Tips on Saving Money as a Bargain Christmas Shopper

Christmas is a wonderful holiday filled with present swapping, eggnog, and quality time with relatives you haven’t seen all year long. Well, that’s what we like to think. Realistically, there will be a bigger dent in our wallet than we could’ve anticipated, and we spend every waking moment balancing our checkbook like an accountant during peak tax season. It’s a downer during a time that should be full of fun, and as the list of gifts grows, we can’t wait for it all to be over.

There are ways to correct this and have a great, stress free holiday season. The trick to the whole she-bang is planning. Last minute shopping makes you run around with no direction, and as a result you’ll spend more on gifts just to simply have the pleasure of marking their name of that list. 

First of all, Christmas shopping should start January 1st. We all know that prices are inflated come Christmas season, which means you’ll be spending more money on the same product simply because you waited like the rest of the idiots. Try and get your Christmas list done by the end of November.

Start with the list. Of course we all feel the need to buy a present for everyone we know, but starting now you need to throw that approach out the window along with the money you’ve been wasting. I like to think I’ll only buy gifts for those that I truly think will buy me a gift. Does a co-worker’s wife really need a present from me? No. Therefore, I scratch her off the list.

Group gifts work well. If a group from work is pitching in five dollars a piece to buy the big boss man a new putter for his golf collection then get in on this. Don’t feel the need to stand out and buy a present for him yourself. Group gifts are a great way to spend less money, yet still find a much nicer gift. Plus, brainstorming sessions work well. Once you’ve figured out who you’re buying for, you need to address what you’re buying for them. Set a budget for each individual. The purpose here is to stay organized and watch your money before it starts to spread like wildfire.