5 ways to save money this Christmas

Quick tips for saving money this Christmas

It may be tougher to find things to complain about during Christmas time, but if there’s one common criticism of the Holiday season, it’s the large sum of money the majority of people are feel forced to spend during the month of December.
While Christmas is typically an expensive time of year, there are ways to save money if you’re disciplined enough.  Read ahead for some helpful tips:
Take advantage of free shipping
Shopping online is a great alternative to maneuvering through a crowded mall, but the added shipping costs can also make it quite expensive. If you want to ensure you’re not paying an extra $10-15 every time you purchase a gift, take advantage of some of the free-shipping promotions that are taking place across the Internet.
It may not appear to make much of a difference, but it will quickly add up if you’re planning to buy several gifts online.
Avoid Boxing Day shopping
It may be tough to do with all the great deals just a click away, but it will be in your best interest in the long-run if you refrain from Boxing Day shopping.
Sure, a new laptop or TV may be nice, but neither are a necessity, and can potentially wait another year or two. Chances are that you’ve already received plenty of cool and exciting gifts for Christmas, making it unnecessary to load up on more material goods. Spend the time instead with your loved ones. That’s something you can be sure you won’t regret.
Buy discounted gift cards
If you’re someone who prefers to give gift cards for Christmas, you may be surprised to hear that there are a number of websites that offer discounted gift cards from some of the most popular stores on the planet.
Sites such as www.Raise.com offer discounted gift cards from a number of companies, including Sephora, Amazon, and Home Depot.
Have a plan and stick to it
If you prefer to do your shopping in person, make sure to bring a list with you and stick with it. It’s easy to become consumed by the vast number of gifts on display whenever you go to the mall during the Holidays.
Write down everything you plan to buy beforehand. There’s no need to spend an extra $20-30 per person on gifts that they’ll likely never use.
Take it easy at Holiday parties
One of the easiest ways to blow a significant chunk of change is to rack up a large bill at a Holiday party. If you’re going to a Holiday party with your work crew, or just going out with your friends for dinner, try your best to stick to a budget before the night gets away from you.
Nights out can be expensive, so try to limit the numbers of social events you partake in over the next couple of weeks.