Four ways to save money while doing Christmas this year
There's always a savvy way of approaching your finances, especially during the holidays.
Planning for the festivities this holiday can be stressful. Not only is there pressure to entertain or surprise your kids with something unique, but there is also the cost of doing it all.
Enjoying this time of the year has become conditional, with many people focusing on the big, shiny parts of the festive season instead of appreciating the small things.
But we want to celebrate this time of year; it's a time for coming together, and if at all possible, we should focus on the good.
After it's all said and done, you can still save money by applying some savvy tips to how you coordinate your holidays. Here are some helpful ways you can celebrate without breaking the bank.
READ MORE: Tips to shop smarter this festive season
1. Be prepared
It's not too late to rein in your scruffiness and make this Christmas salvageable.
Make sure to set a budget. That's the number one thing to do. Many employers pay salaries early to accommodate families who want to celebrate. But don't use this as an opportunity to splurge. Instead, first and foremost, set aside money for January. Separate your expenses into food, shopping, and extras and work from there.
Remember, if you can borrow, reuse, repurpose or get it second-hand, then do so. Every bit counts.
2. Meal planning
A great way to save money while also spending time with your loved ones is to do a bring-and-share. This eliminates the pressure on one person to bear the cost and stress of preparing.
This also takes some planning, so if necessary, create a group with the family, agree on the menu, and get on with it.
3. Gifting
This might be the most stressful part of this time of the year. Play it cool, there's always a frugal approach to these things. Here are some options.
- Shop sales - Look into getting gifts from stores with festive or online sales.
- DIY your gifts - Making something for someone might seem tacky, but it depends on the level of care and love that you put into the gift that truly matters.
- Shop secondhand - Look at thrift or secondhand stores. Sometimes, it's like a treasure trove.
- Offer coupons or discounts - Use your rewards or loyalties accumulated over the year as a gift to those who need it most.
4. Cut out the extras
The extras like gift wrapping, decorations, and more can all add up, and these are unnecessary costs that can be avoided.
Instead of buying new decorations, reuse your existing ones or spruce them up. Even better, you could get the family involved and make some homemade decorations; this doubles up as a bonding experience.
For gift wrapping, you could be inventive, steer clear from traditional wrapping, use different materials to make it unique, and save a Rand or two.
Another thing that also draws from your bank account is the activities. Look around Facebook events for free events you can attend and research places that you can visit without an entrance fee.
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