Looking for easy ways to save money while on vacation? Well, you’re not alone. We’re all guilty of bloating and stressing over endless bills.
The holidays are all about parties, celebrations, family, delicious food and happiness. But one of the most dreaded things between Thanksgiving and New Years is trying to keep our spending under control.
Shopping seems inevitable during the holidays, and that’s why we feel obligated to spend. It’s only in January that we wonder how and where all our money went.
It’s entirely possible to avoid this unnecessary and stressful way to start the new year if you spend wisely during the holidays.
10 easy ways to budget and save money during the holidays.
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1. Set a budget
YEAH! Setting a budget is more important than you think. Because the sky’s the limit when it comes to holiday shopping.
It is necessary to set a limit.
Get a rough idea of your spending last year and set a reasonable budget. When you know your limits, it’s easier to plan things.
Be sure to set a a budget you can afford. Never set your budget to meet someone else’s expectations. Only you know your financial situation and only you will have to deal with your financial problems in the future. So create your vacation budget wisely.
Realize that while the holidays are special, they are only a few days out of the year. Don’t burn a hole in your pocket just to feel happy and better for a couple of days.
2. Create a list
Now that you have your budget set, create a list of everything in your budget possible expenses. Make your list as detailed as possible.
Write down all expense categories such as gifts, decorations, travel, food, events, clothing, etc. and determine money you plan to spend in each category.
If the amount of money at the bottom of your list is within your budget, congratulations, you did a great job! If the amount exceeds your budget, it’s time to make some changes to your list.
Go through your list again and identify unnecessary or unnecessary expenses. There is always room for improvement. Therefore, there must be something that can be completely omitted. Edit the list until it fits your budget.
3. Always pay in cash
I cannot stress enough how important this step is.
I always paid with my card. I mean why not? After all, it is so convenient. But this convenience comes at a price. When you use a card, it’s hard to keep track of money. You think you are spending within your budget, but you are easy to go overboard. I learned this the hard way.
Always pay in cash so you can you will see your money leaving your wallet. A light wallet is a reminder of your limited budget.
Purchases made with the card create a smart shopping bubble around you, which only bursts when you see the next month’s bill.
Money spent by swiping the card gives no warning and leaves only regret.
4. Shop ahead
It may sound strange, but clearance and holiday sales are the best way to save money. Everything is cheap and within your budget.
While buying gifts and decorations a year in advance sounds like too much trouble, it can do wonders to keep your holiday budget from skyrocketing.
Even if you are not a fan of shopping so early, do your shopping as early as possible. Because around the holidays, all the stores and flashy billboards trick you into thinking you have to buy a lot.
Another reason to start shopping at least a couple of months in advance is to shop without stress. With the holidays right around the corner, you just want things to be perfect and done with it. At that time, you don’t think to check another store and grab it the best possible deal. You just want the shopping to end before the event.
This confusion and last minute shopping will distract you from your financial situation meeting the deadline.
5. Beware of sales
Sales are made for us to save money, right? WRONG!
Business owners and companies are not interested in your financial situation. All of them are interested in getting you to buy things you don’t even need.
Everything looks cute during the holidaysbut that doesn’t mean you need them.
A couple of years ago I went to buy a jacket in the Black Friday sale. Not surprisingly, the jacket I wanted was 50% off, so I bought it. After all, who doesn’t like good deals? But at the same time I also bought other sweaters, a cute little bag, nice boots and god knows what else. To date, I haven’t used most items more than 4-5 times.
When I was in the store, everything looked so cheap. I thought I paid 50% less, but in reality I paid 75% more and bought things I didn’t even need. This completely blew my budget and I refrained from shopping after that. And trust me, this step will save you (a lot of) money.
Buying cute things or things you might need later on sale isn’t saving money, it’s wasted money.
6. Shop at discount stores
You can buy a lot for $1. You just need to go to the right place.
Every country has its own version of discount stores. Like the Dollar Tree in the US and the Euro Shop in Germany, where people can buy decorations, gift wrapping materials and more with dollars and euros.
In terms of saving, every penny is important. Don’t think what saving $10 would do? It won’t make me rich!
You don’t save to get rich, nobody gets rich by saving. You save to be broke, and you save to spend within your budget.
7. Compare prices before buying
Before you shop, compare prices in different stores. Find the best possible offer.
Comparing prices has never been easier than it is today. Type in Google the items you want to buy compare prices in all online stores.
Interestingly, last Christmas I bought the camera after much research. I was a bit hesitant to buy it online as it was my first time buying lenses. I wanted to check the image quality before buying. So my only option was to go check it out at the store.
I picked the model I wanted to buy and decided to order it online since it was much cheaper on Amazon. But after seeing the online prices for the seller, he decided to sell me the same model at the address less than the price offered online.
So it’s always better to compare prices, whether you’re buying online or from a retailer.
This takes patience and time, which is why it’s always a good idea to start holiday shopping as early as possible.
8. Share the load at lunches and dinners
One of the main areas during the holidays where spending can get out of hand is when hosting a dinner or lunch party. Thought a budget party usually goes out the window, especially when you have a huge family and a significant number of relatives.
Being a host is not easy. You have to take care of the small details to make your party a success. A nice party takes a lot of effort and, unfortunately, money, if not a lot.
Don’t hesitate to ask your friends and family to come in. Of course, I don’t mean ask your guests to pay cash, but let them know what they can bring.
Embrace Potluck this holiday season and enjoy a healthy and hearty meal. People who love you don’t mind helping you.
9. Threats are not bad
Admit it! We all get gifts we don’t like. Instead of throwing it away or storing it in a box (that you will never open), give it to someone you feel will be right for it.
Many people argue that gifts are feelings and it is unfair to give them to someone else. But if the gift doesn’t resonate with you, it just does adding to the mess rather than serving its emotional purpose.
Give away those extra gifts or gifts you know end up in an unreachable corner of your closet.
This way, you will not only save extra money, but it will also help you clean up the post-holiday mess. For example – Last year I got two thermal cups. I loved both, but it goes without saying that I only needed one. I gave one as a gift to a friend. There’s nothing wrong with that.
After all, we’re all trying survive the holidays on a tight budget. (PS If you are rich skip this part completely)
10. Stop when things are done
Remember that list you made before the holiday madness began? When all the things are off the list, stop! STOP IT ALREADY!
You will always find something better than what you bought. And the stores never stop tempting you to check out their latest collection. You have to stop.
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