6 Money-Saving Tips for Doing Christmas on a Budget
Here are some tips to have an awesome Christmas on a budget!
Are you gearing up for Christmas while also trying to keep your budget in check?🎄
It’s no secret that holiday shopping can be stressful, so having a plan BEFORE the holidays arrive helps alleviate the chaos.
Here are 6 easy ways to do Christmas on a budget this year.
1. Download apps designed for no-brainer money saving.
Start by looking into apps like Digit or Qapital that can link to your checking account and save bits of money here and there without you even realizing it. They only take a couple of minutes to set up, and they do all the work for you! It’s such an easy way to save up money for your Christmas budget. Some banks even offer a service like this.
My Hip sidekick Emily signed up for Digit and managed to save over $2,200 by having the app automatically transfer money from her checking to her savings — so easy! 💰
Hip Tip: You can also check out rewards apps that will earn you cashback on your everyday purchases!
2. Download our money challenge chart to create your own layaway!
With many people being disappointed by the cancelation of Walmart’s Layaway, we made a 52 Week Money challenge so you can save in increments! Simply follow the chart and deposit money based on which week it is.
With a couple months until Christmas, feel free to fast forward to whichever week you feel comfortable starting at. You can even continue this after the holidays and use it for birthdays and other special occasions.
3. Set up automatic bank transfers.
If you like the concept of the money challenge but would rather have it occur automatically instead of manually, look into automated transfers between your checking and savings. You could also ask your employer to send a portion of your paycheck to a special saving account for your holiday spending.
It’s the same theory of saving without having to manually complete the process, except you can control the amount and the frequency.
4. Buy clearance items when you see them.
It’s no secret that you’ll save a ton by purchasing gifts on clearance, but don’t think you need to wait until December to start buying! Search for marked-down gifts that typically don’t require gift receipts such as candles, beauty & personal care products, or housewares, to ensure your recipient won’t have to worry about exchanging for another size.
You can also check out clearance from stores with generous return policies like Macy’s, Kohl’s, and Target just in case you think your giftee may want to return the gift.
The key for our family staying on a holiday budget is buying Christmas gifts… in January! When Target typically goes down 90 percent off, I hit about 4 Targets in one day, scouring aisles for Christmas-themed beauty items, housewares, toys, holiday apparel, etc. and store it away in a huge Rubbermaid tub for the next year!” — Jules, Hip2Save Reader
“I make gift baskets for people with their favorite things and gather the supplies throughout the year. For example, my mom gets a book basket, my sister-in-law gets a Joanna Gaines basket, etc. You can give huge baskets of stuff for less when you shop clearance and sale items!” — Michelle
5. Use discounted gift cards on gift purchases.
If you aren’t using discounted gift cards yet, what are you waiting for?! We like purchasing from Raise.com because of its user-friendly platform, 365-day guarantee, and good customer service. You can also browse all of our recent gift card deals here!
6. Switch up the tradition.
Instead of buying the latest toys and tech, consider gifting memories. If it’s a warm-weather trip, you can buy a couple of gifts as hints, like bathing suits, towels, or beach supplies that are on clearance right now! Gifting memories and experiences are also great ways to bond together as a family well past the holidays!
How do you save on Christmas gifts and other holiday expenses?
We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
Check out more ways to save for Christmas right now!