Money is tight for many families, especially this time of year. It can be easy to rack up unnecessary debt when it comes to the holidays.
Here are 10 ways you can save money and focus on what really matters this time of year!
Tips to Save Money for the Holidays
1. Skip ordering Christmas cards, opt for handwritten notes instead.
Imagine someone writes to you, in their handwriting, a few quick thoughts about what they enjoy about you! Although it’s special to share images of your family, oftentimes this is already accomplished via social media.
If you still want to send something, consider giving a little time to write out handwritten notes to a few close friends and family members. This might cost you in time, but it may mean more to the person receiving it.
Bonus idea: Have you saved cards you’ve received over the years? Consider binding them together, and sending them back to the family if you’re ready to part with them. Our family often forgets to save our own cards, so to receive them back at once to review the years could be a special gesture!
2. Borrow, don’t buy.
Do you love to make deviled eggs for Christmas, but don’t need a special devil egg platter in your way all year long? Borrow one! Oftentimes, when we are hosting or going to a party, we buy extra items we don’t really need. Ask friends and family if you can borrow what you need instead.
Bonus idea: Check out our local thrift stores for some fancy dishes at a low price. You can often find what you need for under $10!
3. Don’t feel guilty…wrap items you already own!
If your child is two and under especially, consider just wrapping something you already have around the house or haven’t played with in a while. Chances are, they don’t remember it. They can still enjoy the act of unwrapping a gift!
Bonus idea: Gift household essentials for play. Does your little one LOVE to pull apart Kleenex boxes? Wrap a tissue box just for them (maybe even decorate it with Mod Podge for fun!) Does your five-year-old love daddy’s flashlight? Get him a simple flashlight. Kids often enjoy the day-to-day tools and objects around the home!
4. Organize a toy swap.
Gifts tend to roll in and clutter up the home quickly. Downsize what you have, but instead of donating to a local thrift store, consider hosting a toy swap with a group of friends!
Bonus idea: Regift toys from your youth. A lot of our moms saved our stuff! Ask grandma to dig out your old toys for the kids. Give them a clean and pass them on to your kids!
5.Create a wardrobe capsule for the holiday season.
Decide once on some rotating outfits you want to wear throughout the next couple months.
It can be overwhelming preparing for a party to decide what to wear. Get ahead of it by scanning your closet for items you already have and enjoy. You can easily dress things up with some festive earrings if you feel like adding a little holiday dazzle to your look.
Decide on a small scale wardrobe capsule for the season and spend less time figuring out what to wear, and more time enjoying the company you’re with!
Bonus idea: Find a consignment store to find a fun new holiday outfit for cheaper. Two of our favorites are Clothes Mentor and My Best Friends Closet.
6. Create easy homemade gifts.
Bath bombs, homemade fridge magnets, hand-painted picture frames, etc. all tend to make great gifts. There are many art classes in Fargo you can enjoy. You could even double down your efforts by making the time an experience gift with a loved one!
Bonus idea: Baking goodies for friends and neighbors is such a personal gift. With a recipe resulting in dozens of treats, it’s a cost-effective way to gift something from the heart!
7. Thrift Gifts.
Focus on reusing what’s already available for (likely) a cheaper price. You can find gently-used (or even completely unused) gifts from a thrift store. Research thrift baskets online for theme ideas. Here are some other ideas of what you can look for!
Bonus idea: Dollar stores are a great spot to find affordable treats and trinkets for stockings.
8. Amazon/Shipping Boxes = Wrapping Boxes.
You don’t need shirt boxes or special Christmas themed boxes. Do you really ever care if your gift is packaged perfectly in an elf-themed box? Probably not.
Reduce waste by reusing Amazon or shipping boxes. You can also use fabric to act as wrapping paper! Same goes for wrapping paper. Use craft paper, newspaper, or something you already own to wrap gifts (or thrift some paper).
Bonus idea: We’ll say it again – check out local thrift stores for wrapping paper and gift bags! They often get overflow from stores and have new or like-new items to pick from, at a fraction of the cost.
9. If you plan to shop online, put items in the cart & then wait for sales.
Sometimes I’m tempted to buy an item as soon as I see it. This year, I’m challenging myself to put items in my cart and then abandon them until there’s a sale. It gives me some time to reflect on if I really truly want the item. If the item doesn’t go on sale, skip it or find something else.
10. Create a coupon gift book for the kids.
This may delay or eliminate spending money at all! You can come up with ideas to enjoy your time together or give small rewards throughout the year.
