Holiday Shopping on a Budget: Top 10 Tips

With the holiday shopping season around the corner, many consumers are evaluating their holiday spending activities. Often shopping budgets can soar into the thousands of dollars which may leave many consumers paying for gift purchases well into the New Year. For those on a tight budget, holiday shopping often becomes a point of stress and frustration.

Yet, it is very possible to cover your holiday shopping list on a shoestring budget and actually save money in the long run. Take these top 10 tips and apply them to your shopping routine. If used correctly, these helpful hints can save you hundreds of dollars and many hours of lost of lost sleep.


1.Make It: My favorite standby. When in doubt, cover as many people on your shopping list as possible with homemade gifts. Many cringe when hearing this suggestion; however, it is possible to offer unique and popular gifts by simply putting together a few key items. This will save your budget and keep costs down.

Have a favorite cookie recipe? Gather all of the dry ingredients, and wrap them in decorated butcher paper. Put those into a decorative jar and provide instructions on the jar for mixing and baking the cookies. Such items often sell at specialty stores for $15 – 20 dollars. This can easily be made at home for a fraction of the cost.

2.Give action based coupons: This works best for family and close friends and is particularly good for a spouse or significant other. Create a coupon book from supplies around the house. Each coupon can be “turned in” for a specified favor or treat. From a massage for a spouse to extra television time for a child, the possibilities are endless. Have fun with it.

3.Shop the discount stores: Think long and hard before doing your holiday shopping at the major retailers. Think about frequenting discount outlets for the majority of your purchases. Retailers such as Big Lots, TJ Maxx and Value City often provide the best bang for your buck. At prices that can be 50% less than the department store equivalent, it is well worth the trip.

Holiday shopping

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