15 Clever Ways to Spend Less & Still Have an Incredible Holiday Season
melaniedj • 10 October 2018
If you want to have a financially stress-free holiday season and actually SAVE money instead of draining your bank account, you're in the right place m'friend.
It seems like the holidays always sneak up on us, even though they literally happen EVERY year at the SAME time.
If you're one of those people who doesn't financially plan for the holidays, then No-money-November and Dead-broke-December is about to be POPPIN.
In this post I want to share with you my secrets to SAVING money and having a stress-free and guilt-free holiday season!
Because who wants to be broke from November to January? I don't want you rinsin off paper plates.
Here are some clever ways to save a pretty penny this holiday season!
HOW TO SAVE MONEY DURING THE HOLIDAYS
MAKE A HOLIDAY BUDGET
Do not commit the cardinal sin… DO NOT go shopping without a set budget.
Of course I’m going to talk about budgeting. It’s my bread and butter.
I know you’re sick of hearing me write about budgeting by now, but folks, a budget is LIFE CHANGING.
If you think of a budget as time consuming, restricting, and confusing....
Don't fret my friend. I gotchu covered.
Click the below image to get my free 2018 holiday planning guide that includes a holiday budget... because who doesn't love freebies?! :)
KEEP TRACK OF YOUR SPENDING
A budget is useless if you don’t track your spending .
I know you're making excuses right now like...
I'm way too busy! I have 500 kids!!
Pro tip: Eventually you'll have to teach your kids about money. Would you be proud of the money habits/decisions you (and your spouse) have made thus far?
I work 100 hours a week, like I have time to keep track of my spending!
Pro tip: You'll have to work like 300 hours a week to keep up with your spending habits if you don't keep track.
I'm not good with numbers!
Pro tip: If you can add 1 + 1 you can create a budget and keep track of your spending.
I track our monthly budget on paper as well as on my phone using the EveryDollar app. If you are one of those people who does EVERYTHING on their phone, I would highly suggest this app. However, you can also use the app on your desktop! Bonus- it's free!
START SHOPPING EARLY
START. SHOPPING. NOW. We all know this is smart, yet we all wait until the last minute.
Also, be aware of "Christmas deals" that are really deals that go on the rest of the year where items are only marked down 10-20%.
Remember, stores make most of their money on Christmas items in the months leading up to Christmas. They are not stupid. They are not going to offer a large discount on Christmas items in October, November, or December.
Side note- if you buy Christmas decorations during Christmas time, you are being robbed. Just don't do it.
Shop ALL YEAR LONG with Christmas in mind.
MAKE A LIST & CHECK IT TWICE
Make a list of everyone that you need to get a present. Then, check it twice.
Mark a few people off that list.
You don't need to spend $100 on your pet. Sorry to burst your bubble. Complete waste of money.
We do a gift exchange for our immediate family (siblings), and then we all go in on a gift for our parents. That’s all the Christmas gifts I buy, other than stocking stuffers for my husband and I.
GIFT A HANDMADE ITEM OR SKILL
Major money saving tip… MAKE. IT. YOURSELF.
If you live in a state that is the frozen tundra
half the year like I do, you should have plenty of time spent indoors to work on DIY shit
crafts.
I've never loved DIY things, but that's because I hate spending the time to make them.
Plus, I feel like whatever I try and make NEVER turns out. That being said, I’m willing to give anything a try if it’s going to save me some major money.
If all else fails... gift a chocolate bag/basket.
Chocolate = happiness. I'm not sure exactly how many chocolates = happiness but I know from experience it's somewhere over 10. So stick with 10 or more.
CASH IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
Use cash when purchasing gifts.
Cash hurts, and that is why it is KING. You actually think about your purchase when Uncle Ben is staring back at you as you hand him over.
I carry around cash envelopes get gawked at like I'm a lunatic. You should too . It'll save you a bunch of money.
No shame in my game, folks. No shame in my game.
I swear by cash envelopes. Honestly, if you take nothing from this post take this and give it a try. It will transform your spending.
You can also give cash envelopes as a gift. Here are some really cute ones (just scroll down to "Spend Well Budgeting System" on the left side menu) and use code liverichlyspendsimply for 10% off!
These envelopes sell out fast, so be sure to snag them if you want some glorified cash envelopes!
Related: Why We Don't Have Any Credit Cards
Related: How to Have a Cash Christmas
USE GROUPON FOR TRAVEL & DINING
If you travel during the holidays, use Groupon to save money!
Many times, you can get anywhere from 20-60% off just by simply buying a Groupon. This is literally FREE MONEY. It doesn’t get better than that.
Especially for travel, it pays to plan ahead. Groupon has TONS of local options for most cities! Here are some deals that Groupon offers that I have used before-
- Restaurants
- Breweries
- Canvases
All you have to do is go to Groupon and if you want to look for local deals for where you will be traveling, just type the city that you want in the box to the right of the search bar.
GIVE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE CONSUMED
Give something that can be consumed!
I can’t guarantee I'll ever wear the sweater that you got me, but I can guarantee if you give me a freezer meal it WILL get used! In fact, I’m going to ask exclusively for freezer meals this Christmas because I hate cooking. Okay maybe that's a bit extreme.
A nap would be nice too. But I’m trying to be realistic.
