How To Enjoy The Holidays On A Budget

The holidays are right around the corner! It’s a time when people come together and enjoy festive meals, participate in annual traditions, and show off their generosity and kindness… and it all adds up pretty fast. If you are worried about the upcoming holiday expenses, don’t let it ruin your merry season! Instead, follow these tips to stay on track this holiday season.

Experiences vs. Gifts

You don’t need to spend a pretty penny buying big, pricey gifts. Instead invest your efforts into something more long-term and memorable, like an experience. During the holiday season, make more of a point to have time with your loved ones by spending the evenings watching holiday movies with themed snacks or playing board games. There are other inexpensive experiences you can give during the holiday season, for example:

Visit Santa – many towns put together a workshop for children to visit Santa
Make and decorate cookies
Drive around to see houses decorated with many merry lights and other outdoor décor
Volunteer with family at local shelters and soup kitchens and give back to the community
Go caroling around the neighborhood
Have a potluck with friends

Simply hanging out with loved ones will bring long-term happiness that won’t be found in expensive gifts.

Use Rewards

During the holidays, there are plenty of rewards opportunities anywhere you go, so take advantage! Many companies have programs that reward you for your loyalty by offering deals and sales on certain products. Most of the time, it is super easy to sign up to be a rewards member and can be done in-store.

Another awesome opportunity to earn rewards is through credit cards. Stop by your financial institution and see how simple things like making purchases and meeting initial spending requirements on your credit card can earn you points. All the points accumulated can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, and more.

Organize Your Spending

There are so many gifts, meals, and travel plans to account for during the holiday season. The best way to stay on top of your expenses? A holiday budget sheet. Listing out who to buy for and creating a spending limit will provide structure and allow you to spend money without breaking the bank.

Start by listing everyone you need to buy a gift for
Add in travel plans and meals you need to provide
Set a limit for each line item you plan to spend money on
Total it up and make sure it works with your income

By doing this early, you will save yourself the stress of accidentally overspending during the holidays.

Avoid Impulse Buying

As humans, it is very easy to fall into impulse buying, especially because stores tempt consumers into buying things they don’t need. When holiday shopping, stay on track. Make a list of the things you want to buy, and if you see another gift that is too good to pass up, replace something of similar value on your list with that gift. Also, be aware of bargain bins and specialized endcaps. These displays are designed to entice you to buy unplanned items. Impulse buys can quickly add up and wreck your budget, so stay focused and stick to your plan!

Be Creative

Use your creativity to save you money during this gift-giving season! Put your creativity to use and make your loved ones handmade or homemade presents. These types of gifts are not only easier on your budget but more meaningful! The possibilities for handmade gifts are endless and will leave more of a memorable impact on the person you are making them for. Some examples of handmade gifts include:

Cards
Kind notes/letters
Sweet treats
Crafts

Shop Off-Season & Stock Up

You would be surprised how much cheaper holiday decorations and supplies are after the holidays. Prepare yourself for next year, and go and buy all your holiday necessities this upcoming January to store them up until the next holiday season rolls around. This will not only save you money, but it will also save you stress. By the time the holidays hit again, you will already be prepared.