It’s easy to get caught up in holiday shopping for your family and unintentionally drop hundreds of dollars. If you are trying to tighten the budget due to rising costs, you may not feel like you have the funds for this. Luckily, there are a few ways you can save on your family shopping this year, shared by a contributor.
Free Up Extra Money
There are many ways to save a little money here and there to make gift giving a little more affordable. Instead of paying out of pocket, you can take out a personal loan and combine existing debt to lower your expenses going forward. When you don’t have to spend as much on repayments, you’ll have more for your holiday budget. Another option is to sell old items you no longer need. You could gather up clothes, books, and toys your kids no longer need and host a garage sale. You can also post the items on local buy and sell groups or work with a consignment shop in the area. Not only does this net you some cash, but it can also free up space for things your kids might appreciate more.
Find Sales
It takes planning to be able to take advantage of sales, but if you can manage it, you’ll be able to save quite a bit of money. Take some time all year to find sales on items that could make good presents. Consider buying a few items here and there. This also spreads out the spending so it might feel more manageable. You can also find great deals around Cyber Monday. It’s a great option if you don’t want to go to stores in person on Black Friday. You can find deals on many different shopping sites. You might even find some online deals on Black Friday itself. Don’t forget about small businesses either. There are many advantages of shopping small businesses, and one is that they are able to set their own sales and trends, which often times can mean a great deal of savings for you as a consumer.
Get Creative
For those you are close to such as a spouse or significant other, you may want to change up the rules. You might agree to give only gifts you have made, or you could skip material items altogether and just spend quality time together. Of course, if you go with an alternative, it will only work if both of you agree. Otherwise, one person could end up being hurt that they didn’t receive something. If one or both of you feel it is important to exchange gifts, don’t go with a no-gift exchange. You can also get creative by making presents. You could teach yourself to knit or crochet so you can make hats and scarves for your loved ones, or you could make food items to give to friends and neighbors. The kids should be involved with this as well, as it can teach them generosity. Grandparents and other loved ones will likely value the hard work that goes into these presents.
Consider Stocking Stuffers
You don’t have to give lots of big expensive presents. Smaller items can be just as appreciated. You could give gift cards, inexpensive jewelry, or other items you know the recipient will enjoy. You can put them in stockings or wrap each one individually. Everyday essentials are great fillers that are practical-and will be used!