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4 Tips For Saving Money On Christmas Gifts

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Can you hear Frosty The Snowman playing gently in the distance? Or perhaps you can smell the cinnamon candles just around the corner. That’s right; it’s time for Christmas soon.

If you’re like most people, chances are you find yourself scrambling for gifts every year while trying not to go into major debt. If you’re planning on buying gifts this year and would like to save as much money as possible, then take a look at these tips for reducing your holiday debt.

Shop Early

It helps to start planning ahead of time if you can. Start taking notes several months in advance of what you’d like to buy for your loved ones. If your spouse casually mentions he’d like a shaving brush, write it down! It’s much easier to refer to a list than to rack your brain desperately at the last minute.

Having a list of what you need to get for who will help you keep track of what you’ve gotten so far and what you need to buy. It also helps to have a list for doing comparison shopping. Going to the store without a list can often result in impulse purchases, which you might have found for a better price elsewhere.

Stick To a Budget

One of the best things you can do for your bank account is to set a budget. Creating a budget helps you stay within your set amount and stick to it! Although it may require a little bit of work, it can significantly increase your savings.

You may want to create a budget for yourself several months ahead so that you can put money aside each month specifically for Christmas gifts! If possible, try to arrange Christmas gift spending limits with your family. That way, you won’t feel uncomfortable if one of you buys gifts more or less expensive than each other.

Buy Online

Buying online isn’t just a great way to save yourself tons of holiday stress and long lines, but its also a lot cheaper. If possible, shop off-season so that you can get the best possible deals ahead of the curve.

You also want to make sure that your items arrive with plenty of time to spare before Christmas. There’s no point in setting a Christmas budget if you wind up blowing it all on expedited shipping costs!

Push For a Gift Exchange

If you have a big family, it can cost hundreds to be able to buy a gift for everyone. Therefore, you might want to consider pushing for the idea of a gift exchange.

The idea is that everyone draws a name from a hat and only has to buy gifts for one person. It doesn’t just save you money, but it also saves you lots of hassle!

 

Fun Budgeting Tips

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If you assumed that sitting down to create a monthly budget has to be a negative experience, think again! If you’re interested in making budgeting a positive, fun experience, simply continue reading to discover a few invaluable, fun budgeting tips.

Fun Budgeting Tips:

1. Try to see how much money you can save by trying to find generic versions of the items which you purchase on a regular basis

As an example, you may want to see how much money you can save at your local grocery store by purchasing unbranded versions of your favorite food items. As you may be surprised at just how much money you can save each money, if you stop purchasing overpriced branded items, in favor of high-quality generic brands.

2. Try to find free events and activities in your area to keep yourself entertained

One simple way to spend less money each month is to try and find free activities and events to keep your household thoroughly entertained. As an example, you may find out about free festivals in your city or free movies in your local park. Finding free activities and events in your area is a wonderful idea as you’ll start spending more time getting out of your house and exploring your town, city or community!

3. Choose a few new recipes to try out each week

If you’re interested in cutting back on your food budget and the number of meals which you eat out, it’s a fun idea to select a few new recipes to try out each week. As an example, instead of going out to a fancy restaurant for your weekly date night, you may want to try cooking a pumpkin risotto for your partner. As generally, it’s a lot cheaper to cook at home, than it is to eat out.

4. Pack exciting homemade lunches

If you’re looking to save money by packing a homemade lunch, instead of eating out on a workday, it’s also worth trying out new recipes, instead of eating the same sandwiches every day. As there is no reason why you can’t pack exciting lunches on a budget such as nachos, stir-fried rice, kebabs, hummus and crackers, and fruit salad.

As if you pack exciting, fun, lunches you’ll be far less tempted to purchase an expensive lunch from a cafe or takeaway restaurant.

5. Create a collage of experiences you want to have and items which you’d like to own

If you create a collage of the experiences you want to have, such as embarking on your first cruise or purchasing your first home, you’ll be far more likely to stick to your budget. As you’ll be reminded every day of why you’re trying to cut down on your expenses and to increase your savings.

Also be sure to add pictures of the items which you’d like to save up for too such as a new car or a new piece of clothing.

If you follow the five creative budgeting tips listed above, you should find that budgeting becomes a little more bearable.