Parents can still save real money this Christmas, even though we’re nearly six weeks into the season. A few sensible decisions right now will go a long way to keeping the Christmas fun without blowing the family budget.
Christmas is on Friday the 25th and sales are already underway both in the stores and online. Gifts, food and travel all add up very quickly and a lot of families don’t really feel the impact until the January bills come in.
The plan is simple, really. Pick a number, shop with a list and spend only where it counts. Here are six ways to get going this week.
1. Set a Christmas Budget Early
Parents should work out how much they can afford to spend on Christmas before they start their Christmas shopping. A budget helps with money management and keeps you from overspending.
Start by listing the major expenses such as gifts, food, decorations, travel, holiday activities, etc. Set a spending limit for each category based on how much you have to spend.
Using a notebook or a budgeting app will help you track your spending and will go a long way toward staying within your budget.
2. Make a List of Gifts and Stick to the List
Buying presents for the kids, relatives and friends can quite quickly blow the Christmas budget. Parents can avoid that kind of unnecessary spending by making a gift list before going into any shop or shopping online.
Write down everyone who needs a present and work out how much to spend on each person. Parents could also ask the kids to pick a few things they’d really like rather than buying gifts they may end up not using.
Shopping with a list is a great way to avoid the impulse buys that so often occur.
3. Compare Prices Before Shopping
Check online retailers, local stores and the various holiday sales. Parents can also look around for discount codes, store coupons and special offers via shopping apps.
However, you must check the final price (including shipping) before you go ahead and order. By comparing prices, you can find a good value-for-money gift for the family without spending a fortune.
4. Start Christmas Shopping Early
Waiting until the days before Christmas to start shopping can be a stressful and expensive proposition.
Starting early gives the family more time to compare prices and find discounts. You can also spread the cost over a number of weeks rather than pay for it all at once.
Making a shopping list or schedule can help a family keep track of what they’ve bought and what they still need to buy. It can also help to reduce last-minute spending.
5. Reuse Decorations and Make Homemade Crafts
Families don’t need to buy new decorations every year to make their house feel festive. You can just re-use the Christmas lights, ornaments, stockings and all the other bits and pieces from the previous year.
Children can also make their own decorations out of paper, card, ribbon and all the other sorts of craft stuff. Paper snowflakes, handmade ornaments and Christmas cards are all very simple to make and cost a pittance.
Parents can also have a look in the thrift stores for reasonably priced decorations.
6. Plan Affordable Christmas Meals and Activities
Food and entertainment can be a major item in the Christmas budget. Parents can reduce these costs by planning meals and family activities in advance.
Create a shopping list for the meals you’re going to cook. Check your pantry before you shop to avoid buying what you already have. Using seasonal produce and cooking at home will also help to cut costs.
Families can have free or low-cost activities at home, such as watching Christmas films, decorating cookies, going to the local light display and playing board games.
