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5 Tips for Holiday Shopping with a Credit Card

Holiday shopping starts earlier each year. In 2021, 61% of consumers started their holiday shopping in early November.1 This trend also relates to an increase in holiday spending, as almost 30% of shoppers plan to spend more than last year. If your holiday shopping plans are already in the works, and you’re planning to shop with a credit card, these tips and tricks can help your shopping go smoothly!

  1. Budget, budget, budget. Creating a holiday budget for your credit card is a smart first step. It can help you avoid overspending and use your credit card rewards program to your advantage.  
  2. Create a gift-buying schedule. With holiday shopping starting as early as October, it can be hard to prioritize what gifts you need and when you need to have them in hand. Having a schedule can help relieve stress and ensure you’ve checked every person off your list.  
  3. Avoid store cards. Retail store credit cards can appear to have great benefits, especially around the holidays. However, they usually carry hefty interest rates of 25% or more, which could ultimately have you paying more if your balance carries over.  
  4. Stay safe online. If online shopping is part of your holiday routine, take steps to keep your personal information safe. Avoid using public Wi-Fi when making your purchases, and stick to websites that have “https” in the URL.  
    • Pro tip: Whether you’re shopping in-store or online, linking your credit card to a digital wallet such as Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, or PayPal®, is the faster and safer way to pay.
  5. Shop smarter with an Sunward credit card. If you already have an Sunward Visa Signature® credit card, you can earn up to 1.50% cash back each month on your purchases, which means while you’re getting holiday gifts, you’re giving gifts to yourself, too!*

Don’t have an Sunward credit card? Apply for one to enjoy a low rate, cash rebates, and a $100 statement credit when you spend $1,500 in the first 90 days* – a great bonus just in time for the holidays! Learn more: slfcu.org/CreditCards 

*Some restrictions apply. Visit our website for more information. 1. www.drip.com/blog/holiday-shopping-statistics

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