Christmas clubs have been a favourite of canny shoppers in one form or another for a great many years. It reduces the financial burden of the season by spreading payments over time and if you choose your club wisely, it can also guarantee availability of items which might become difficult to find during the hysterical and panicked shopping frenzy that heralds in the season of Goodwill.
The idea is a very useful and practical one. Select a shop where you will definitely be spending money at Christmas, apply to join the club and pay into the scheme at regular intervals.
The best Christmas clubs allow you to reserve products and let’s face it, there is a huge relief in knowing that the longed for toy is safely secured in hiding till you, or Santa produce it at Christmas.
Smart parents are reserving products early and spreading the payment to ensure a happier, stress free Christmas shopping season. Anything that avoids the wrestling the last torn box containing this year’s most wanted toy from the hands of another stressed parent has got to be good.
Christmas Clubs all but disappeared in the boom times of the 1990s’ when no one baulked at the idea of carrying debt into the next infinite number of years.
Thankfully, good sense and a more practical approach has returned and with it, the Christmas Club is once more a popular and sensible idea for those wanting to avoid the last minute rush.
The most popular Clubs are those run by the local butcher shop (turkey and ham sorted!) and toy shops. Irish parents spend an average of €254 on each child at Christmas.
This can be managed better by joining a club and choosing toys wisely to avoid that last minute expensive ‘compensation present’ when the one on the wish list has been sold out.
It also makes sense to manage the child’s expectations and point them towards sturdy well made products from a reputable supplier.
A note of caution if you are thinking of joining a club as they differ greatly in operation.
Some large retail stores allow you to amass credit in their club, but do not put toys on hold for you. This could result in you being forced to spend in-store credit on something other than the child’s dream gift.
Tinneys Toy’s in Letterkenny are one shop who operate a simple, no nonsense Christmas Club where your chosen toy is held for you while you avail of the easy financial plan.
Reserved products will be held until early December and you can make payments at any time to ease the burden on Christmas wallets.
Payments to their Christmas club can be made through the shop, by phone or online.
The count down to the Festive Season is already on. Let’s make it as stress free, as organised and as happy as possible. The well organised and simply operated Christmas Club definitely has a part to play in that dream scenario.
For more information on Tinneys Toys Christmas club click here.
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