How to Save Money During the Holidays

Shopping Savings
on October 12, 2012

During the holiday season, you may feel tempted to spend your money on everything related to the season, including new decorations and the trendiest toys. If you don’t want to look like the Grinch, you may find that saving money is a difficult task. Fortunately, there are many ways you can have the holidays of your dreams without draining your wallet.

Embrace Your Talents

Making your own gifts lets you embrace your talents and make something unique at the same time. If you enjoy working with clay, try making some decorative bowls or vases. If you prefer your sewing machine, create some cellphone and e-reader cases with fabric. Individuals with advanced sewing skills can even make clothes. Making your own gifts also lets you completely personalize the gift to make it extra special.

Plan Your Budget

Before the holiday rush begins, sit down and analyze your budget. Come up with a realistic budget that will leave you money for unexpected holiday mishaps. If you can create a budget with firm limits, you can stick to your goal of saving money during the holidays. Deciding on a budget will help you avoid the urge to splurge on unnecessary items or extravagant gifts.

Shop Early

If you choose to shop early, you’ll have plenty of time to comparison shop for all the decorations and gifts you need. For example, if you’re looking for a new string of outdoor holiday lights, you can shop at every nearby store to find the best deal. Starting early on your holiday list can also help you save money through online shopping. If you buy an affordable gift online, it may take weeks to arrive. However, if you purchase the gift in November, the gift will certainly arrive before you need to wrap it.

Service Gifts

You don’t have to give your friends and family members a tangible gift. If you have a useful talent or skill, share it as a gift for your loved ones. For example, if you have a keen eye for interior design, offer to help a friend decorate her living room. If you have a neighbor who needs help with his computer, give him a couple of hours of your time.

Work as a Group

You don’t have to pay for holiday fun on your own. Saving money on an extravagant gift is possible if you have help. For example, if you want to give your grandmother a luxurious vase, ask your cousins to help you pay for the gift. For your family parties, ask each guest to bring a dish to share for dinner. With this method, you won’t spend your entire budget on one night of food.

Affordable Gift Wrap

You can save money on your gift presentation by refusing to use new wrapping paper. Instead, try using materials from around your home, including old newspapers and magazine pages. If you don’t have any spare paper to use, buy a collection of gift bags. Your gift recipients can reuse these bags for other gifts in the future.

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