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A Guide to Hassle-Free Holiday Returns

By U.S. News & World Report

A book you’ve already read. A toy missing its parts. A poncho made of bright purple faux-rabbit fur.

We’ve all received a holiday gift that, for whatever reason, we didn’t want. Every year on the days following Christmas, stores and malls flood with customers seeking to return or exchange undesired holiday gifts.

You may be dreading braving the crowded malls to haggle with customer service staffers, but with a bit of planning and smart strategizing, returning unwanted items doesn’t have to be painful.

Whether that gift below your tree that was too tight, too loose, too broken or too ugly, you can navigate the process with efficiency and ease with our guide to hassle-free holiday returns. Here are some tips on how to do that:

Know Your Retailer’s Return Policy

Different retailers often have vastly different return policies. Before making the trek to the mall, do some research to find out your particular retailer’s policy.

To get you started, we’ve included information on some of the most popular stores below:

Kohl’s: Kohl’s has one of the best return policies around, accepting items at any time for whatever reason. In order to give you a fair refund, employees will look up your purchase in their system. If they can’t find a record, they’ll issue you Kohl’s credit. Note however, the value of your item may fluctuate with sales. Without a receipt, you may not receive the full purchase price.

Nordstrom: Famously generous when it comes to returns, Nordstrom official policy states that it makes decisions about returns on a case-by-case basis, with the goal of satisfying customers.

Macy’s: When you return an item with a gift receipt, you’ll receive the full purchase price back in Macy’s credit. Without the receipt, you’ll get a credit for the lowest selling price of the previous 180 days.

JCPenney: JCPenney does not require you to bring in a receipt or return items within a certain time frame. Returns made without a receipt or with a gift receipt are eligible for store credit only.

Kmart: You may return unwanted gifts within 30 days with a receipt. If you have a gift receipt, you are only able to exchange for store credit. Movies, video games and certain other items are ineligible for returns if their packages are open.

Sears: For most of the year, Sears allows you to return items within 30 days for a full refund with receipt, or for store credit with a gift receipt. However, over the holidays, Sears is offering a special extended return policy that allows items purchased this year between November 8 and December 24 to be returned through January 24, 2016. Sears asks that items be in their original packaging and may deduct a restocking fee from your refund.

Barnes & Noble: At Barnes & Noble, you’ll need to make your returns within 14 days of purchase, and the item must be unopened and in its original condition. Only items with a receipt will be accepted, and items with gift receipts are only eligible for store credit.

Apple: Like Sears, Apple is offering an extended holiday return policy that allows items purchased this year between November 1 and December 25 to be returned through January 28, 2016. You can return gifts for store credit without a receipt; you need only provide the product serial or order number.

Don’t see your store on the list? You can often find this information by visiting a retailer’s website or calling their customer service line.

Making Returns In-Store

On the day after Christmas, stores can be quite crowded with guests making returns and hunting down post-Christmas deals. If you are making a return in-store, plan to go a few days after Christmas and during the middle of the day when business is slower.

When talking to the customer service associate at the store, be sure to mention if you are a regular shopper or loyalty club member. In some cases, retailers allow a bit more wiggle room for loyal customers.

Making Returns Online

It often makes sense to return an item at a retailer’s brick-and-mortar location, rather than going through the effort of packaging and shipping an item to return. However, if no store location is convenient, or if you are returning an item to an online retailer, be sure to review the instructions they provide online. Certain retailers will require you to cover shipping and pay restocking fees. Other retailers, including Amazon, Gap and Zappos, provide free shipping labels for quick and cost-free returns.

If You Are Unable to Make a Return

So you missed the deadline, lost the original packaging or misplaced your gift receipt? Don’t worry, you still have options. In some cases, the retailer will accept the return for partial credit.

Otherwise, you might want to try selling the item on your own on an online marketplace such as eBay, Amazon or Craigslist. If you have electronics, sites such as Gazelle and NextWorth will give you an instant quote for your device after you answer a few questions. Got an unwanted gift card? Sites such as Raise and CardPool let you sell unused gift cards for cash.

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A Guide to Hassle-Free Holiday Returns originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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