Early in my marriage, Christmas was incredibly stressful to me. There was so much to do (and so much money to spend) and really only three solid weeks of prep time.
December would prove to be disastrous to our budget as I operated out of impulse and pressure to say ‘yes’ to every party invitation and gift request. I had no gauge on how much I was spending…until I added the receipt totals in January.
Yikes. While I knew I needed to get a grip on my holiday spending, I wasn’t sure exactly how to do it.
Every year I told myself I would plan better next time, and next year would be different, but before I knew it I was pulling out trick or treat bags again only to realize I hadn’t made my Christmas budget. Again. Crap.
If only I had more time! Right?!?
Not quite. I finally learned that more time was not what I needed. What I needed was to use my time in early Fall to plan with intentionality.
I started early – way early. Like the end of September early. I mapped out my holiday budget and worked everything else around that. If a gift or event didn’t fit in the budget, I just didn’t do it anymore.
And you know what? My little strategy paid off.
I now plan my holiday spending wayyyyy in advance, and I no longer feel that burden of guilt over the purchases I make. I want to give you the gift of planning ahead! Below are 10 ways you can save money this Christmas. Starting right now!
10 Ways to Save Money THIS Christmas
1// Make a gift budget…and stick to it
Like I always say, planning ahead is the key to winning financially. When we fly by the seat of our proverbial pants, we end up with financial road rash. Not fun. It’s actually as painful as it sounds.
Making a gift budget will help you keep track of everything you spend on everyone you love. You can even start planning ahead months in advance to keep a solid grip on your gift spending.
Don’t have time to make a gift budget? Well, allow me to assist you! You can sign up HERE to receive my pre-made gift budget worksheet for FREE!
This is a worksheet I made for myself on notebook paper years ago to help me track what I was spending on gifts, and you know what? It works!
So there ya go. I even spiffed it up for a little for you. š Just sign up, receive your downloadable, printable file, and take charge of your Christmas spending right now!
2// Plan your shopping
Another way to save money this Christmas is to shopĀ at the most opportune times. Last year, my husband and I sat on our computers all Cyber Monday long like good millennials and we scored some amazing deals.
We felt so accomplished after our day long online shopping spree and we did it all in our sweatpants (#winning).
Just be sure to always take advantage of discounts, coupons and store specials. If shopping online isn’t your thing, plan time to shop when you can make the most of it and shop intentionally, and preferably with cash.
To ensure you don’t go nuts with your online spending, load your cash onto gift cards, and track your spending as you go. Keep your CGBW nearby to check off gifts as you knock them off your list.
3// Shop with cash
While you can’t technically shop with cash online, you can use cash when shopping in stores. It’s the easiest way to stay within the boundaries of your budget, because when the money is gone you’re done!
Okay, maybe it’s not quite that simple, but that’s why my Christmas Gift Budget Worksheet is so handy. When you use tools that set you up for success, it’s much easier to achieve.
Shopping with cash definitely makes you think more about what you’re purchasing, and how could that not be a good thing?!
4// Plan party attendances in advance
You know who throws a Christmas party every year. Maybe it’s your best friend or next door neighbor. Perhaps yours or your spouse’s company hosts an annual holiday party.
You also know the typical requirements for attendance – dress code, gift exchange, ugly sweaters, food, etc.
My suggestion is to plan your party attendances in advance this year, so you know what you’re getting into before you even accept your first invitation.
If your company hosts a Christmas party, and you typically attend, try to purchase your dress/outfit this fall when you are more likely to get a better deal.Ā In 2014 I shopped at the last minute for a Christmas party dress and ended up paying way more than I should have. It wasn’t necessary, though, so don’t be like 2014 me. Be like 2018 me and look ahead just a smidge.
5// Plan out your party foods
It happens to the best of us. We have intentions of making a super neat/pretty/amazing holiday party treat only to forget about it (or run out of time) and buy something last minute at the grocery store.
Decide now what you might want to make for the parties you will attend and buy the non-perishable ingredients in November. Just make sure you set aside time to cook/bake/assemble whatever it is when the time comes.
6// Make your own gift tags
My kids love making their own gift tags. I know this might seem like a small thing, but when you are intentional about saving money, every dollar counts, right?
There are probably hundreds of gift tag templates online for free that you can access. And you can embellish them however you want with craft supplies you already have on hand.
7// Shop around for Christmas cards
If you order Christmas cards each year, shop around for deals to make sure you are getting the best price for the product you want. I usually order my Christmas cards from TinyPrints because they send me 20% off coupons every fall.
I am always pleased with the selection and quality of their cards. And for the record, I’m not getting anything for promoting them. I really do just like their products.
8// Meal plan the whole month of December in November
Now we’re getting to the nitty gritty. Meal planning the entire month of December in advance will take some time and effort…and courage. But it can be done!
Here is my plan:
Map out the whole month of December including recital/concert/performance nights, party nights, and family gatherings. (If you aren’t sure exactly what days everything is happening, at least you can count up the number of nights when you have an event).
Now, plan dinners for every “normal” evening of the month.
For the nights when you have an event of some sort, plan meals that will be as easy as possible for you. For us, these nights will be slow cooker meals or soup/chili because they are so easy to make and they can all go into one bowl.
9// Make decorations
Last year, as we opened all of our Christmas decor storage bins I realized the beads I had draped on our Christmas tree branches for years were in pitiful shape. The only problem was I didn’t really have extra cash to buy new ones.
About that same time our son was teaching us several origami shapes he had learned earlier in the year. I had the idea to string them on red and white twine and make our own Christmas tree garland in lieu of beads! It turned out beautifully and our whole family was able to participate.
Our red origami garland is by far my favorite garland that I’ve ever had.
10// Give the gift of ‘no’
Saying no might be the best way to save money (and not just at Christmas). It may not be the funnest route to take, but it can be incredibly rewarding come Christmas Day (and the days and weeks that follow).
Here are a few things to say no to that will save you some money:
- Lunches out – pack a lunch and save that cash!
- Coffee – make your own at home or at the office.
- Impulse buys – plan out your shopping trips and stick to the plan!
- Volunteer opportunities – it’s great to pitch in and help with class parties, community projects, and charity…unless you don’t have the extra cash for those things. Instead of spending money, consider volunteering your time or crafting abilities.
- Emotional spending – self-denial can be very rewarding when striving for a specific goal. Rather than treating yourself take the money you would normally spend on yourself and put it into your Christmas fund.
The point is not to deny yourself of things just to say you did it. You are telling your money what to do. You are taking charge of your finances (at least your holiday finances) and that is called discipline.
While this list is not exhaustive by any means, it’s a great start. These are just 10 of the ways you can save money THIS Christmas.
Make a plan. Stay focused. See it through.
You can do it! And remember, the most important part of whatever holiday you celebrate isn’t the money you spend. It’s not even about the stuff you give or receive. It’s about spending time with people you love and celebrating a significant day together.
