The holidays are upon us and there are only a few months left, and we all ask ourselves the same question. How not to spend too much?
Luckily, there are some things you could put into practice before the holidays start that can help you plan everything and save a lot.
Today, in fact, we are going to see 13 ways to save money during the holidays and tips to put into practice a few months before to allow you not to spend a lot of money and at the same time spend a nice vacation with your friends and family.
Ways to save money during the holidays
Let’s see what are the tips to put into practice before the holidays that allow you to save and experience the holidays without the fear of receiving an expensive bill at the end of those days.
You can follow all the tips or just some of them. The fact is that even if you choose not to follow them all, you can still save money.
1) Look for sales before the holidays
Before the holidays, it is common to sell things at a discount. And this is where many people flock to stores to shop.
In most, if not all stores, there are always discounts for all those holiday items and decorations, but also when it comes to food.
To make things a lot easier, you could write down the products you want to buy and compare them with other stores.
In this way, you can find the right deal and save even more. But remember that discounts do not mean spending more than necessary.
2) Use the credit card wisely
A credit card is a weak point for many people.
If you have no control over what you are buying, then there is a high probability of spending more than you should have.
If you also have this problem, I can tell you how I do it.
When it comes to online shopping, I recommend that you first make a list of the things you really need and write down the prices as well.
Then add up the prices.
In this way, you tend not to exceed the sum you set for yourself.
If, on the other hand, you shop in stores, my advice is to choose inexpensive products and it would be even better to pay in cash.
By paying in cash we realize how much money we really spend, unlike the credit card.
3) Sell your own stuff
One of the best ways to save money during the holidays would be to sell the things you have at home that you no longer use.
Not only can you earn money to spend specifically for the holidays, but you will be able to eliminate objects that you have not used for years and gain more space at home, simplifying your apartment.
Make a list of the things you don’t need, starting from one room, and sell them to a second-hand shop or you could sell them online on sites like eBay or Rebuy.
4) Make a gift list
How to prepare gifts if you do not know which present you are going to gift and who you are doing it for?
Preparing a gift list will help you enormously both in spending the right money and in preparing everything on time, without arriving at the holiday day and not knowing what to give to someone.
You could ask them a few months before what they want, and start searching for products when there are discounts or comparing the prices of different stores.
You save and have the gift ready for the day.
5) Make a saving account for holidays
One of the many things you can do to avoid spending a lot of money is to create a bank account specifically for the holidays.
This includes money for gifts, food, party decorations, and so on.
I personally do not use this method, but there are many people who are very happy with it and avoid drawing on money for daily expenses.
If you have a holiday account, it’s much easier to stay within your budget and save money.
6) Get creative and make your own gift wraps
Having the gifts wrapped by professionals can make the package super elegant, but do you know that it costs a lot?
The money you use for packaging you could use for something else more meaningful, or make a donation.
Why make super-decorated gift boxes if they are eventually torn apart?
A more original idea would be to have creativity and make your own wrapping at home.
7) Lower your bills
This is not only valid for holidays, but for every day of the year.
Lowering your bills throughout the year saves you a lot of money and the extra money you could use for gifts and holidays.
Turn off the light during the night and use light bulbs that waste little energy, do not turn on the heating in the rooms where you know you do not spend time, and use water in moderation, avoiding losses.
8) Make a pre-holiday budget and stick to it
The pre-holiday budget is basically a budget that you start months in advance.
It consists of deciding how much you would like to spend during a certain holiday and collecting that amount month after month.
It may seem like a useless thing, but it is really a smart thing, especially if you are a person who runs out of money quickly or a person who is not in control of their finances during the holidays.
I started doing it for travel, and honestly, I have to say it helps a lot.
9) Eliminate auto pays that you don’t use
Subscriptions, innocent as they may seem, are a major cause of money loss.
How many times have you gone to the gym since the day you signed up? How many times have you actually used an app you paid for?
Choose carefully what you really need and delete any subscriptions you don’t use.
10) Cook more at home
I know those who eat out many times will not love this advice but they can relate to it.
One of the simple ways to save money during the holidays is to cook more often at home and avoid going out for dinner.
Allow yourself to have dinner out only a couple of times a month and try to experiment with more recipes at home.
It will be fun and save a hundred dollars a month.
11) Cut back on extras
Eliminating extra costs, like buying a bus ticket to go to a nearby shop, going to the cinema for a movie coming out next month, or buying extra food are all things that can save you money.
If you want to know how you can save more, you can read my article on 23 things you need to stop buying to save money each month.
12) Get a side hustle
Sometimes the money from the job is not enough to be able to give us something more, so why not start a side hustle?
This could be like selling digital products, starting a blog, opening a youtube channel, or becoming an influencer, but there are so many other ways.
Look for what you would like to do the most and build a small business that can support you financially, and why not, help you become your own boss?
13) Don’t overspend like your friends
I know that seeing your friends or family spending a lot of money on the holidays makes you feel bad, but it is important that you take into account your financial situation and act accordingly.
Ultimately, parties are a way to get together and spend time with the people we love, and they are not based on material things.
So you should think more about the thought than the gift itself.
Conclusion
These are 13 ways to save money during the holidays that can help you keep a lot of money in your pocket.
They are simple and basically, everyone can practice them.
If you want to save money, try these tips and you will see that you will come out of the holidays with peace and positivity and without expecting bills from credit cards.
With love,
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