It isn’t too late to save money this year on your holiday shopping. While Christmas may be only one month away, you can still get a budget together and stick to it. These simple tips will help you get the most bang for your buck while gift shopping for all the people in your life.
Make a list- then check it twice
Sticking to a list helps save money no matter what you are shopping for, and that includes holiday gift shopping. First, write down each person you need to buy for. Then, write down the monetary amount you are willing or able to spend on that person. You can go as little as $5 or as high as $500, depending on what your particular budget entails. Finally, after you have the monetary amount allotted for each person, write down the gift you wish to get them that will fit within that amount.
Sales are the way to go
If you can, hit up the sales. Lots of places are putting things on sale right now in order to entice shoppers into buying early. Don’t forget that Black Friday is also one of the biggest and best sales shopping days of the year, if you are brave enough to face the crowds. Buying your gifts on sale can save you a ton of cash.
DIY it
If you are even slightly crafty, you can make a number of gifts for the holidays. Most people enjoy homemade gifts, anyway, so making something for the people on your list could be a way to wow them and keep to your budget. Men, women, children, and even pets can all be taken care of with some creative thinking and craft supplies.
Use cash
When you set your budget, take out the amount you will need to take care of all the gifts in cash. This will make sure you don’t overspend. When swiping a card, it is easy to forget how much you are spending, but with cash you can see the money you spend and the money you have left.
Research, then act
Spend two days researching your gift ideas. You can comparison shop and get the lowest prices on gifts this way. Then, write down where each gift is found at the lowest cost. When you are ready to shop, take out your cash and finish it all in one day. This will force you to stick to your plan and not deviate, which will keep your budget intact.
