There is no denying that Christmas is an expensive holiday. In the past, or perhaps right now, you may have found yourself spending a substantial amount of money on things like food, decorations and travelling.
However, the heftiest expense is usually the presents — approximately 34% of North American parents spend $500 on gifts (per child) during the holiday season. If you have a large family, this adds up quickly.
Instead of frantically emptying your wallet, consider using these money-saving tips over the holidays because by doing so you’ll be able to get more bang for your buck and potentially save hundreds or thousands of dollars on gifts.
1 — Use an Online Shopping Directory
Shopping local is always the best idea but let’s face it, not everything on your list can be sourced locally and including online shopping options is a no brainer. In fact, it’s fair to say that no holiday shopping trip is complete without an online shopping directory. If you’ve never used one, an online shopping directory is an innovative tool that offers a wide variety of features.
One of the primary benefits of using one of these directories is that you can use them to access digital coupons and flyers. You can use these coupons to save a significant amount of money on your purchases.
Additionally, you may need to shop in a larger outlet and if so, you can use these directories to find a shopping centre near you and important pieces of information like store hours. This way, you won’t waste your time by showing up after the Kingsway Mall or your chosen shopping mall closes.
2 — Ship Directly to the Recipient
Shopping online makes the gift-giving experience quick and convenient. With a few clicks, you can have a gift hand-delivered to your door. Although, if you won’t be seeing the recipient over the holidays, you will have to ship the item yourself. This process can get expensive!
Although it may seem unconventional, you can make your Christmas shopping easier by shipping your gifts straight to the recipients.
Even though this may take some of the fun out of it, direct shipping is a practical and cost-effective way to give gifts to people. This is especially true if the recipient lives far away.
If you want to save even more money, you should go to sites that offer free shipping.
3 — Look for Ways to Buy in Bulk
If you’re planning on hosting a holiday event, you’re probably looking for ways to save money on food. An easy way to cut back costs is by purchasing items in bulk. Although you may not want to purchase turkey or eggnog in bulk, it is practical for staples like water bottles, cookies or festive treats.
You should avoid purchasing perishable items in bulk. Some things to avoid purchasing include:
- Produce (Fruits, Vegetables)
- Dairy (Milk, Cheese)
- Baked Goods That Are Difficult to Store
It is worth noting that you can store some of these items by freezing them.
4 – Make Your Gifts
Are you good with your hands? Do you love to create things? Have you been told that you have a knack for building stuff?
Instead of going to the Dixie Outlet Mall, you should consider making some of your Christmas gifts yourself. This is a thoughtful gesture that goes a long way with friends and family members.