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Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

Holiday Shopping? Here’s How NOT to Blow Your Budget!

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Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only. 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… as long as you’re not feeling guilty about overspending!

Okay, let’s get real for a sec. How many of y’all set your holiday shopping budget according to how much you *want* to spend vs. how much you truly believe you’ll need to spend? It’s a mistake many Canadians make (intentional or not), and it’s the easiest way to blow your budget this festive season.

Not on my watch!

I’m happy to share with you my very best tips for 1) creating a reasonable budget, 2) accounting for everyone you’ll need to shop for, 3) monitoring your spending in an easy and convenient way and 4) even sourcing the best “emergency” gift! Watch my recent segment from What She Said below:

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of prepaid cards, such as Mastercard, American Express and Visa. Not only do they offer many of the benefits of a traditional credit card (YES – you can use them online and over the phone!), they come with a distinct advantage for budgeting: a set amount of funds pre-loaded onto the card. That means when the funds are depleted, you holiday shopping spree is over – which assures you’ll never go over budget! 

Why else should you love prepaid cards?

1. Funds are universally acceptable. You can make purchases anywhere in the world where MasterCard, American Express and Visa are accepted, including online and over the phone.

2. Funds are immediately available. There is no waiting for a cheque to arrive in the mail or clear the banks! Just purchase a prepaid card and start your holiday spending!

3. Avoid costly overdraft and interest charges. Funds are pre-paid so you can control your budget and avoid interest charges and overdraft fees. No one wants to have spender’s remorse come January!

4. You are protected. Prepaid cards issued by card networks can protect consumers by the Zero Liability protections of the card brand. Make sure to read the terms and register your card!

5. They make the perfect gift. Whether you use them as a budgeting tool or purchase them a Christmas gift, they offer convenience and are an easy way to pay in person, online or over the phone.

I’ve used prepaid cards in the past to budget for groceries and vacation spending, but this is the first year I’ve used them to keep track of my holiday spending. Great news, friends! I’m happy to say that so far, I’ve stayed well within my budget, and because I am using a prepaid card, I know I won’t go over. Sweet success!

To learn more about prepaid cards, visit cppo.ca. You can find them at your favourite supermarket, drugstore or big box retailer. Or – you could WIN one right here! Here’s a little help to recoup some of your holiday spending – courtesy of my friends at CPPO, I’m giving away a $250 Prepaid American Express Card! To enter, simply fill the form below with your qualifying entries. Good luck!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linda Benoit

    Any kind of restaurant card so I get to have that dining out experience even when things are tight.

  4. Amie pepper

    I love that i can use it pretty much anywhere i shop! Plus i can never spend more then whats on it lol

  11. Jenn Erin

    I definitely love that you are protected. I feel more safe using prepaid cards instead of my Visa in general (because of the fixed value) but the fact that the prepaid cards are protected themselves is an amazing bonus.

  25. Alayne Langford

    I love that prepaid cards are accepted just as easily as a bank card with NO interest charges to worry about!! And you are right, they make perfect gifts! :)

  27. YASMIN HALL

    I Love that I can use it anywhere and that I won’t get a credit card bill in the mail with a high interest added on. lol

  32. Jeannie Lam

    I love that they are accept anywhere and it gives you a set budget. When you’ve spent it all, it’s done.

  36. leeanne crisante

    What I love about presents paid credit card is that there’s a set limit and you can’t go over that amount. Some cards will reject it if it’s over that amount of the gift card. You can also use it for anything food, trips, malls etc.

  37. L Carbone

    I love a prepaid gift card because they’re universally accepted and secure

    Cheers Lisa
    @LittleMama71

  41. Amy Stackhouse

    I love guilt-free shopping! If it is my gift cards I use it one me (instead of my kids and husband.)

  43. CL Chin

    I like that they are convenient to purchase and that they are perfect for people who are hard to shop for.

  44. Gary Smith

    You can spend it most anywhere and not have to worry about your credit card info being compromised.

  52. Dana Miller

    My favourite feature of a prepaid card is that it is universally accepted. I have gifted prepaid cards and they are always welcomed. I would be grateful to receive one and have the flexibility to use it as my family needs it.

