Tips for Christmas Shopping on a Budget
Our Christmas shopping tips for those on a budget
While almost everyone enjoys the Holiday season, many people also agree that Christmas shopping can make December a stressful month – particularly if you’re strapped for cash.
Fortunately, there are still ways to find great presents for your friends and family without having to spend a fortune. Read ahead for some tips on shopping for Christmas presents on a budget:
Look for deals
Shopping online makes it much easier to compare prices across different stores. Instead of immediately buying an item off the first website you see, check a few others to see if you can find it cheaper somewhere else.
Certain websites will even offer discounts for first-time shoppers, so consider looking at stores you’ve never bought from before. You may also qualify for a discount if you spend a certain amount, so you could also save money by purchasing multiple gifts from the same site.
Use a cashback card
Using a cashback card can ensure you recuperate at least some of the funds you spend this holiday season. 1 or 2 percent back may not seem like much, but it can add up if you’re buying presents for a number of friends and family members.
Wait until the last minute
This may sound counter-intuitive, but many websites offer free shipping on the final week before Christmas. If you want to ensure you’re not buried by shipping costs, check to see if the store offers any deals closer to December 25th.
Skip the cards
Instead of wasting your money on a bundle of cards that will be immediately thrown out, make your own cards or skip them altogether. Many feel they’re a waste of money and will only add to your shopping bill.
Pick-up in-store
If you don’t want to spend extra on shipping, you can see if the site has the option to pick-up in-store. This will not only save you time when you’re at the mall, but it will also ensure that you’re not spending an extra $10-15 on shipping for every gift you purchase.
Buy small items first
If you start by purchasing your most expensive gifts first, you may feel obligated to spend more on others. Start with the cheapest gifts first and wait before buying the high-priced items. Chances are, you’ll end up spending a little less under this method.
Create a list
If you prefer to do your shopping in-store, make sure to create a list ahead of time. If you’re not prepared, you could end up doing a lot of impulse purchasing without even realizing. Only go in stores you’ve planned to visit ahead of time. Otherwise, you could get distracted and get sucked into buying more.
Stay within your budget
Write down how much you’d like to spend on each person ahead of time. If the item is considerably over your planned budget, don’t buy it. It’s really that simple.
Happy Holidays York Region!