Whether shopping at stores or online, two WVU Extension financial literacy educators say there are steps you can take to ensure your holiday season stays holly and jolly, without worries about finances or fraud. (WVU Photo/Mark Webb)
As the holiday shopping season ramps up, West Virginia University experts are offering guidance on how to find the best deals and keep your finances safe while checking off your gift list.
Members of the WVU Extension Financial Literacy Education Team — Elizabeth Metheny and Lauren Weatherford — are available to share practical advice to help you shop smart, and avoid overspending and fraud this holiday season.
Quotes:
“Planning for your Black Friday in-store shopping is a crucial part of getting the best savings, and with sale extensions, order pickup, digital product ads and maps that show item locations, making your plan is easier than ever.
“The first step is determining what items you would like to purchase. Once you have made your list, compare advertisements from different stores to determine which store offers the best price, then create a map of which stores you will go to throughout the day. Having a plan not only saves you time and energy, but also reduces the temptation of impulse buying and ensures you get the best deals possible for the items you actually want.
“Paying attention to prices before the holiday season can also save you money while shopping during sales. Knowing the regular price of an item will help you determine if the sale price is worth rushing to purchase. Many retail sites allow you to save items and track their prices over time. Retailers often raise the prices of items before big sale events, giving the illusion of savings.
“As you are shopping, also consider purchasing from local small businesses. This is a great way to support your community and local economy, while getting unique and meaningful gifts for loved ones.” — Elizabeth Metheny, associate professor and Financial Literacy Education Team member, WVU Extension
“While online shopping is convenient and you can find great deals, it’s important to ensure that you’re staying safe and avoiding scams. One easy way to do this is to only shop from reputable sites. Spelling errors, improper grammar and anything that just looks off are all telltale signs of scam sites. If you’re not sure if a site is safe, it’s better to err on the side of caution.
“One way to end up on a scam website is to visit links from social media or your email with a deal that seems too good to be true. Visit that website directly, not through a link that was sent to you, and if you don’t see the sale on the main website, it doesn’t exist.
“To verify a website’s credibility, look for https:// at the start of the URL and a small, locked padlock icon to the left of that. This means that it’s a secure site that has been verified.
“When buying online, always check reviews for the product and the seller. If you buy from a seller with zero reviews, there is no way to verify the product’s quality. Weigh the good and bad reviews against one another, remembering what factors are important to you.” — Lauren Weatherford, associate professor and Financial Literacy Education Team member, WVU Extension
Find additional WVU Extension financial literacy resources.
West Virginia University experts can provide commentary, insights and opinions on various news topics. Search for an expert by name, title, area of expertise, or college/school/department in the Experts Database at WVUToday.
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slk/11/24/25
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