Welcome to Thrifty Thursday, where Fresh Print gives you tips to get a little more bang for your buck. This week we’re getting into the holiday spirit and taking a look at some simple ways to stretch your dollar this season. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle. Everyone wants to give the best gifts, throw the best parties, and have the most fun. With a few easy tricks you’ll be able to celebrate now without dreading your bills later.
1. Budget, Budget, Budget: Money matters might not get you into the holiday spirit, but a little bit of planning can stop you from feeling like the Grinch. Organization and planning can cut your holiday costs and save you from frustration when January bills come a calling.
- Make a list of you holiday expenses – How many people are on your gift list? What are you making for your holiday dinner? Where do you have to travel? Make sure everything is accounted for.
- Set limits – Know exactly how much you can spend on each gift. It’ll keep your wallet happy and your shopping easier. Stick to them. Once you reach your limit, you’re finished. Cross that name off the list and go onto the next. No humming and hawing about whether the gift is perfect – of course it is, it’s from you!
- Talk to your friends and family – No one wants to stress about the holidays. Talk to the people on your list. Make a limit that works for both of you. Secret Santa isn’t just for office parties. Get your friends together and draw names. Buying for one is more cost effective than buying for seven. Plus, it gives you an excuse for a party
Or maybe just cut down on the number of presents…
2. Cutting Back Doesn’t Mean Leaving Out: Some traditions are hard to break, but if money is tight sometimes it’s the little things that add up. Evaluate the small stuff. Is it meaningful to you? If so, adjust your holiday budget to keep it. If not, try to find an inexpensive alternative.
- Sending Cards – Do you really need to spend $40 mailing out holiday cards to your friends and family? Would an e-card suffice? Would the money be better spent making a credit card or student loan payment?
- Table settings – Sometimes presentation feels like everything, especially when you’re hosting family and friends. Instead of buying centerpieces or place cards use what you already have. Decorate your Christmas cookies with your guest’s names to kill two birds with one stone.
- Hit the lights – Christmas lights can put people in the festive mood, but can be devastating to your hydro bill. Make sure to use energy saving bulbs and turn off your decorations before you go to bed to keep costs low (and safety high). Still worried? Switch out electric lights for tinsel and battery operated holiday decorations.
- Beg, borrow and steal – Even if you’re renting and don’t have to worry about utilities, decorations can be expensive. Ask your friends and family if they have anything left over. There’s probably a box in a basement somewhere that hasn’t seen the light of day in years.
- Get crafty – There’s no need to shell out hundreds of dollars on name brand ornaments when you can make something equally as fun at home. Test your creativity. Take some glitter to an ordinary Christmas ball, make your very own Rudolph with a clothespin and a cotton ball, or even try your hand at the felt creations (that in no way infringe on copyright) below. Crafting your own ornaments is not only inexpensive, but also starts your own holiday tradition. Get your friends and family together and make some holiday magic. It’s perfect for the little ones in your life.
These Doctor What Ornaments are perfect for the geek on your list
3. Shop Early: You may have missed the Black Friday Sales, but there are plenty of stores with great deals. Sadly, many of these sales dry up closer to the end of the month and you don’t want to be stuck paying $60 for something you could have bought for $40 two weeks earlier.
- Make a list – Know what you’re looking for before you head to the dreaded mall. Having a plan will cut down on your travel time and save you some money and aggravation.
- Keep your receipts. The savvy shopper isn’t finished once the gifts are purchased. Sure, you got a great deal, but did you get the best deal? Keep an eye on flyers to see if that special something has gone down in price. Most stores have a 30 day return policy. Make your money count.
4. Shop Late: On the other hand, there are always those people who you don’t quite get to see over the holidays – a cousin, a friend from school, that annoying person who booked a vacation over the break. You want to get them something but you’re not sure when you’ll be getting together. Boxing Day sales might be the perfect time to pick up a DVD or a box of chocolates for a bargain.
5. Try a Potluck: Hosting the holidays for the first time can be overwhelming. Don’t feel like you have to do it on your own. You might be stuck making the turkey and potatoes, but your family and friends won’t mind pitching in for the rest. Your brother can bring a salad. Your parents can bring dessert. Ask the rest to bring appetizers or wine. It saves you the cash (and the stress) and everyone feels like part of the meal.
Shouldn’t the food be the centerpiece?
6. Be Careful What You Wish For: You’ve stuck to your budget and bought all of your gifts. The turkey is in the oven and Uncle Tim has arrived with the cranberries. Your table is decorated with handmade ornaments that will later be stuffing stockings. You’ve done it! Now it’s time to open the gifts. Did you make your wish list count? Yes, we all like to be surprised sometimes, but a practical gift can go a long way. A sweater and new shoes might help in the long run more that that video game you’ve been eyeing. Make sure your family and friends know where your priorities are. You might have that one relative who likes to spoil you. They mean well and would do anything for you, but they just don’t seem to understand your financial situation. You have bills, and student loans, and not as much disposable income as they think. Sure, you’d love that TIFF membership if you had a steady income, but you don’t and while a new blow-dryer and a Loblaws gift card might not be as exciting, it’ll give you a good start to the new year.
What are your tricks for saving money this season? Tell us in the comments or send us your ideas at j.nagel@freshprintmagazine.com.
