Retailers Make Bottom-Line Resolutions--Tried and True Methods Being Tweaked to Lure Consumers

Consumers tend to make straightforward New Year resolutions: Spend less, save more and pay down debt. This year, it appears retailers want to change just one thing...their bottom line. The tried-and-true methods aren't working anymore as consumers learn to resist the urge to buy, so merchants are starting their own trends.

According to Bloomberg, consumer spending stalled in December, with a rise of just 0.1 percent, as Americans took advantage of last year's slight jump in income to restore depleted savings. So what are retailers doing to change this trend? Here are a few examples.

1. JCPenney Ditches Sales
Shoppers have caught onto false savings, in which stores boost prices just before dropping them again for supposed sales. In an announcement last month, JCPenney basically admitted to this practice and said they were launching an everyday-low-prices campaign. For example, jeans that used to retail for $25 -- but typically ended up selling for $15 -- will just start off at $15.

2. The Shops at Target
Apple addicts usually have to hit Apple brand stores to buy some of their new equipment. Such outlets are pretty few and far between, so imagine the thrill they must be experiencing, now that Target is testing a partnership to sell a wider variety of Apple produce in 25 of their stores.

Other partnerships are moving forward in Target's store-within-a-store campaign, a trend long seen at department stores and in the Sephora outlets in JCPenney stores.

3. Wal-Mart Small Business Competition
Can't you hear Ryan Seacrest proclaiming "This...is...the Wal-Mart Contest!" In a PR-savvy replication of the "American Idol" competition format, Wal-Mart will winnow down inventor/small business contestants until they select one lucky product for country-wide promotion on their shelves.

4. Luxury Retailers Up Free Shipping Game
Popular shoe e-retailers like Endless and Zappos made a splash with free return shipping, and some luxury shops are following suit. Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue offer free shipping both ways, with other companies expected to jump on the bandwagon in 2012, according to USA Today. For a comprehensive list of retailers who are ahead of this trend, go to the free return shipping page on FreeShipping.org.

5. Bye-bye Amazon Mom Benefits
Amazon is backing away from the discounts it has long offered moms, including a revocation of their popular two-day free shipping program. Diaper savings also have dropped from a high of 30 percent to a maximum of 20 percent.

6. Taco Bell Breakfast Burritos
"Yo quiero breakfast burritos!" The Mexican fast-food chain has finally figured out Americans like breakfast burritos, so it's expanding its offerings to three meals per day. Perhaps Taco Bell is taking its own advice to "Think outside the bun."

7. Booze It Up at Starbucks
The coffee chain sees plenty of business early in the day, but sales fall off later in the day, when even diehard caffeine addicts cut back on the java. To boost their sales during slow periods, Starbucks will soon begin serving beer, wine and hard liquor after 2 p.m. at select Southern California locations, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Andrea Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc. She is available for in-studio, satellite or skype interviews and to write guest posts or articles. As a nationally recognized media source, Andrea has been featured among top news outlets such as Good Morning America, NBC's Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more.

Tips: How to Manage Your Holiday Debt

Before the holidays there was endless advice about setting a budget and sticking to a shopping list. Those who ignored the wisdom shared by experts will be in for a shock when credit card and bank statements arrive in the mail.

According to a Consumer Reports poll, six percent of us are still paying off holiday debts from 2010. That means any new purchases racked up over the past holiday season will inflate those interest charges and make paying down the old and new balances more difficult and expensive.

If the bottom line on your bills is looking ugly, it's time to get a financial-management makeover. Consider these tips for balancing your holiday debt:

1. Double and Triple Up
Multiply your credit card minimum payments two or three times to reduce the amount of interest you'll end up paying. Merely meeting the minimum means you'll never see bottom.

2. Now's the Time to Negotiate
Talk to your credit card company about negotiating a better rate on interest, fees and other expenses. If your interest rate is above 15 percent and they won't negotiate, it may be time to transfer much of the balance to a lower-cost card. Just make sure you pay off the debt before the interest rate climbs again.

3. Go On a No-spend Diet
Stick those credit cards in the freezer, if you have to, but do what it takes to avoid impulse shopping sprees. Better yet, give them to a trusted friend or family member for safekeeping.

4. Get Couponing
Using coupons for necessary purchases not only saves you money, but the practice helps you make more educated purchasing decisions. You can find online and printable coupons for thousands of stores on CouponSherpa.com, or download their mobile app for instant access to coupons while you shop.

5. Stick to Cash
There's something about parting with greenbacks that makes us less likely to spend. Keep a budgeted amount on hand and stay away from the cards. Using the envelope system is expecially helpful in tracking your cash spending while working toward financial goals.

6. Cut Back on Luxuries
You've had your fun during the holidays; now it's time to get serious. Cut out the restaurants, nail salon and triple shot mocha latte until the bills are under control. Of course, too strict of an economic diet is as easy to break as a weight-loss regimen. So figure in an occasional, small splurge to keep you going.

7. Set Small Goals
Don't try to do everything at once. If paying off credit cards in three months means going hungry, you're biting off more than you can chew. Set smaller, obtainable goals and you'll appreciate the final results more. For those with multiple credit cards with high balances, try paying down one card at a time to feel that sense of accomplishment needed to push on to the next goal.

8. Meet With a Financial Planner
If you're barely treading financial water, it's time to get some assistance. A professional financial planner can help you establish a reasonable plan that won't leave you paying off debts until next Christmas. You can find a qualified guide through the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards website or you might check for non-profit assistance.

Andrea Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert who has been featured among top news outlets such asGood Morning America, NBC's Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more. She is available for in-studio, satellite or skype interviews and to write guest posts or articles.

For all media inquiries, please contact Andrea Woroch at 970-672-6085 or email andrea@kinoliinc.com.