Three best ways (and three worst ways) to finance holiday shopping

4. Retailer plans (worst)

Richard Drew/AP/File
Shoppers at Apple's flagship store in New York, look at iPads and iPad Minis, on Black Friday last month. The merchandise may be cool, but the deferred interest plans offered by Apple and other retailers can trip up shoppers if they don't read the fine print.

According to a recent Card Hub study, more than 60 percent of the major retailers that offer financing use deferred interest plans. These provide an initial interest-free period yet retroactively assess finance charges on the original purchase amount if you don’t pay the full balance during the introductory term. It’s best to steer clear of financing offered by the likes of Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Walmart, and Macy’s this year.

4 of 6
You've read 3 of 3 free articles. Subscribe to continue.
CSM logo

Why is Christian Science in our name?

Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that.

The Church publishes the Monitor because it sees good journalism as vital to progress in the world. Since 1908, we’ve aimed “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind,” as our founder, Mary Baker Eddy, put it.

Here, you’ll find award-winning journalism not driven by commercial influences – a news organization that takes seriously its mission to uplift the world by seeking solutions and finding reasons for credible hope.

Explore values journalism About us