Shelley Koster
Bartlesville and Grand Lake Realtor
The Christmas season is upon us, it is the most wonderful time of the year and we here at The Koster Team are bursting with excitement!
I know everyone is busy hanging lights, decorating the Christmas Tree, and buying presents! The Christmas season seems to put everyone in a great mood. But, the Christmas season does have its drawbacks, one of the big ones is its ability to completely throw your family’s finances totally off course.
If you find yourself year after year struggling to keep up with demand of Christmas, then it is time to make some changes. Here are 10 ways to save money during the Christmas and keep your finances on track!
1. Make a List
The first and foremost thing you should do before going out shopping or purchasing Christmas presents is make a list. With a list, you can keep yourself from purchasing things on an impulse. Impulse buys are huge money-eaters and will quickly drain your funds. Therefore, go in prepared and know what it is you need to purchase.
2. Make a Budget
Once you have your list squared away, then you will need to make a budget. A budget will help you to see where your money is going, and if something needs to be cut from your list.
3. Shop Around
Don’t take things for face value, shop around at other stores and online to see if there is a way to get what you plan on buying for a better deal. Also, be sure to check out pre-Christmas sales to trim your cost.
4. Pay Cash
Each year, thousands of Americans are thrust into debt by greedy credit card companies. But not you, this year flip the script and only use cash while shopping. This will help you once again stay on track and keep you from falling into debt.
5. Get Creative
Not everything has to be bought, you can always be creative to save money. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Wrapping Paper: Use old newspapers and magazines to wrap your presents.
- Gifts: DIY your friends and family’s gift this year.
- Christmas Cards: DIY your Christmas cards or send your family ecards instead.
6. Invest
The day after Christmas everything goes on sale, the decor, the cards, and even some of the presents. This is very depression, especially when you paid 75% more the week prior. This year take advantage of the discounted rates and stock up for next year, while it might not save you money today, it will a year from now.
7. Cut Back on Extras
Always look for excess things that you can cut back on during the holidays in order to save a little extra dough.
8. Embrace the Potluck
Big dinners and family get-togethers are an absolute favorite of mine during the Christmas season, however, having to buy all the groceries can rack up a huge bill. This year instead of burdening one person with the bill, embrace the potluck style and have everyone bring a dish.
9. Do Secret Santa
Secret Santa is a Christmas present game where members of a family are randomly assigned a person to whom they anonymously give a gift. This helps if your family is huge and the cost of buying everyone a present is too high for everyone.
10. Buy Used
Buying a gift that is pre-owned or used is not ideal for every situation, however, when purchasing game systems, electronics, or furniture it can be a great money saver and still make an excellent gift.
We hope that these tips will help you to save a little money this year without becoming known as the Family Scrooge.
Until next time, keep loving our city!
