Practical Ways to Cut Costs this Christmas Season
Christmas can be expensive. A national study found that during the month of December, most people spend around 30% more than they spend on average. And this is not taking into account just how much more has been spent leading up to Christmas for gifts that you find throughout the year. And with the rising costs of everything, many people are looking at ways in which they can reduce costs this Christmas. After all, no one wants to cancel their Christmas gathering because we all need this bright spot at the end of a rather difficult year.
Plan Early and Make a Budget
If you are looking to cut costs this Christmas, while still ensuring that it is enjoyable, you may want to try some of these ideas:
1. Do a gift exchange in which you only have to buy for one person. You will find that this can greatly reduce how much you are spending during the holidays. If you normally open presents with the extended family, let everyone be given a name that they buy for and set the price limit so that everyone gets the same quality of the gift.
2. Do a potluck for your Christmas dinner so that everyone can have a hand in bringing food and the cost of this dinner is not on just one person. Those who are in charge of the dinner will need to make a list of the food that they fix, then assign this to those who are attending.
3. Have spending limits on gifts, even if you do not do a gift exchange, let everyone minimize the amount they are spending. This way, no one is going to feel as though they went too cheap on their gift this holiday season since everyone is spending the same amount.
4. Consider the gifts that you are buying and think outside the box. Many people are looking for brand name items that are secondhand in order to save money. The key is to ensure that the second hand items are in good condition, as no one wants to give something that looks extremely used.
5. Shop around for the best deals. Most everything comes on sale from time to time, so be sure that you are shopping the deals when you can. Even if you only save 20% on certain items, this adds up when you get everything on a sale.
6. Budget your money with the help of apps and plans ahead of time. This is probably the best advice that you can hear when it comes to the spending that you do this Christmas. Know what you can spend and do not go above this amount — no matter how tempting it may be to get someone that special something.
7. Try to make your own food rather than going with those items that are premade. While they can save time, they are often more expensive in the long run. If you truly want to save as much money as you can go with homemade items you do yourself is the best way.