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Holiday time is back, which means it’s time to start budgeting for your holiday shopping! Whether that be food, presents, decorations, etc. I have the budgeting tips for you!
I think it’s super important to have a set budget for the holiday season because, it’s so easy to get lost in all the holiday fun. Trust me I know Target is the ultimate trap with their holiday set up, I die every time. My mom and I use these budgeting tips every year and they really help us save $. I’m not saying it’s not okay to splurge on some things, it’s definitely okay! I just don’t think you have to spend so much on everything.
Food:
If you’re hosting a holiday party, ask for everyone to RSVP. This way you know exactly how many people will be attending, another good thing to ask your guests is if they have any allergies, or diet restrictions. Once you know how many people will be attending you can create your menu. This is the fun part, go on Pinterest and get creative with your holiday party! You do not need to spend so much money on food! It isn’t necessary! If you like things in bulk, go to Costco or BJs, but always with coupons! You never realize how much money you can drop in those stores until you have no coupons. Costco and BJs are the best stores to go for frozen appetizers! Shop smart with Walmart or Target deals! TBH, Target brand food is delicious! It’s okay to not buy a name brand all the time! For local shopping, I like Best Market. They’re easily the cheapest grocery store I’ve ever been too and they have a large selection! For fun and unique, hit up a Trader Joe’s. You can never go wrong with TJs!
Presents:
The first thing to do is make a list of everyone you have to buy gifts for, including kids. Trust me, a list is always a good idea! You can even write down clothing sizes and things each person likes, to help you when shopping. If you have a set budget with certain people, stick to it! Honestly, when it comes to gifts, it’s the thought that counts and not how much it cost, but it is good to have budgets if that helps you with saving money.
I like to break presents down by relationship i.e, parents and siblings = +/- $100, significant other = +/- $100, grandparents/aunts/uncles/cousins = $50 (or below), friends = $25-50. For anyone else, it’s usually kept under $25.
Great places for gifts: Amazon, Target, Nordstrom, Old Navy, Homegoods (great if you need a home decor piece for someone)
Decorations:
Decorations can be extremely expensive sometimes. You have to scope out the best prices! Check Amazon (tons of Christmas decorations, including lights), Target, Walmart, Homegoods, Home Depot, Lowe’s, honestly even CVS has some cute decor! You don’t have to spend so much on decorations to find cute pieces! Of course if you want to splurge on some, Pier 1 is my favorite for that kind of stuff (not too expensive but not too cheap either)!
Online Shopping:
Any of these categories can be purchased online. If you’re an online shopper, you need to use EBATES! Ebates is a cash back website that gives you a certain % for every dollar spent when you shop a site through them! Another great website hack is using Honey!
You don’t need to spend tons of money for Christmas! Remember it’s always the thought that counts, not how much it cost! If you want to splurge for someone special, do what you can, save up for it, or wait till it goes on sale. I hope these tips help you and don’t forget to always use coupons and utilize sales!
