Everyone can appreciate a little financial relief during the holiday season, whether it be a special discount, cash rebate, or free gift. Many of these perks are made available during this season to shoppers who sign up for credit cards and special financing offers. Savvy consumers can take advantage of these deals in order to obtain some perks, postpone some bills, and collect some free gifts. Here are a few of the popular promotions available:

• Retailer Discounts – Many retailers are now offering discounts for shoppers using their store credit cards. Consumers should look into these cards if they are available free of charge and offer significant discounts. Consider obtaining one card (such as an Amazon.com card) and doing all of your holiday shopping in one place to maximize your savings.
  
  
• Deferred Payments – The idea of buying now and paying later may seem great, but it is important for consumers to read the fine print. Often times, these deals let you defer payments interest-free for months (or even years!) but if you miss one payment, you will owe past interest for all those months! So, if you take these deals, be sure to make timely payments in the future!
  
  
• Rewards Point/Perks – Many credit cards offer rewards points or cash back for everything you spend. Consumers can use one credit card with rewards for all of their shopping in order to maximize cash back, rewards points, or free airline miles.
  

Combined, these are some ways in which you can leverage your holiday shopping to start paying some dividends!