REGIFT
Don't be afraid to re-gift.
However, I would only re-gift items that are brand new. Don't re-gift something that you've used. That's tacky.
If you genuinely don't like an item that you've been gifted in the past, don't feel bad about re-gifting!
If I gave someone a gift that they didn't really like, I'd rather have them give it to someone who will actually use it rather than just keeping it stored away because they feel bad.
GET CASH BACK ON GIFTS
Ebates will give you cash back at popular stores including Kohls, Macy's, JC Penny, American Eagle, Carters, Lu Lu Lemon, and Walmart.
I like Ebates because I tend to forget about apps like this and then by the time I remember I've already bought my items. With Ebates, you can easily install it onto your web browser so whenever you visit an eligible site, a popup will show up asking you to activate cash back! It's so so easy, and it's free money. I mean c'mon.
Ibotta is the same type of app as Ebates. I use Ebates more because with Ibotta, I have to search for the cash back deals ahead of time and then take a picture of my receipt after I've made my purchases. Also, I have to be careful that I don't buy an item JUST BECAUSE I have Ibotta cash back. That defeats the purpose.
I would highly recommend Ebates for those of you who do a lot of online shopping and who like to keep it simple!
USE HOLIDAY LEFTOVERS
Don't waste the food.
One should ALWAYS volunteer to take home leftovers (The only exception is if there are some broke newlyweds at your holiday gathering, then sit this one out trooper).
Here are some ideas for typical holiday leftovers-
Ham: Cut into chunks and add to salads, pizza, omelets, etc. Or, freeze for later!
Turkey/Chicken: Add to salads, soups, breakfast bakes, cold meat sandwiches, etc.
Chocolate: If you're really feeling naughty, make some fancy hot chocolate with actual melted chocolate!
Alcohol: I don't know why you'd have any of this left. But, if you do, use sparkling wines/ciders by freezing them in ice cube trays and adding to other drinks!
Be THAT PERSON who always volunteers to take the leftovers. Your family will still love you.
IF IT’S NOT IN THE BUDGET DON’T BUY IT
Stick to your budget. The budget is the law of the land.
If you can't stick to it, cut off your hand. It's not me sayin it, it's the Good Book (whatever causes you to sin better cut off the limb). Yes, this is completely in context. Duh.
If you do your holiday shopping with friends, don't succumb to peer pressure and buy excessively just because they are.
Don't chase approval and respect through purchases.
Let others know that you're ballin on a budget this holiday season.
REUSE GIFT BAGS & TISSUE PAPER
Reuse gift bags, tissue paper, and wrapping paper.
I keep all my gift bags and tissue paper and re-use them. You can easily spend $10 on a card, gift bag, and tissue paper every single time you give a gift! That adds up fast.
I now have a nice collection of wedding, baby, and Christmas gift bags!
MAKE EXTRA MONEY (START A SIDE HUSTLE)
Instead of focusing on saving more money, make more money.
In the months leading up to Christmas either pick up extra shifts at work or start a side hustle.
A side hustle can be anything- selling a handmade item on Etsy, selling a product you love, or even blogging!
On that note, if you've ever thought about blogging...
I would encourage you to just do it! Stepping outside my comfort zone was one of the greatest things I've ever done. I LOVE writing and my blog is my creative outlet.
The only thing you'll regret is not starting now. I promise. Don't let fear stop you.
DON'T FORGET THE REASON FOR THE SEASON
I know this sounds cliche, but we are all guilty of forgetting the reason for the season!
Share this post!
These budget notebook ideas will inspire your creativity and help you organize and reach your financial goals! Here's what you need in your budget binder to take control of your personal finances.
Organize your personal finances by utilizing a budget calendar- lay out your paychecks, bills, social events, etc., so you know exactly what you need to budget for in the month ahead!
Whether you have credit card debt, student loans, a car loan, or mortgage debt, use these debt free coloring pages as your debt payoff tracker; keeping you focused and motivated to become debt free!
The ultimate guide to creating a successful family budget. If you're sick of financial stress and feeling squeezed at the end of every month, start budget planning and taking control of your personal finances.
Get my free financial goals worksheet to set and effortlessly track all your savings goals! Financial goals examples including short-term goals and long-term goals to create a well-rounded financial plan that works for you!
Step by step guide to creating a zero based budget worksheet that will help you track your income, fixed and variable expenses, savings goals, and debt tracking on a monthly basis.
Where do high-yield savings accounts fit into the financial plan for the productive Christian household? Are these types of savings accounts a wise investment for leaving an inheritance for our children’s children and stewarding the resources allotted to us? What are the potential risks associated with these accounts, if any? How can these accounts be utilized to meet your family finance goals? Are they only for the wealthy with tons of excess cash?
One of the best money saving strategies is to complete a savings challenge. Try the penny challenge, envelope challenge, 10k savings challenge, or any of the other money challenges outlined in this post to save money quickly!
Step by step tutorial how to make a budget in excel or google sheets. Plus, get my free google sheets budget template that can be exported to excel in just a few clicks! Creating an excel budget will save you time and make budgeting a seamless process.
How much to spend on housing every month is a burning question every homebuyer asks at some point. Here's what you should consider before purchasing a home and how to determine how much you should spend on housing every month in relation to your income.
