals, local online shopping experts said more and more people are turning to eBay for their holiday shopping.
At Snappy Auctions in Dallas Mandy Salak sells other people's stuff on eBay. So while folks are out there shopping she is selling.
"We get more Christmas themed items in, everyone wants to sell their items that have a Christmas affiliation," Salak said.
She added eBay is a great place to look for deals on big-ticket items that may not be on sale in stores. She said Apple products, like iPods, are big sellers.
"People are realizing they can get really good deals on items on eBay, so they're looking more there first as far as comparison to other online retailers," Salak said.
She added because of eBay's feedback system, it's easy to check a seller's credibility so you can be sure you're getting exactly what you are paying for.
If you'd like more tips on how to save money while doing your holiday shopping this year.
Go to wnep-dot-com and look under websites mentioned.