  53. Tricia Coooper

    My favourite feature of a prepaid card is that I can use it anywhere in the world! When I travel I don’t like to take a lot of cash, so a prepaid card works well!

  58. Stacey Voor

    I love how easy it is to use a pre paid card and if you lose it or have it stolen it holds none of your personal information on it.

  61. Angela Massis

    I think they make great gifts! They can spend it where ever they want and are not limited to a specific store or business.

  66. Tara

    I like that the money is all there already and i don’t have to pay it back like a regular credit card. But it still has the features of a credit card.

  79. September Dee

    I like that I have a set budget with a prepaid card. It keeps my spending in check and it can be used anywhere!

  81. Tara Betterley

    I love that I have it to purchase anything I want and most places accept it. I like using the prepaid cards for online shopping.

  82. Marilyn Massoud

    Love the convenience of having a GC in your wallet, it’s like finding a surprise when you least expect it, and you can buy yourself a treat you didn’t think you could Merry Christmas

  92. Debbie White Beattie

    My favorite feature is that it’s Funds are universally acceptable so you can use it when you travel

  94. Tracy saddul

    Favorite feature of using a prepaid card is the simplicity of it and knowing you’ll stay on budget

  97. Lilly Wong

    I like that you can use it in different stores. A lot of gift cards go unused because the recipient can’t find anything they like in that one store. ????????????????

  98. Lisa A.

    I like that prepaid cards are universally accepted. Its nice to have the confidence they’ll be accepted at all places. :)

  105. Donna Maroulis

    I love your Nov.24 blog article about holidaying at Disney at Christmas time. We have been twice but summer each time. I never really thought about it for a winter vacation but I bet it would be fun !

  112. Jennifer Parsons

    My favourite feature of a prepaid card is that it can be used online. I would prefer not to use my own personal credit card online, to try to avoid credit card fraud (it’s happened to me in the past, when a major retailer’s site was hacked and my credit card info was stolen!) – thus a prepaid card is the way to go for my online shopping (which I LOVE to do!).

  113. Jennifer Hatton

    I like that I can use them to shop online. They are great for my son, who likes to purchase computer games oniine

  114. Shirley S

    My favourite feature of a prepaid card is that you can avoid costly overdraft and interest charges.

  116. Florence Cochrane

    I love the security of the Prepaid Credit card. I love them for shopping online and travelling.

  120. Darlene Schuller

    I love that I can use it just about anywhere for anything. I keep telling my children the prepaids or gift cards are fabulous gifts.. they dont agree!

  123. Shelley Nelson

    I love that they make a perfect gift since it gives the person a huge choice of options rather than one from a specific store.

  127. Lisa Rumolo

    My favourite feature is I don’t have to go crazy trying to find a gift. They can get whatever they want and be happy.

  137. Viv Sluys

    I love giving prepaid cards as gifts because people can use them for anything. I’d never thought about using them to stay on budget but that’s a really good idea.

  141. Andrea Amy

    I like that it allows me to shop online anywhere (I don’t have an actual credit card, so I use pre paid ones all the time)

  144. Erinn Lishman

    I love that funds are universally accepted with a prepaid card- I can use it ANYWHERE! It’s so helpful, especially this time of year!

  148. Cathy C

    I is great to gift to kids or hubby so they can buy what they want from where they want. I don’t have to guess which item or giftcard to get them. It’s the universal giftcard in my opinion.

  149. Sandy Guerra

    The thing I like about prepaid cards is you don’t over spend money you don’t have. No tempations; you spend only whats on the card. It is accepted everywhere even online.

  157. ginette4

    I like that I can use it anywhere anytime and can also give it to a family member knowing that they cannot spend more than what’s available on the card..no surprises when I get the bill because there’s never a statement

  160. Krista M

    For me it is online shopping. I got rid of all my credit cards so I rely solely on the use of Prepaid cards for online stores!

  168. Holly Daniels

    I love that they keep me going over budget. I spend what is there, and don’t have to worry about a bill a month later. Much easier to stay debt free with prepaid!

  172. Judy Cowan

    I love that prepaid cards are an easy way to set a budget and try to stick to it. Also love that you can use them anywhere.

