Tips to Save Money During the Holidays
The holidays are a joyous time. Everyone enjoys seeing the children’s faces as they open gifts or spending time with family and friends. However, this holiday season is going to be very rough for many Americans financially. We all want to make our loved one’s wishes come true and get that perfect gift or take the dream vacation that has been talked about for the past few years.
Unfortunately, the harsh reality of it is many people are putting off plans due to the economic crisis the majority of us are facing in our households. With that said, there are still ways to get everything you want while cutting costs. Below are some tips to keep your bank account balanced this season!
Holiday Cards
- Send electronic cards. Visit sites online that offer free ecards. They can be personalized and pictures or music can be added.
- Instead of cards give a holiday phone call. A phone call is very personal and will save you the postage.
- Wait until after the holiday rush to purchase discounted cards. It will not only be a holiday card, but also a New Year card.
Wrapping Paper
- Put to use old newspapers or magazines instead of wrapping paper. The comic section of the newspaper is perfect for kid’s presents.
- Wrap your gifts with your child’s artwork or plain white packing paper.
- Take advantage of shopping bags. Many of us have pretty shopping bags lying around the house. Add some tissue and you have a pretty package.
- Avoid gift tags by using a piece of wrapping paper or self adhesive tags that are generally cost effective.
- Don’t discount tissue paper to wrap presents. Add some ribbon and it looks really professional.
- Inquire if the store you are purchasing presents from will wrap for free.
- Around the holidays there are often schools in the middle of the mall that will wrap gifts for a donation. In addition to saving you time and money you are also supporting a good cause.
Airfare
- Book early or late. If possible try to book any travel plans at least one year in advance. The other alternative is to book last minute. A few days prior to the travel plans can save you a bundle of money. Airlines especially are trying to fill the vacant seats and will offer discounts. The problem with this is that if the flight is already booked you could lose out.
- Travel during off peak hours and days. The savings is extreme if you can stay over a Saturday and leave in the middle of the week.
- Combine packages. We all know that bundle packages for internet and cable save us money however; most of us discount the savings with travel packages. Combine your hotel, car and airfare and the savings could be substantial.
Accommodations
- Consider low cost accommodations. Reality is when traveling you are not spending a lot of the time in the hotel room. Look into cheaper options so you can spend the money saved on other items, such as souvenirs or dinners.
- Ask the hotel if you stay 2 or more nights is there a special rate that applies.
- Find out if any discounts are given for memberships.
- Research hotels that are close, but not in the main tourist city you are visiting. A hotel ten minutes away could save you hundreds of dollars.
- Avoid using your mobile phone for internet due to roaming charges. Instead visit a café that offers free Internet access.
Rental Cars
- Inquire about any discounts offered such as AAA or AARP.
- Find out if your company, airline or hotel offers discounts through a certain rental car company.
- Contact your credit card or car insurance company to inquire if you will be insured in the rental car prior to opting in for the insurance offered through the rental car company.
- Reserve the most economical car on the lot. Many times, especially during the holidays, the company will run out of the “cheaper” cars and upgrade you at no charge.
- Always fuel up! If you return the car empty then you will be charged premium prices to refill it.
- Rent a smaller car since it will use less fuel.
Shopping
- Make a list and check it twice. Compiling a list will detour you from the impulse buys. Make a list of everyone you are going to buy a gift for and put a dollar amount next to their name.
- Give gifts from the heart. These types of gifts are the most valuable and sentimental. Have your child make personalized gifts for loved ones. You often hear grandparents describe their favorite gift as the coffee mug that little Johnny colored. There is an abundance of websites that you can go to and spend less than $20 on gifts from the heart such as calendars with photos of family on each month. It is time consuming, however it melts the heart.
- Offer services. Gifts don’t have to cost a lot of money. Often times an offer to babysit or cut some lawn will be gifts that are priceless!
- Know your prices! “Sales” may not be the ultimate bargain. Comparison shop and take advantage of the Internet to make this task simple.
- Don’t buy new. Consider buying last year’s model. The price difference is drastic and the features and usage is relatively the same.
- Bake cookies or pastries. This tip is especially helpful with getting gifts for neighbors or coworkers. It is a bit time consuming but very cost effective. You can then purchase the holiday Tupperware and put the baked goods in the decorative containers and you now have a thoughtful gift that didn’t break the bank.
