It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also one of the most expensive. The holidays are right around the corner and while you might be emotionally ready for the merriment, your bank account might feel otherwise.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to ease the financial burden and still have a lovely holiday. Keep reading to see how you can save this holiday season.
Set A Budget
It’s tempting to get caught up in the excitement of the holidays but you’ll have a better time afterwards if you haven’t maxed out your cards and drained your account.
Determine how much you’re able to spend on gifts, food, decorations, travel, and whatnot beforehand and follow it. There’s all sorts of online holiday budget templates to help you set a budget and stick to it.
Use Cash, Not Credit
In this age of online payments and tapping of cards, it’s almost a novelty to have cash on hand. However, you’ll be able to keep spending under control if you only use cash.
It’s far too easy to just use credit cards and let the charges rack up. When you use cash, you can only use what you have on you, so you’ll spend far less. At the same time, bring your card, just in case. You’d be surprised at how many places have gone completely cashless these days!
Start Early
It seems like you’ve got plenty of time to do what you need to before the end of December, but it’s going to creep up faster than you think. So start planning now for the buying and shipping of gifts.
If you know you’re going to be making a big dinner, buy what you need now. Going with a frozen turkey is considerably less expensive than a fresh one, and plenty of vegetables come frozen too, so look into what you can get now ahead of time.
Do A Secret Santa
If you’ve got a big group to buy gifts for, suggest doing a Secret Santa exchange. Everyone gets a name and buys for that one person instead of buying for everyone.
It’s a fun way to do gifts, and by putting a cap on how much you can spend on that gift, you’ll save plenty of money. You can save even more by giving a homemade gift.
Make A Shopping List
This happens no matter what time of year it is; you go to the store with no list, but you’re certain you’re only going to buy what you need. Next thing you know, your cart is full and you still didn’t get what you originally came for.
Writing out a proper shopping list is the best way to only buy what’s on the list. You’re less likely to deviate from it and spend more than you intended.
Try A Potluck
If you’re hosting a big get-together with family and friends, ask everyone to bring a dish to share. If you can handle doing a turkey, have your guests bring the sides.
This gives everyone a chance to share their favourite dishes without putting the financial burden on any one person. Plus you’ll get a pretty interesting array of food, probably more than you would if you did the whole meal yourself.
Put Your Name On The Gift List
It might seem counterintuitive, but by adding your own name to your gift list, you’ll be able to budget for something for yourself, especially if you’re eyeing something larger, like a snowmobile or an ATV.
Getting your finances in order can be a heavy task, especially when you’re looking into a large purchase. If you want to gift yourself or your loved ones a Powersports vehicle, count on Breeze Powersports Financing to help you get financed for that dreamy holiday present. Apply Now!
