Tis the season for stretching the budget and finding the perfect gift for those dear to you. Holiday shopping can be a time of joy, but for most of us it means long lines, balancing the check book carefully and trying to maintain some peace while you search for this year’s it gift at a price that won’t leave your bank account depleted. There’s a few ways to avoid getting too stressed out over the holidays though, especially when it comes to the money aspect of the season. With these ten tips you’ll be able to get a little more out of your shopping experience for less money than you’d expect to spend. So, tie your shoes, grab your list and get ready for the best holiday shopping experience yet!
1. Shop Early
A lot of people tend to wait until after Thanksgiving to shop. Although there’s a whole lot of deals during this period it may actually save you money to shop even earlier than this. Sure, no one wants to think about the gift giving holidays this early, but you can really save a lot of money by shopping year round for your items. For instance, if you like to give out holiday décor as gifts to acquaintances and colleagues then buy a lot of clearance items when the holiday is over. You can keep them in a safe place and when the time comes you’ve already knocked out several gifts. A lot of the time we find items throughout the year that seem perfect for someone special to us. So, instead of putting off the item until the holidays go ahead and grab it, especially if it’s a good price. This will be one less thing you’ll need to buy when you’re already over stretching your budget!
2. Look for Rebates
Many of us love to reap the benefits of the big ticket sales around the holiday season. There’s nothing wrong with this, especially if you know you can’t find a better deal any other time of the year. However, you can easily maximize your savings by looking for the sales that also include rebates. Rebates allow you to fill out some information and mail it in to the company that produces or sells the item. When they file your information and see your proof of purchase they send back a check with the amount the rebate was for. This is a lot like a second Christmas, especially if you’re recovering from holiday shopping expenses. Many people don’t fill out rebates though, so make sure you actually take the time to do them. It may be boring but you won’t regret spending the time on it when you get your money back. If you have questions about your rebate you can always call the company or ask the salesmen!
3. Know When to Shop
Shopping for a specific item can be tricky, but if you’re looking to save the most money possible on the item it helps to know when the right time to shop for it is. Different items have different seasons, but luckily the holiday season gives us an abundance of sales items to choose from. For instance, if you’re looking for electronics, toys or kitchen gadgets then you should hit the market in November. These items are usually on sale for a better price and make great gifts for most people in your inner circle. In December you can find items like computers, cookware, golfing supplies, tools and pools. These items are usually on the Santa list which means you’re already ahead of the game. So, instead of shopping for everything at once try to find out when your category is going to be on sale. There’s a lot of websites dedicated to this information, so you won’t have to do a lot of research to find out when you need to buy the specifics!
4. Reward Cards
Most stores, especially chains, will offer rewards cards to their customers. Most of the time these cards are totally free to apply for and don’t really require any effort from the customer. So, why not sign up? A lot of us have many of these cards sitting around in our wallet or purse, so don’t forget to pull them out and use them while you’re holiday shopping. Typically, these cards will keep track of a number of points you earn with every purchase. When you earn a specific amount you get a discount, gift or sample. Other cards will actually take a small percentage off of each purchase so you end up spending less in the long run. Either way, you’ll get a little more for your buck when you use the card, which is never a bad thing. So, don’t forget to swipe your card or sign up for a card when you’re checking out with your holiday loot!
5. Make A list
There’s a pretty good reason why Santa Claus makes a list and checks it twice, so follow the jolly man’s example! A lot of the time when we’re shopping we have a tendency to grab things spontaneously thinking they’re perfect for someone. This leads to over spending in most cases which doesn’t do you any favors when you’re trying to keep on a holiday budget. So, instead of just going wild in a store try to stick to a list. Before you head out, sit down and think of all of the people you need to shop for. Once you have everyone’s name down try to match them with a specific gift. This may take some time, but you’ll be thankful you did it when you see the holiday crowds. When you’re in the store look at the list as if it were a grocery list. This will help you get in and out without forgetting things! It also helps to follow the rule “if it’s not on the list I’m not buying it!”, which can save you a bundle on items you don’t necessarily need.
