Holidays give people the excuse to become reckless with their spending. Shopping for loved ones can be pricey if you don’t plan accordingly. Shopping year-round comes in handy as you gain a head start on deals and finds. Keep your eyes open all year round for items friends and family would like; it’s often when you’re not looking for something specific that you stumble across the perfect gift. Getting into the holiday spirit should not include feelings of remorse due to overspending. After all, the holidays should be priceless, not pricey!
- Make a list of everyone you plan to shop for
- Make a budget and stick to it
- Look into deals online
- Shop Black Friday if you want to
- Cyber Monday
- Get creative with homemade gifts anything from baked goods to anything knitted
A little birdie told me it’s best not to buy clothing before Christmas. I was told that sales after the New Year are worth the wait, and besides, winter will still be around for another two months. Please do not wait until the last minute to buy gifts. That is a good way to overspend due to feeling under pressure to find the perfect gift. Save up for those “big ticket” items throughout the year. You can set up a savings account with most banks for holiday shopping. If you put as little as $20 per pay period away starting in January, by November, you can have a nice savings to go towards a big-ticket item.
The Traveler Weekly 