Preparing for a frugal holiday season can be stressful, especially when you feel you have to buy fabulous presents for everyone on your list. Luckily, you don’t have to worry, if you budget accordingly. You should shop smart and alone – stragglers come at a price. Don’t worry though! You’ll get through this holiday in one piece.
Preparing for a Frugal Holiday Season
Make a List and Check it Twice
The most important thing you need to do is to make a list. This will keep you from overspending on last-minute presents or things you do not need. A list is also necessary to keep track of all your relatives and friends. You can make a priority list for people whom you can’t leave out. You can also sneakily organize your re-gifting circles to make sure nobody is given something that you got from a mutual friend. Many people think re-gifting is tacky, but sometimes it’s a necessity. Are you really going to eat three tubs of caramel corn or five packs of peppermint bark? No, you are not, and that is why gifts like those are perfect to give to neighbors or teachers. If you’re smart about it, then nobody ever has to know!
Consider Buying One Nice Gift
Kids think they need hundreds of crappy little toys to think they had a good Christmas. However, that mentality is slowly changing, as kids start to covet electronics. Ask you children to pick one pricey thing that they really want. They will learn to appreciate higher quality items if they only get one nice thing. There is no reason for them to be sad when they can download hundreds of games on a tablet for free later on! Then, go ahead and be frugal with other gifts, if you decide to give more.
Shop the Sales, and Start Early
Many people save shopping for presents until the last minute. Don’t do this if you want to get the best things for less. Plus, starting early will let you take advantage of unexpected sales and promotions. You might not like the crowds, but Black Friday is an opportune time to get great deals. You should also shop online. Just check out online consolidators for mega sales on brand name items. Sign up for newsletters if it gives you an extra percentage off too. Plus, many online retailers offer free shipping this time of year. You could even try Ebay if you’re desperate to save even more cash. There’s no reason for you to spend money you don’t have, and anyone should understand that.
As you can see, spending money this holiday season doesn’t have to bankrupt you. Just prepare yourself for the onslaught of expenses by spreading out your gift buying. You could even see if stores will accept multiple payments or financing. This time of year is meant to be fun. If worse comes to worse, you can always choose to skip Christmas and go on a fun holiday instead!
Andrew Laurein writes about all about finance and parenting. His recent work is on the Top 10 Online Masters in Project Management for busy parents who are short on
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