Don’t stress about how you’re going to do Christmas on a budget.
With the tips shared in this article, you will be able to get the best out of Christmas spending and stay under budget.
As Christmas is around the corner, everyone would have started preparing for the festive season by now.
However, in 2021, things have changed drastically due to the ongoing pandemic and things will have to be conducted a little differently.
Nevertheless, the festive spirit isn’t dead yet and you can still make Christmas an awesome time even if you’re on a tight budget.
By staying under budget, you’ll build habits that you can use every year and stick to your goals on the way to financial independence.
How Do I Stay on a Christmas Budget?
1. Make a Detailed Plan in Advance
It’s very easy to fall into debt during the festive period especially when you have many people to shop for.
However, you can forestall excessive spending by creating a detailed plan and budget with applicable limits.
This comprehensive Christmas Planner Printables is a great tool to have on hand for Christmas planning. It also contains a detailed budget template.
No matter how you plan or budget this year, do not bite off more than you can chew.
Job security is uncertain right now and you should not be putting yourself into any more debt than you have already.
2. Don’t Be Afraid to Look for Bargains
If you want to save some money and spend less this year, then don’t be afraid to hunt for bargains and there are so many of them now.
Before you buy anything, look out for discount codes online. Comparison shop to find the best deals.
One of my Christmas presents to myself this year is a tabletop shredder.
Even though I already budgeted for it, I still comparison shopped before ordering it.
The prices can vary greatly from retailer to retailer so do your research before making any final purchases.
If you have a cashback credit card, you can get the most out of it during Christmas.
Of course, only do this if you have a handle on paying back the full balance every month.
Related Content: 9 Efficient Ways to Save on Groceries Without Using Coupons
3. Sign Up for Your Favorite Store’s Newsletters
Every October or so, I look up the places where I usually shop for gifts and sign up for their mailing lists.
They start sending out notifications of upcoming deals a few weeks before Thanksgiving.
I keep track of these deals and when the price is just right, I get on there and nab what I want.
Come January, I unsubscribe from those lists till the next holiday rolls around.
I have been able to get some truly awesome holiday deals using this idea. Check out the chic backpack below from Naturalizer.
The retail price is usually $99 but I got it for over 60% off by keeping track of their sale notifications.
This is an invaluable way to save hundreds and maybe even thousands of dollars every holiday. Some of my favorite stores for this strategy include:-
- The BroBasket – great gift baskets for male siblings, colleagues, friends, and acquaintances.
- Mystery Chocolate – delicious and fantastic mystery chocolate boxes delivered every month plus one fun game to play.
- Plum Deluxe Tea Gifts – for the tea lover. Offering a great selection of flavored teas and more every month.
- Cratejoy Subscription Boxes – subscription boxes in beauty, health, fitness, jewellery, food, wellness, self-care and so much more. You can get subscription boxes for a month, a quarter or the year.
- Ouidad – the best products and offers for curly haired guys and gals.
- Earth Love – for the eco-conscious person in your life.
- Lula’s Garden – offering gorgeous succulents for any ocassion.
- Etsy – a collection of creative items from independent artisans around the world. There’s loads of sales around the holidays too.
- Knack Bags – great bag for executives who are always on the move. Available in 3 sizes.
- Rakuten – Get cash bag when you shop across over 2,000 stores for the holidays.
4. Find Alternative Options to Giving Gifts
Instead of expensive gifts, you can give homemade gifts or homemade Christmas desserts.
You can also DIY beauty gifts such as body scrubs and hot chocolate bombs.
Hot chocolate bombs are very popular this year by the way. You can also make a mini-meal, parcel it up and send it over as a gift.
All you need are some nice presentation containers, boxes, and a little creativity and you can make any homemade gift look like the finest item at Tiffany’s.
And if you’re crafty, you can create some pretty nifty DIY gifts with the Cricut Maker.
5. Communicate With Family and Friends
Sometimes, despite your best budgeting efforts, you still can’t get involved as much as you’d like in gift-giving.
And that’s OK. It’s been a tough year for everyone and a lot of people’s finances have taken a serious hit.
Suggest giving up gift exchanges for something else – maybe a homemade gift, which is always thoughtful.
Or you can just let them know your budget can’t accommodate anything luxurious this year. Set a budget limit for the group.
Don’t try to keep up with the holiday Joneses. It’s not worth it.
I believe with these awesome tips, you should be able to get the best out of your Christmas budget without feeling like you have to go into debt to make everyone happy.
For more tips on doing Christmas on a budget and maximizing your budget, check out the articles below:-
- 5 Thoughtful Gifts to Give without Going Broke
- 17 Effective Holiday Shopping Tips That Saves Time and Money
Happy Holidays!
This post contains affiliate links which means I will make a small commission if you purchase through those links. Read full disclosure HERE.