It's the Holidays...whether we like it or not. Celebrate it or not, it's still the Holidays for the majority of the world.
I gotta say, the holidays (no matter what religion you celebrate that requires you to make a huge supper and buy gifts for everyone), is EXPENSIVE. It doesn't have to be, but they are.
I'm going to give you guys some tips and tricks to keep the cost down for the holidays, by preparing you for next year.
Tip Number 1: Find a way to make an income specifically for buying Holiday gifts.
Ok, I know it seems silly, but if you can find a way to make an additional 30 or 40 bucks a month, dedicate that money to buying a gift or two instead of spending it on....I don't know...a new purse.
Tip Number 2: Start your Holiday shopping right after the big Holiday. ex. Christmas shopping should start on December 26th. That's when most Christmas related things go on sale (usually 50% off!!).
Tip Number 3: Put away a savings, or buy a savings bond to be taken out the month of the Holiday. In my family, we celebrate Christmas, so in January we'll buy a Canada Savings Bond that automatically withdraws from my hubby's account. We cash out the bond in December, and that gives us the extra money to buy Christmas gifts.
Tip Number 4: Let your kids pick out one big gift (something that ends up costing a little more), and save up to get it. This year my 5 year old wanted an XBox game thing, I told him no (we already have a playstation box, and we don't need another game box in the house.). He changed his mind to Minecraft things.
Tip Number 5: Coupon through the year, create a stockpile big enough that if you don't buy groceries for the month of December in order to buy presents, you won't be worried out of your mind because you have no food in the house.
Tip Number 6: Buy within your means. If you're having a really hard time through the rest of the year and stress out this time of year because you can't afford to buy gifts for anyone, DON'T stress out. There are a ton of things you can make from things around your house that look like you bought them. There's also lots of places that'll sponser families around Christmas, Empty Stocking Fund, etc. that'll really help you during this year.
Tip Number 7: If you usually get little travel soaps and whatnot at Walmart (this really hurts to say...), shop around. 2$ for one travel soap at Walmart, is cheaper at Target. Which leads me to my number 8 point....
Tip Number 8: SHOP AROUND. Walmart, Target, they both price check. If you're looking through the Toy's R Us flyer, and the toy that your kid wants is on for super cheap, but they don't have any more left in stock (most places won't hold toy's, it's limited quantities, and call ahead to see if they have any more of X thing in stock.), go to walmart or target with the flyer in hand and buy the toy. You'll save money by getting the toy at a discounted rate at another place that price checks, and your kid get's the toy they want. Win. Win.
Tip Number 9: If you're like me and have children with birthdays both before and after Christmas, don't have a big party every year. I have a harsh opinion about people who give their kids birthday parties every year anyway (my opinion is don't....it's silly.), but having a big birthday party right before Christmas is costly. Celebrate the "big" years (1,5,10,16,18), but unless you NEED to give them a birthday party every year (I don't know, maybe you're rich, but I doubt it.), start celebrating in your own way. Having a few family member's over is enough for a child, and you could do things that you couldn't do in a big group (like stay at home, watch a movie, in your pj's, and eat mass amounts of popcorn.).
Finally, Tip Number 10: Remember that the most import part of the Holiday's is spending time with Family and Friends. If you buy them (or make them), a scarf, they'll love it all the same (even if they don't wear it.). Instead of stressing out, look forward to spending time together.
I gotta say, the holidays (no matter what religion you celebrate that requires you to make a huge supper and buy gifts for everyone), is EXPENSIVE. It doesn't have to be, but they are.
I'm going to give you guys some tips and tricks to keep the cost down for the holidays, by preparing you for next year.
Tip Number 1: Find a way to make an income specifically for buying Holiday gifts.
Ok, I know it seems silly, but if you can find a way to make an additional 30 or 40 bucks a month, dedicate that money to buying a gift or two instead of spending it on....I don't know...a new purse.
Tip Number 2: Start your Holiday shopping right after the big Holiday. ex. Christmas shopping should start on December 26th. That's when most Christmas related things go on sale (usually 50% off!!).
Tip Number 3: Put away a savings, or buy a savings bond to be taken out the month of the Holiday. In my family, we celebrate Christmas, so in January we'll buy a Canada Savings Bond that automatically withdraws from my hubby's account. We cash out the bond in December, and that gives us the extra money to buy Christmas gifts.
Tip Number 4: Let your kids pick out one big gift (something that ends up costing a little more), and save up to get it. This year my 5 year old wanted an XBox game thing, I told him no (we already have a playstation box, and we don't need another game box in the house.). He changed his mind to Minecraft things.
Tip Number 5: Coupon through the year, create a stockpile big enough that if you don't buy groceries for the month of December in order to buy presents, you won't be worried out of your mind because you have no food in the house.
Tip Number 6: Buy within your means. If you're having a really hard time through the rest of the year and stress out this time of year because you can't afford to buy gifts for anyone, DON'T stress out. There are a ton of things you can make from things around your house that look like you bought them. There's also lots of places that'll sponser families around Christmas, Empty Stocking Fund, etc. that'll really help you during this year.
Tip Number 7: If you usually get little travel soaps and whatnot at Walmart (this really hurts to say...), shop around. 2$ for one travel soap at Walmart, is cheaper at Target. Which leads me to my number 8 point....
Tip Number 8: SHOP AROUND. Walmart, Target, they both price check. If you're looking through the Toy's R Us flyer, and the toy that your kid wants is on for super cheap, but they don't have any more left in stock (most places won't hold toy's, it's limited quantities, and call ahead to see if they have any more of X thing in stock.), go to walmart or target with the flyer in hand and buy the toy. You'll save money by getting the toy at a discounted rate at another place that price checks, and your kid get's the toy they want. Win. Win.
Tip Number 9: If you're like me and have children with birthdays both before and after Christmas, don't have a big party every year. I have a harsh opinion about people who give their kids birthday parties every year anyway (my opinion is don't....it's silly.), but having a big birthday party right before Christmas is costly. Celebrate the "big" years (1,5,10,16,18), but unless you NEED to give them a birthday party every year (I don't know, maybe you're rich, but I doubt it.), start celebrating in your own way. Having a few family member's over is enough for a child, and you could do things that you couldn't do in a big group (like stay at home, watch a movie, in your pj's, and eat mass amounts of popcorn.).
Finally, Tip Number 10: Remember that the most import part of the Holiday's is spending time with Family and Friends. If you buy them (or make them), a scarf, they'll love it all the same (even if they don't wear it.). Instead of stressing out, look forward to spending time together.
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