6. DIY Gifts
Rather than buying everything you give this season, you may want to consider making your own DIY gifts for some, if not all, of the people on your list. There’s an abundance of DIY gifts you can choose from, which will always hold a special place in the heart of the person you decide to share your craftsmanship with. For instance, you can put together a special scrapbook for a close family member, such as a grandparent. These gifts usually bring joy to their holiday and gives them something special to look at throughout the year. If you have someone that loves to cook or bake then create a cute DIY cooking kit. Simply add the ingredients to a decorative jar and you’re ready to wrap and present the gift. You can also make something special by sewing or knitting for someone you love. If the kids want to help you may consider making holiday ornaments for friends and family. Of course, making your own creative holiday cards are also a must for the season. The ideas are endless, but if you’re having trouble thinking of something to make you may want to browse the internet for inspiration.
7. Sales/Clearance
One of the best things you can do during your holiday shopping is find items that are on sale or in the clearance section. Luckily, there’s usually an abundance of sales during the holiday season so your job will be even easier. Of course, when it comes to sales you should always do a bit of research to decide which are going to save you the most amout of money. A lot of sales only take off a small portion of the price and some may simply lower their price to match another store’s. Clearance items are even better because they’re already marked down quite a bit. You may not have as much to choose from here, but if you go to a lot of stores you should be able to find a little something for most people. If you’re lucky you may even find a sale that takes off a percentage of clearance items too, which will save you even more!
8. Research
While you’re shopping you don’t have to purchase the first item you see from your list. Instead, try downloading a few apps and scan the item to see where you can find it for the best possible price. This will help you get the best deal in your area (or online) without having to go from store to store. You may even consider looking up the items you need before you even go out. A lot of the time you’ll be able to mark down the cheapest locations so you can maximize your time and your money. Some websites and apps will even allow you to reserve an item which is perfect for those products that seem to fly off the shelf! After you research your shopping list you’ll feel a little more confident about your holiday shopping abilities and you may even end up finishing your shopping faster than you thought possible!
9. Free Shipping
You may find that a lot of your best deals are found online. This can be great, until you factor in the price for shipping. Luckily, during the holidays a lot of companies will actually give you free shipping if you spend a certain amount of money. So, before you go out and buy everything you need make sure to calculate how much you’ll save if you can get free shipping on a few of the gifts. Sometimes, online stores will actually offer free shipping just because of the season. It may be wise to check out these stores first so you won’t have to spend a ton paying to get your holiday items to you. However, you should make sure the items aren’t overpriced to make up for this discount. Also, if you have a membership with certain stores you may be able to get your shipping upgraded and free which will help out with your expenses even more!
10. Stick with Cash
Holiday shopping can be very tempting, especially when you see items you know you want or, worse yet, you know the kids would love. If you’re caught in a weak moment you may be tempted to toss the item in the cart without regard for your budget. One way to stop this from happening is to leave the debit and credit card at home. Yes, this means actually bringing cash with you. So, before you go out to shop make a list of the items you need, how much they cost and how much you have budgeted for gifts. Then, according to this budget, pull out the cash you need for the items. With only cash as a form of payment you’ll have to actually stick to the budget without allowing yourself to stray. If you pick up anything extra you’ll have to put something back, which will force you to stop and think about what’s going in your cart. With temptation out of the way, going over your budget will be near impossible which means you won’t have to worry about making up for a mistake later on!
The holidays are filled with stressors that can force you to go way overboard when it comes to shopping. There’s a lot of ways you can find some peace with the shopping experience though. With these ten tips you should be able to get in and out of the store without having to go on a ramen diet for the rest of the year. So, bundle up and enjoy this special time of the year without having to sacrifice your budget on the colorful boxes beneath your holiday tree.
