The most wonderful time of the year is also the most expensive, but that doesn’t have to be the case! We’ve compiled a list of our favorite ways to save money while shopping for holiday gifts. Read on and enjoy this season without breaking your bank account.
1) Know What You Want and Have a Budget.
The first step to saving money while shopping for holiday gifts is knowing what you want, and not spending over a specified amount that you set for your holiday spending. If you have a lot of likes and interests though, this can be difficult. But when it comes to holiday shopping, it’s essential that we know what we want before going out into the world of big box stores. When making holiday purchases, it can also be a good strategy to buy gifts with a credit builder credit card, so that you can increase your credit score and get back rewards while spending money.
Another point to consider while buying presents is having an idea of how much time and space you have available in your home during the holidays. If you have kids or pets (or both), then there’s no way around having them underfoot while trying to wrap up your last-minute purchases–which means less time spent on those tasks!
2) Buy Items on Sale.
The holidays are a great time to buy things you need, but it’s also a great time to buy things you want. This is because many stores will have sales on popular items during the holiday season. If you can wait for these sales, then this can be a good way to save money on your purchases and keep more money in your online banking account.
If you need something right away, don’t wait for a sale! It may not come along in time for Christmas morning or other special occasions where people give gifts. If buying something at full price is okay with your budget, then go ahead and do so; just make sure that it meets all of your needs before making any decisions about whether or not there will be another opportunity later down the road when prices drop again.
3) Don’t go Shopping on An Empty Stomach.
Shopping on an empty stomach is a big no-no. You are more likely to make impulsive purchases, buy more than you need, and purchase items that aren’t on sale. However, a trick around this is to use a no fee debit card, since you can only spend a fixed amount of money that is in your bank account (as opposed to paying with credit). When you’re hungry and thirsty, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of holiday shopping and forget about your budget.
If possible, shop at stores with self-checkout lanes. They’re faster than lines staffed by cashiers — and they also limit human interaction so there’s less chance of being tempted into making unnecessary purchases.
4) Shop With a List in Mind.
The biggest advantage of going into the holiday shopping season with a list is that it will help you stay focused. If you’re like most people, there’s a good chance that when you start looking at all the things out there and how much they cost, your mind will get distracted by other things–like “I could use another pair of shoes,”. These thoughts can lead directly to an impulse purchase that wasn’t on your original list.
Another benefit of having a list is that it prevents overspending on gifts for others (and yourself). When we don’t have specific goals or parameters in mind when buying gifts, we tend to spend more than necessary because there’s no real limit on what we spend–or even if we should spend anything at all! Having clear goals helps keep costs down when buying gifts during this season when everyone wants something special under their tree.
You Can Save Money While Enjoying the Holiday Season!
The holiday season is a magical time of year, but it can also be stressful and costly. You may be tempted to spend more than you intended because of the excitement around buying gifts and getting together with family and friends. To alleviate some of this stress, consider services that offer holiday cards mailed for you, adding a personal touch without the extra hassle.
Here is a recap of how to save money while enjoying the holidays:
- Be aware of what you’re spending. Keep track of everything that goes into your shopping budget so that if there’s any extra cash left over at the end of December, it will go straight into savings instead of back onto credit card bills.
- Know how much money you have left before heading out for some holiday shopping fun!
- Make a list – but don’t stick to it too closely! Make sure to leave room for impulse buys, if desired. If there’s something specific on one person’s wish list that won’t fit into their budget, consider giving them gift cards instead so they can get exactly what they want later down the road when prices drop again during post-holiday sales season.
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