How to do the Holidays on a Budget
Fun times and saving cash rarely go together, and the holidays might be the most obvious example. With all the parties, gift-giving, and traveling it can be all too easy to start the New Year in debt. However, celebrating the holidays does not have to result in the end of your savings account. Here are a few tips to make this holiday season the cheapest, easiest, and most fun yet.
- Shop Online
If you have some time on your hands, practically every gift is cheaper online. Sure, there are some exceptions, but in most cases, shopping online can save loads of cash. Many sites will offer free shipping on orders over a certain dollar amount.
- Search for Discount Codes and Coupons
You know how nearly every time an order is completed online there is a little box for a discount code, in case the company is having a special offer? Sites like RetailMeNot and Honey compile these codes so that anyone can take advantage of little known sales.
- Know Your Way Around Social Media
Follow your favorite stores on Twitter and like them on Facebook to keep up to date on any special deals. Using Facebook Marketplace or local garage sale groups are a great way to find the right gift at a great price.
- Look to Use Cash-Back Sites
Always take advantage of cash back for any online purchases you make. Rakuten is great for this because it is as simple as signing up for an account and then just going through their site to your favorite shopping sites. Then, whatever you buy, they give you cash back. In addition, they give you a cash bonus when you first sign up.
- Decorate on the Cheap
It is nice to decorate your place, but that does not mean breaking the bank. Candles, Christmas lights, and fake greenery are great ways to decorate your place. Stores like Hobby Lobby are great places to find discounted decorations.
Remember, this is the season of giving, not the season of spending, as most merchants would have you believe. Set your expectations and your budget, get creative, don’t overdo it, and be merry.