Tis The Season To Spend…Check Out These Tips To Get Ahead & Save
The holidays are right around the corner! While this is a joyous time of year, it could also be stressful, especially when looking at your bank account.
Instead of waiting until the last minute to stock up on gifts for under the tree, it’s a good idea to get a head start. Buying gifts little by little is a great way to avoid draining your wallet or racking up that credit card.
The holiday cheer can get you excited to stock the cart, but these tips can prevent a big surprise once the holidays are over.
Make A List, Check It Twice: Take a moment to look at the big picture. Write down everyone you’d like to buy for. Once you have your list, jot down some ideas of what you’d like to buy for each person, giving yourself some direction when shopping, versus going in and overspending.
Budget: Be realistic about what you plan to spend. Think about how much you’d like to put to the side for gifts this season or create a spreadsheet with your holiday budget. This way, you can keep track as you make your purchases. Once you’ve laid out your budget, you can plan accordingly with what you’d like to give your loved ones.
Keep An Eye On Sales: Have your list ready? Now that you’ve narrowed down your options, it’s easier to keep an eye on exactly what you’re shopping for. This helps keep you in line with your budget without overspending. P.S…Black Friday sales are already taking place! Happy shopping!
Stick To Your List: Heading to the store? Remind yourself of what exactly you’re going in for and stick to it. Just like grocery shopping, you may sneak past an item that you don’t need. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself going over your budget. Be smart, you’ll appreciate it when the holidays wind down.
Price Shop: Don’t jump. Just because you see a deal today doesn’t mean that it’s the best one out there. Starting earlier in the season allows you to take your time and do your homework. Don’t forget to ask if the store price matches. In the long run, a dollar saved is a dollar earned!
Join Perks, Get Points: Get yourself in on earning points for the dollars you spend. While it may not seem like much in the beginning, by the end of the season, you may rack up on points or dollars at some of your favorite stores!
Add Browser Extensions: Shopping online? Make sure to add extensions to your browser so that when you shop, you’ll be alerted if there is a better deal at that time. Examples of extensions could be your credit card shopping alerts, or Rakuten, where you can get dollars back for what you spend.
Pay Your Card: If you can, don’t wait to pay off those purchases. Before you know it, you may find yourself digging out of a hole with big credit card fees. Your bank account will thank you for taking care of the purchases right away.
Finally, as you get into the busy holiday shopping season, be sure to keep track of what you buy, for whom, and of course, your secret hiding spot. If you’re like me and wait to wrap your gifts until the end, you may just forget where you left that one special present.
Cheers to shopping and we hope you find that these tips help you save some money this holiday season!