  173. Susan Mason

    I love prepaid cards <3 They make great gifts because they take the guesswork out of shopping, and everyone can get exactly what they want. I also like that they are easy to purchase – online or in store :) Thank you so very much!! Liked and shared!! Merry Christmas!!

  183. Sue Frampton

    I like how both me and my kids can use it It’s so handy to have when you don’t have cash on hand

  188. Chris Corson

    I love prepaid credit cards as gifts as they are accepted most places whereas other gift cards are typically store-specific. Very often I don’t have a store-specific gift card with me when I could actually use it! Can’t carry them all, all the time!

  190. Angela September

    i love that you can use these cards everywhere and yes I incorporate them into our budget as well!

  191. Monique Jamotte

    I like that “Funds are pre-paid so you can control your budget and avoid interest charges and overdraft fees.”

  194. Caroline B

    I like that they can protect consumers by the Zero Liability protections of the card brand. This make me feel more confident when using them.

  197. Holly MacRitchie

    I love that I can use it basically anywhere! I also like that the money is already there, and I do not need to worry about paying it off.

  207. Wendy hutton

    its great that it can be used anywhere, and what I do when its down to just a few dollars I buy an amzon GC with the remainder, no funds wasted at all

  208. Heather Howard

    My favorite feature is that the money is immediately available.
    I am wondering though about #1 if it is only for certain types of prepaid cards or perhaps just a Canada thing as I had received a Visa from the USA and was unable to use it in Canada(even said so in the fine print). I couldn’t even order from a USA site. ????
    Thanks for the opportunity this would definitely help out!
    Good luck everyone!

  215. Michelle Dimmock

    I love that once you reach your limit you can’t spend more, your never in debt with a prepaid card

  217. Shane Smith

    i like that you can’t blow the budget and get yourself into debt. lol … only spend what you have on the card!

  222. Angela Lombardi

    I love that you can use the card anywhere and you cant go over and into debt. Also that funds are universally acceptable.

  224. Lindsay O

    My favourite feature of prepaid cards is that the funds are universally acceptable. I used prepaid cards on my last trip to NYC to pay for everything from my meals and transportation to Broadway show tickets! So convenient.

  234. Amie Elliott

    I love that I can use them like a credit card but with out the bill later , I love to use these on vacations !

  239. Nicole B

    I love that it budgets how much you want to spend. When its gone its gone! Plus its paid for already instead of having to pay for it later.

  242. DeeDee Ferguson

    I like the security of knowing that if my card gets compromised, I won’t have to worry too much!

  244. Angela Mitchell

    I love how you can give the cards as gifts and the recipients can spend their money wherever they want.

  245. Lynda Cook

    I love that I can use it anywhere and I don’t have to worry about going over budget, when it’s done it’s done!!

  246. Kimberly Yap

    Budgeting has always been an issue for me, but when I get or give prepaid cards I know that won’t be an issue :) Perfect Christmas/Birthday gifts

  254. Lily Obien

    love the flexibility to use anywhere and once the money is gone, it’s gone and can’t over extend yourself.

  260. Nate Fuller

    I like them better as a gift because you can use it anywhere unlike gift cards which are to specific places.

  263. Mandy

    I like to give prepaid cards as gifts as its not as it’s universally accepted and it’s less tacky then giving cash.

  268. Monique L.S.

    I like that funds are universally acceptable and can be used in person, over the phone or on the internet.

  273. Vanessa shapka

    I love that they make the perfect gift. You aren’t stuck to a certain store and you can chose to spend your gift as you please, wherever you please!

  276. Wendy Jensen

    My favorite feature of a pre-paid card is just that – it is a prepaid card – therefore it is simple to use.

  280. Nicole Jubleew

    I love the safety of using a prepaid card. That way I don’t have to worry about someone stealing my credit card and personal info.

  283. Bailey Dexter

    I love a pre paid cards for shopping on line or when I am out of town shopping in street stores!

  284. Dianne Gardner

    My favourite feature of a prepaid card is that the funds are immediately available. I like to keep them for emergencies like when we need an unexpected car or home repair.

  286. Kristy R

    I like that it’s a pre-set amount – makes it easier to stick to a budget. I spent more than I meant to this year, mostly on last minute gifts. The big stuff I had planned for.