It is time to get serious about Christmas shopping. It is nearly Thanksgiving, and you can avoid the crowds the earlier that you begin. These ten tips will make it easier to get your shopping done, while still saving a lot of money this holiday season.
Use Your List
The biggest way that you can save money is to have a clear holiday shopping plan in mind. This prevents you from buying too many gifts for one person, and leaving someone else completely off of your list. Make a list on your phone or take it with you and check off each person, as you buy one of the gift ideas that you have written down for him or her.
Shop the Sales
There are some really good sales available for Christmas shopping. The biggest sales are Black Friday and Cyber Monday. These sales can make Christmas much more affordable. However, stores often offer daily deals in December too. Check online at your favorite stores each day to see what gifts you can buy.
Shop Online
You can use your store rewards and online coupons, like Kohls coupons, to increase your savings. Online stores offer really good deals on everything you need. It is possible to simplify Christmas shopping by doing everything online, because you can easily compare prices across the different stores to find the best deal possible.
Use Your Promo codes
Every time you shop, take the time to check for a promo code for the different online stores. These codes can help with everything from giving your free shipping to take a percentage off of your total order. You can save a lot by taking just a few seconds to search for the coupon code. You may even be able to find special Christmas coupons for even more savings.
Plan a Few Extra Gifts
It can be awkward when you receive an unexpected gift, and it is worse if you are scrambling to find something to give someone. One of the best tips is to pick up some generic inexpensive gifts to give to people that you weren’t expecting to exchange gifts with. You can buy DVDs, a bottle of wine, or other items to cover this. Save on these gifts by ordering them at Walmart using Walmart coupons.
Use Free Shipping and Gift Wrapping
Take advantage of the free shipping and gift wrapping at various stores. If you are buying online, you can save money by having the packages shipped directly to the recipients. Many online stores offer a gift wrapping option. The extra few dollars to wrap the gifts can save you the hassle of wrapping and then shipping the gifts yourself. You can save a lot in shipping this way.
Finish Up Early
It is a great feeling to know that you have finished all of your Christmas shopping the first week of December. Prices tend to go up the closer you get to Christmas, and the selection gets worse. It can be very frustrating to be scrambling to find items the week before Christmas. If you need to ship the presents you need to be done with Christmas shopping even earlier.
Save Money by Buying Bulk Gifts
When you are thinking about gifts for people at the office or in your neighborhood, you can save money by assembling your own mini holiday baskets and buying the items in bulk. Put together a movie night box with a popcorn holder, a few bags of microwave popcorn and a box or two of candy. This can be really inexpensive and easy to do.
Remember to Give Back
The holidays are a great time to remember to give a little bit to a charity or cause that you believe in. Food banks often run low this time of year, and there may be children who are not going to get very much or anything for Christmas. Every little bit can help, and if you have the extra time or money, you may want to chip in what you can.
Create and Stick to Your Holiday Budget
You do not want to go into debt with your Christmas shopping. Take the time to note the amount you can spend on each person on your list. This will give you your basic budget, and help you stay on track as you finish up your shopping. If you know you will be tempted to go over, pay with cash at retail stores, and use your debit card online.
