Cash is tight for just about everyone this year, so we thought we’d give you some tips on saving money while you do your holiday shopping.
- Make a list
Before you venture out into a store where you might be tempted to buy this or that, make a list of who you need to buy gifts for as well as some gift ideas for each. It’s just like grocery shopping. When you shop with a list and stick with it, you tend to spend less. - Set a budget
Once you have your list, set a budget for each person. Then do a tally of everyone and make sure you’re within a cost range that you can afford. If you’re over a reasonable amount, adjust. Don’t start buying until you’ve hammered this out. One of the ways people end up in debt after the holidays is that they don’t plan their spending. - Shop early and smart
Keep track of sales and shop around for the best price. You can only do this if you start early. If you shop last minute, you won’t have the time to bargain hunt. Also, if you wait you may not find the items on your list and end up having to spend more on something else. - Personalized homemade gifts
There are many gift ideas that can be made at home for much less than items you can buy in a store, and the personal touch makes them unique. These are especially nice for the grandparents as gifts from the kids. Have them finger paint a set of note cards or decoupage some flower pots. Not only will this save money, it will allow the kids to get involved in the giving and they’ll have a blast doing it. - Watch the wrapping
Wrapping paper, ribbon, and tags can add up to a big chunk of your budget. And why! It just get’s thrown away. So buying expensive wrapping material should be stricken from your plan. Instead use recycled bags, buy bulk wrapping paper and large rolls of ribbon, and make your own tags. Avoid fancy ribbons and expensive bags. I even sometimes use my kids’ art work to wrap gifts, particularly for family members. Get creative! - Check your guilt at the door
You don’t have to give a gift to everyone in your life; the garbage collector, the neighbor 8 houses down, the mailman, the checker at the market, etc… There has to be a limit. So when you make your shopping list, stick to it, and check your guilt anytime you start thinking, “I really should get them a gift, too.” If they didn’t make your initial list, let it go! - Make frugal gift buying a game
In my family we make a rule that all gifts to each other (excluding the kids), must be under $30. That’s hard to do, but you can get very creative. Then on Christmas morning, part of the fun is seeing how creative everyone was able to be on such a tight budget. We’ve had some pretty fun ideas, ranging from a baseball cap with funny personalized embroidery, to calendars where you insert your own photos. Being thrifty actually becomes a game to see who was able do the best on such a tight budget.
If you have other tips on how you save money during the holidays, please share.
