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Shopping for a last-minute holiday gift but need to stay on budget?
Nicole Lapin, a financial expert and bestselling author, is sharing tips to help consumers tie the final bows on their holiday lists without breaking their budgets.
Lapin recommends tools like PayPal's Buy Now, Pay Later to flex your spending and pay over time.
Need a gift in a pinch? Ask AI! According to a recent PayPal survey, 40% of Americans have used AI "to assist with a purchase in the past year," and Lapin encourages shoppers to "treat it like your personal shopping assistant." Lapin, who used AI to shop for her husband, found that "it came back with ideas I never would have found."
Lapin suggests using a browser extension like PayPal Honey to find the best deals, especially during major shopping events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. PayPal Honey's drop list does the work for you: Track any product and get an alert when the price drops. It also surfaces prices on hundreds of thousands of products as you shop, offering discount codes and cash back to see you through.
"Some retailers mark prices up before marking them down," she says. "A little sleuthing can keep you from overspending." If you're using AI for gift ideas, PayPal Honey will make sure you get a great deal on what AI shows you.
Keep a stash of go-to holiday gifts that you can use when you need a last-minute gift. Lapin suggests buying candles, ornaments and more in bulk and keeping them at the ready.
"Having a little stack of go-to gifts doesn't just make life easier during an already hectic time of year, it also helps keep spending steady and saves me from overspending on things like last-minute shipping or frantic pre-party purchases," Lapin says.
Keep your shopping workspace clean: In crunch time, hopping between tabs and tracking down payment info can make an already overwhelming experience even more stressful.
Lapin recommends setting up saved payment methods, preloading gift lists on your favorite online retailers and bookmarking top picks ahead of time. "A one-click setup means fewer distractions, faster checkouts and way less impulse shopping," she says.
With PayPal, shoppers can create a digital wallet by adding their payment information and keeping it stored and secured. Use your bank or cards to pay and keep earning points, miles and rewards.
Plus, PayPal is committed to keeping customers safe and informed to avoid common scams. Both PayPal and Venmo also offer Purchase and Seller Protections that have terms covering eligible "goods and services" when a transaction doesn't go as planned, so shoppers can shop with peace of mind this holiday season. Purchase Protection covers eligible items -- apparel, travel and more -- paid for with PayPal. Terms and limitations apply.
If you weren't able to find a gift they'll love, you can never go wrong with cash or a digital gift card through a service like PayPal. With PayPal, it's as easy as a text: Send money securely with a PayPal link and your gift is ready.
"People love the freedom to pick something they actually want," she says. "And when you pair a cash gift with a personal note, it still shows intention. It's really a modern way to gift with style."
