Nothing will ruin your Christmas spirit like looking at your credit card and seeing just how much you overspent. If you want to save money while keeping up your holiday cheer, here are some tips that can help:
Have a Shopping Budget
A reasonable shopping budget can be a big help. It’s an easy-to-follow guideline that will keep you from going overboard and jumping into unnecessary debt.
When you’re building this shopping budget, make sure that it doesn’t take away from your regular expenses. You should still have enough to cover your groceries, rent/mortgage and bills.
Save for Emergencies
Instead of putting all of your extra savings into your shopping budget, set aside some just in case you deal with a small emergency — like a stalling car or frozen pipe. Ignoring these problems can cost you a lot more than fixing them right away. So, make sure that your shopping budget doesn’t leave you vulnerable.
If you’re worried that you don’t have enough savings to cover an emergency, you can always look to online solutions like a personal line of credit to use as another back-up plan. A line of credit lets you draw the funds that you need, as long as you have available credit and your account is in good standing. Then, those funds can be deposited in your bank account right away — sometimes as soon as the next business day. So, if you need to take care of an urgent problem, a quick line of credit could be a good safety net to have on hand.
The winter weather can often throw some nasty surprises your way. Being financially prepared will make sure that those surprises won’t ruin your holiday.
Cut Out Shipping Costs
Online shopping is an easy option that lets you avoid crowds and long lines during the holiday season. But it comes with some unfortunate consequences. You will have to pay some steep shipping fees in order to get your gifts delivered on-time. If you try to keep those costs minimal, your loved ones might get their presents weeks late.
So, why not cut shipping costs and other fees out of the equation? You can send them digital presents like streaming service memberships, online gift cards and more with the click of a button. You don’t have to worry about shipping fees, late deliveries or even wrapping paper.
Try DIY
Why buy new gifts when you can make your own? People will love the thought and energy you put into their presents, and you can save yourself some money. A jar of homemade hot chocolate mix or a box filled with holiday treats is the perfect gift for the friend with a sweet tooth. Homemade bath bombs and scented candles are ideal for the friend who wants to unwind from a hectic workweek. Take a look at these other DIY holiday gift ideas and see which ones will be easy for you to make before Christmas morning.
You can do more than make the presents. You can make the wrapping, too. Using DIY wrapping paper will save you from stocking up on rolls of gift wrap, tags, cards, ribbons and bows at the store this year. That money can go right back into your pocket.
You don’t want to wake up on Christmas morning regretting how much money you’ve spent. You can enjoy this wonderful time of year without hurting your finances whatsoever.
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