Singletary: Holiday shopping boot camp

People are becoming less adverse to stores opening on Thanksgiving. In 2013, 41 percent of shoppers said it interfered with family time. But in this year’s survey, the percentage was down to 32 percent.

But the Friday shopping frenzy is still popular. Two-thirds of respondents said they are likely to shop on Black Friday, compared to 55 percent who planned to do so in 2013, and 44 percent who said the same in 2007.

There you have it. Americans love their shopping. Mix that with the holiday season and people lose their minds and budgets. However, since it is the season for giving to everybody and their mama, at least spend well. Here’s some advice on smart spending for the holidays.

• Use credit. Yes, I said it. If you are going to make an expensive purchase — a new iPhone 6 or iPad, or iWhatever — it’s best to charge it. Credit cards offer a lot of consumer protections that cash does not. If a product is damaged or not delivered, you can dispute the charges and you have an ally — your credit card issuer, which can withhold payment until the situation is investigated and settled. But if you use credit, don’t charge what you can’t pay off by the next billing cycle. And don’t overload your cards. Keep your spending less than 30 percent of your available credit card balance or you might end up lowering your credit scores.

• Act like a dog. By this, I mean become as loyal as the family pet. Signing up for loyalty card and/or email alerts can net some great holiday deals. I don’t shop a lot. Still, I signed up for a few retailers I frequent and have gotten some good coupons for discounts.

In Accenture’s survey, people were asked how likely they would be to share more of their personal information, such as contact details and preferences, in exchange for customized offers during the holidays. One-third of consumers said that they would likely do so.

• Eat some pie. Turns out your rush to get the best deals might be in vain. So don’t skip dessert. Maybe even wait a few days. Despite the hype, Black Friday isn’t the only time to find good deals. You’ll still be able to take advantage of price cuts up to Christmas and beyond.

• Shop in silence. Stores tap into your senses to get you to buy more. If you tend to buy on impulse, stay home and shop online. And still you should stop and think before you click. Nonetheless, researchers have found that when there’s background music at the mall, impulse buyers spend more.

• Scan and save. Put your smartphone to good use and keep a running tally of your purchases as you shop. Or use mobile apps that help you compare prices. For this holiday season, I’ve downloaded eBay’s RedLaser (it’s free). It allows you to scan a barcode or search items to find the best price online or at a particular store.

• Wait, watch and save. If you hate shopping but still must go out in search of presents because your relatives requested no handmade gifts this year, try ShopAdvisor, an app that keeps track of products you want to buy and alerts you when the price drops.

Above all, have a plan and a budget so that you can enjoy the new year without a spending hangover.

Michelle Singletary welcomes comments and column ideas. Reach her in care of The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20071; or singletarym@washpost.com.