I’m Putting Christmas on a Budget This Year!

I’m doing something that is very out of character for me… I’m thinking about holiday shopping in the first week of November.  Normally, I’m one of those last minute, barely get it there on time Christmas shoppers, so this is very unusual for me.

But like a lot of people, I want to save money this holiday season, and one of the best ways to do that is to start my Christmas shopping early.

For all of you who want to join me and put Christmas on a budget this year, here are some tips to get you started:

Start early – Perhaps the best tip this year will be to start early.  It is expected that retailers will be offering deals far earlier this year than in previous years, and starting early will help you plan better and scope out those deals.

Make a list – Make a list of items you plan on buying this year, whether it’s gifts, decorations or food for the holiday entertaining.  Having a list will allow you to snag items as they go on sale, and it will keep you from procrastinating til the last minute.

Set a budget – It’s easy to get excited and go overboard on gifts, especially if you don’t have a budget in place.  Write down everyone you want to buy for this year, and set a specific dollar amount for each person.  You’ll be surprised at how much this will help reduce your overall holiday spending!

Do comparison shopping – Retailers are expected to offer deep discounts this year, so it will pay to do your homework to make sure you’re getting the best deal available.  Also, compare the in-store prices to the online prices; some stores offer different prices based on how/where you buy the item.

Ship early – If you need to ship gifts to family members who live out of state, do it early!  This is usually my biggest expense each year because I wait til the last minute.  Not this year!  I’m shopping for out-of-state gifts first, so I can mail them well in advance and avoid those inflated Christmas shipping fees.

Don’t forget the wrapping paper, food and supplies – When you’re making your Christmas budget, don’t forget all the little stuff that goes into making Christmas special.  Items to consider, besides the gifts of course, include cards, wrapping paper, food for Christmas dinner, party supplies, etc.

Most people don’t do any planning or budgeting for the holidays, so if you do the above steps you’ll be way ahead of the crowd this year.  And you’ll be on track to have Christmas on a budget, without being cheap!

Here are some more articles to help you put Christmas on a budget this year:

How To Plan A Debt-Free Christmas
- months, you can use your card as a free loan for holiday spending. This is recommended only if you pay it off before the interest charges begin. * If you really want to stick to your budget and avoid impulse spending, pay in cash. …

Christmas Countdown Day 9: Set a Holiday Budget!
- to do today … set a holiday budget. A budget is more than just a piece of paper! It’sa dynamic way to allocate funds and track spending. Used properly, a budget provides an at-a-glance picture of where your spending falls against your …

Holiday Spending Relies on One Factor This Year: Price
- Stores realize that many people are working on a strict budget this season and in order to accommodate their needs, they have begun advertising Christmas specials earlier, so consumers have more time to shop and can begin shopping …