Tips To Save Over The Holidays
The holidays are expensive, it’s just a fact! But there is hope to curb holiday spending and still enjoy them. I have 10 tips to help you save this year and in years to come!
Holiday Saving Tips #1 and #2
~tips #3 and #4 coming tomorrow!
Holiday Saving Tip #1 – Make A Spending Plan
Decide how much money you want to spend over the holidays. It seems simple but put action to your spending plan by using prepaid credit cards. Once you have determined how much money you plan to spend, get the cash and head to the store to load prepaid credit cards. Most stores, including grocery and pharmacies, have national credit cards (Visa, American Express and Master Card) that can be loaded with cash. These credit cards are accepted and used like any other credit card. They cost a few dollars to load, but with your budget set and your prepaid credit card loaded unplanned spending will be limited and impulse buying lessened. You could even use this loaded credit card as a gift, wouldn’t a teenager love that?
Holiday Saving Tip #2 – Use Gift Registries
To save time, money and hassle use a gift registry for your Christmas list. Have your family (including kids) and friends “shop” for the items they really want and create a Christmas 2012 gift registry in their name. Most stores offer gift registries easily accessed and created online. Share the registry with each other. Have a variety of price points, size and item types. Do the kids want a really cool pair of shoes? Do you want a certain kitchen gadget? Balance your list with items needed and wanted. Don’t forget the practical! Adding item of need now means not having to buy them in the future; saving on your family budget.
When sharing the registry it helps prevent being stumped on what to buy each other and may alleviate receiving gifts you really do not want or need. Also, this will make sending the gifts nice and hassle free, too. When ordering online, most companies will gift wrap and ship for you (many times for free!)— This saves you time, hassle and money: no gift wrapping, boxing, carrying, standing in line, extra luggage fees, etc.
The KEY to savings is to do something, anything –
Start on the road to saving somewhere, somehow!
You won’t be sorry, and besides you can always go back to spending more if you want!
Watch for Holiday savings tips #3 and #4 tomorrow.
~See Related Posts:
10 Ways to save over the holidays
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Target RED Card – Why having one is really valuable?
Albertsons: Buy $100 in Gift Cards Get $20 Free Groceries
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