Holiday shopping. True, Christmas (and Kwanzaa and Hanukkah) might be the best times of the year, but your wallet certainly won’t be thinking that! It can take quite a bit of saving and negotiating to get your holiday shopping done and still be able to afford the groceries for the meals! Here are a few ways to keep you and your wallet happy and full over the holidays.
Stock Up
If you see something really cute at the supermarket for only a few dollars, and you know of a few of your grandbabies, nieces, nephews, babies, etc, that would absolutely love it, pick up one or two at a time! You don’t have to do all of your holiday shopping during the actual holidays. After all, this is when you want to find some items that might have jacked up prices during the holidays. However, also keep an eye on any sales that you might find.
The Little Things
You don’t have to buy colossal presents for everyone. Using the previous tip, you can pick up little things like sweets and little toys and bouncy balls (Almost everyone loves bouncy balls. It’s a rule of nature.) of all shapes of sizes. Not to mention that sometimes a dozen little tiny things is worth more than a huge present that cost hundreds of dollars. Even if they cost 1/24th of the amount of the larger presents, smaller things sometimes get a better reception.
Don’t Just Go to The Huge Chain Stores
You don’t have to go to all of the expensive chain stores in order to find the deals on what you are looking for. As a matter of fact, you can find loads of cute little things at ethnic food stores such as Grand Mart and at the Dollar Tree. There’s no limit to what you can find if you just look at the right places. Don’t overlook the thrift stores either-you never know what you’ll find there!
Make Your Own
You don’t have to just purchase the gifts you are planning on giving. If you know how to crochet, knit, embroider, tatt or anything else like that, then you can have a large part of your Christmas right there. Keep in mind that if you’re strapped on time, you may not want to try and knit a whole blanket, but you could do something little like socks or maybe create little ornaments. It’s up to you how many you want to make and for whom.
Fixing
Say that you find something cool in your attic or at the thrift shop that happens to be something you know your daughter law or son would absolutely LOVE. In that case, see if you can get it fixed! There’s no rule that you have to get brand new stuff for everyone. Plus, sometimes you can restore it to a better quality than most products simply by remembering to do so.
With these tips, you’re sure to save a bundle. Use them or combination, or alone, and you’re sure to have a great means of saving your money and also to be able to also provide a lavish spread for your friends and family.