Christmas is just around the corner and seems to come faster each year. It’s time to gather the lights, décor and spread joy and happiness all around you. But something even more important is to prepare your wallets for the Christmas expenses that might create a deep hole within your pockets. Even if you are someone who likes to spend time with those you love over gift giving, you still need to plan to save gas money.
So, if you are someone who finds themselves disappointed and stressed after looking at the credit card statement at the end of the holiday season, don’t just sit and do nothing. Work on saving money this Christmas.
Not sure how to do that? Read on!
50 creative ways to save money this Christmas
1. Don’t buy anything during Christmas time.
Prices go exceedingly up, and you end up spending more than you should have. Shop beforehand.
2. Take advantage of Buy 1 Get 1 offers.
This is not limited to Christmas days, if you find such deals on arandom day – even when you are not in the mind frame to shop Christmas gifts, buy them. This will help you save money later.
3. Create a gift basket
If you have someone special to gift something expensive, consider investing in a thoughtful gift basket. Instead of buying one big expensive present, find little inexpensive ones to create a basket.
4. If you happen to have brand new and unused gift items, gift them away.
They don’t do anything other than creating space, they might as well be of use to somebody else.
5. Monitor your expenses.
Calculate how much you have spent, and how much of it is still left.
6. Look for alternatives if a gift seems expensive.
Perhaps you can get the same thing from a different store, or anything else that would be a makeshift for it.
7. Buy second-hand things.
Trust me, you can still get good-quality items at reasonable rates if you do your research well.
8. Shop at the Dollar Store.
If you happen to have one in your city, what are you waiting for? You can get good things at dirt-cheap rates.
9. Compare prices online.
If you find items cheaper there, buy them.
10. Shop from outlets.
You can get things relatively cheaper there.
11. Go for handmade gifts if you can.
They communicate importance.
12. Shop from thrift/flees stores.
Ditch expensive shopping malls.
13. Buy books and DVDs for people who love them, they are inexpensive and can be thoughtful Christmas
gifts.
14. Make your greeting cards.
15. Do something different, send e-cards this time.
16. Print your own greeting cards.
They will cost you less.
17. Make use of coupons, vouchers, and cashback points.
18. Bake cookies and cakes, and gift them away as Christmas gifts in cute packaging.
19. Avoid dining at high-end restaurants during Christmas.
Go for a fun-filled home-cooked dinner. If not that, bring in a takeaway.
20. Don’t buy anything extra – even when it might be of use for you after Christmas.
Now is not the time to shop for such items.
21. Limit credit card usage.
22. Save on fuel and electricity in the months before to make up for the heavy bills in the holiday season.
23. Play Secret Santa so you wouldn’t have to gift everybody.
24. Go for an artificial tree.
They are cheaper.
25. Use last year’s Christmas décor – however, change the style.
26. Go for frugal get-togethers.
You can go see Christmas lights as a family. Or if you have gatherings, ask people to pitch in and bring a dish or two.
27. Shop in charity shops.
28. Use last year’s wrapping papers if you still have some.
If not, go for brown rolls and decorate the packaging yourself.
29. Shop in Black Friday sales.
But make sure the deals they say they are are actual deals!
30. Try to gift experiences rather than expensive gifts to special people.
31. Try a side-hustle if your schedule allows.
32. Cut down Santa’s stocking.
33. Book tickets months before if you know you have to travel during holidays.
34. Go for free local outings – free outings or meeting Santa in public spaces.
35. Save on Christmas lights
Don’t decorate the whole house, but just the central parts. Don’t go for fancy
36. Do a yard sale for things you might not need.
37. Go for cheaper alternatives, instead of going for branded stuff.
38. Don’t send out cards to everybody – Call them instead.
Or if you want to send them a card, do so via email or with the online card services like JibJab.
39. Don’t try to please anybody by gifting them beyond your means.
40. Don’t forget to use your loyalty points or credit card points.
41. Try to make and eat at home during the holiday season as much as you can.
You can go out for ice cream instead of dinner. It would be relatively cheaper.
42. Make a shopping list, and ensure you adhere to it.
43. Plan your Christmas meals in advance.
44. Do a casual bonfire over exquisite family dinners.
45. Use Ibotta and Ebate.
46. Create a reserve for Christmas to soften the budget blows or pay for expenses altogether.
47. Do DIYs.
If you have kids, this is the best way to give gifts that are actually from the heart and made with love!
48. Don’t invest in high-end cleaning supplies
Make use of home ingredients such as lemon and baking soda.
49. Fill out surveys and get money in return.
You can use Swagbucks and Mypoints. Use the apps Fetch or Shopkick to get points for scanning receipts and redeem them for gift cards to a lot of places.
50. Always check for coupon codes.
I hope now you’d spare yourself the financial and mental stress of spending so much during Christmas. So come on, be happy, and spread happiness. Have a Merry Christmas!
Recent Comments