You've vowed to stay within your holiday shopping budget, compare prices to get the best deals and make the best use of your shopping dollars. But while you're in the throes of the season's fever, remember to check out stores' return policies.

If you buy an item on Dec. 1 and the store has a 14-day return policy, what happens if the sweater doesn't fit your brother when he opens it Dec. 25? Or the gadget you bought your sister doesn't work? Can you return it?

That can vary from store to store. Often, items like electronics, jewelry and others have a shorter time window. But some stores make holiday exceptions.

Remember:

■ Check the store's policies (online, in the store, on your receipt) to find out your deadline for returning or exchanging an item. Often you'll find details of a store's return policy in a link at the bottom of its home page.

■ Keep your sales receipts in a safe place where you can find them later. Usually a store refund comes in the same form as your payment — cash for a cash payment, or a credit to your account if you paid by credit card. If you don't have a receipt, the military exchanges generally will load the amount onto a gift card.

■ Keep original packaging and take it with you to the store for a refund, to send back items bought online. Remember that when your gifts are being opened.

Some examples of stores' extended return policies for the holidays:

Navy Exchange: Items bought between Oct. 28 and Dec. 24 in Navy Exchange stores or at myNavyExchange.com can be returned through Jan. 31, 2015. Customers should include any packaging material with the sales receipt. If you don't have the receipt, the amount of the item will be placed on a NEX gift card.

Army and Air Force Exchange Service: Items bought Nov. 1 through Dec. 24 can be returned through Jan. 31. Some items normally would have to be returned within 15 or 30 days, although many can be returned within 90 days. Refunds without sales receipts are loaded onto an exchange gift card.

Shoppers also can return items purchased at shopmyexchange.com at their closest brick-and-mortar exchange.

Marine Corps Exchange: Items bought Nov. 1 through Dec. 24 can be returned through Jan. 31. Without a sales receipt, the amount of the return is loaded onto an exchange gift card.

Walmart: If you buy an item from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24 that has a normal return policy of 15 or 30 days, the time is extended. The clock starts Dec. 26 — you'll have 15 or 30 days from Dec. 26 to return that item. Items with a 15-day return policy can be returned through Jan. 10; items with a 30-day return policy can be returned through Jan. 25.

Many Walmart items have a 90-day return window from the time of purchase. Those items must still be returned within 90 days.

Target: Most unopened items in new condition can be returned within 90 days for a refund or exchange. Electronics and entertainment items normally must be returned within 30 days, but for these items purchased from Nov. 1 through Dec. 25, the 30-day clock starts Dec. 26.

You've put a lot of effort into choosing that gift. Take the extra steps to ensure your money is still put to good use if the gift doesn't suit.

Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.

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