The Christmas season is the time of the year that is most looked forward to but it can also be the most expensive time of the year. If you are planning to stay out of credit cards and stay on the budget while still enjoying the art of giving, then you are in the right place. Here are How to Save Money on Holiday Shopping Top Tips to help you save money and make your holiday season stress-free.
1. Start Early to Get the Best Deals
One of the best ways to save money during Christmas is the earlier you start shopping, the more money you are going to save. Most of the time, shops hold promotions, discounts, and early-bird specials before the expected rush. You can take advantage of sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and end-of-season clearance sales by not letting the last-minute drives you through the store. Early start also facilitates the process of price comparison and deal finding.
Pro Tip: Create a timeline for shopping and include the store visits of the most favorable times for experiencing the best discounts.
2. Set a Realistic Budget and Track Your Spending
Before your fancy shopping, make a holiday budget. You should list down all the people you want to buy gifts for and allocate a certain amount for each person. Add other costs that might be incurred like food and decorations into your list of gifts. Besides using a budgeting software, such as Mint or YNAB (You Need A Budget), you can trace your part-time spending and keep away from the dangers of unexpected money leakage.
Pro Tip: Include a “miscellaneous” category to handle unexpected purchases.
3. Use Coupons and Cashback Offers for Extra Savings
No holiday shopping trip is finished without a coupon search! There are many online stores that have digital promo coupons and codes that you can use at checkout to save a couple of bucks. Moreover, cashback apps such as Rakuten or Honey not only provide you with money back on your purchases but also accumulate over the holiday shopping period.
Pro Tip: Avail cashback offers and special discounts on online shopping before making a purchase.
4. Go for Meaningful, Budget-Friendly Gifts
This holiday season, opt for thoughtful and personalized gifts that you can give instead of an expensive gadget. Your best handmade gifts are DIY items, framing of photos, or baked goods. You can also make your own unique packages to suit the recipient’s personality such as a spa set or a coffee-lover’s basket.
Pro Tip: Even just writing a letter or cooking a recipe of a family member can bring a personal touch to the gift.
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5. Utilize Price Comparison Tools
Before buying a product, try price comparison pages to verify you get the best deal. Sites like Google Shopping, Price Grabber, and other apps like Honey on your browser will allow you to compare prices with different stores and hence avoid overspending. Don’t forget to see if there are any hidden shipping costs, as that can influence the overall price. That way, you can really be paying for that deal in the end.
Pro Tip: Set price alerts for the products you want to buy, and you will receive notifications if the prices go down.
6. Buy in Bulk or Share the Cost of Group Gifts
If you have a long list of presents to purchase, choose bulk-buying of some common gifts such as shop cards, care product sets, or themed baskets that would definitely suffice. Not to mention, this is a cheaper option than the other. Group giving is another effective way of gifting. You can, for example, team up with your friends or relatives to buy one item for someone in the group. It will be an easier and affordable gift if you split the cost of the giant gift.
Pro Tip: You can think of a group gift subscription service like a meal kit or streaming service that benefits everyone.
7. Shop Smart with Secondhand and Vintage Gifts
For the people that are trying to give the most unique and nice gifts without spending too much money, secondhand or vintage shopping is a real treasure. eBay, Poshmark, and Etsy are some of the sites where you can find second-hand or vintage items that are not even close to the price of new ones. Secondhand stores also sell different products, from clothes to home decorating accessories, that can make gifts that are both memorable and thoughtful.
Pro Tip: You can check the reviews online or if possible you should inspect them so that you will not get fooled by the quality.
The holidays have to be a time for fun and happiness, which might be marred by overspending. Through such budget-friendly gift-shopping tips, you can actually get through a holiday season that is joyous and at the same time full of money in your purse. It is usually the gifts that are most adored and treasured that come from the heart. They are often the gifts that never came with a high price tag. Happy shopping, and I hope your holiday season will be filled with joy and savings!
