With the holidays just around the corner, U.S. consumers are gearing up for spending more money on credit than they do during any other part of the year. If you are planning on buying a new home in the spring time, the holiday season could prove to be a stressful time as there are more demands on your money. Now add in the extra cost of gas and everything else that costs more like food and basic living expenses and there are even more things pulling for your money.
What about doing things differently this year? After all, you are planning on buying a home in the springtime; at least you are planning on it and that’s probably a little different for you too. Let’s start with the annual tradition: Black Friday. You really don’t have to wait until Black Friday to start your holiday shopping. Even though it has been a tradition in your family for years, this could be the year that you start a new tradition. Traditions do come and they do go.
Here are three simple ways to save money this year that you can feel good about, and keep putting money aside for your home purchase next spring.
Shop Earlier In The Year During Back To School Sales
Try shopping during the back to school sales in August and during the Labor Day sales in early September. Chances are something you buy during this time of year will still be in fashion or fad by the time the holidays roll around. Back to school sales are great for saving money and time. The rush to the malls is not nearly as crazy during this sales event as it is during Black Friday and the home stretch in December up through New Years. Depending on where you live – like the Northeast – the weather is far more favorable to getting around in late summer and early fall than it is in the winter, which could save you from some stress and perhaps keep you out of a parking lot bender.
Buy Gift Cards Instead Of Gifts
You may have already thought of this, and perhaps even taken advantage of this – buy only gift cards and put them in either a gift bag or a music card. Most people I know love music and seem to be fascinated with these music cards that play familiar tunes when opened. And the gift card, it makes complete sense to get these. You may be thinking that they are so impersonal – perhaps, but is getting some sweater really that much more personal?
You may be doing that person a favor by allowing them the opportunity of picking out the very thing that they want without having to stand in line to return something. Heaven forbid that you forget to give them the gift receipt – this is especially true for items bought at Target. Have you ever tried to take something expense back there without a receipt? They just won’t take anything over something like $25 if you don’t have a receipt. They are not even nice about it. Sorry. So why put your friends and family through this hassle. Get them a gift card.
One other benefit for you to get gift cards is that you may be able to do all of your shopping pretty efficiently as many retail stores allow their gift cards to be sold at most grocery stores. Even Costco has a display for other merchants’ gift cards. By getting gift cards at one location you could cut your shopping time by 99% and save a ton of money in gas. And at $4.00 per gallon who would knock saving some of your hard earned cash? You could buy a gift card for yourself.
Ah The Regift – Try It – Start A Tradition
What are the holidays all about anyway? Is it about getting the sweater or a bottle of wine? Is it about giving a sweater and a bottle of wine? Seems like a zero sum game to me. No, the holidays used to be about getting together with friends and family. Holiday shopping and commercialism only started in massive proportion following World War II as a way to kick start businesses in the U.S. So, let’s kick out the “new” commercialism tradition and bring back the “old” one: let’s bring back family and friends.
As part of this new – old – tradition you could make it a fun game to regift some of those gifts you get that you will never use. Make it a fun thing to do. I already do this with a few of my friends. We even have tried to not even unwrap the gift just so we can have fun with the joke of the regift. It goes over quite well.
Don’t stress this holiday season. Start early, buy gift cards, and regift – and save money for your new home. Next year you can stress about your first holiday party instead.
If you want more information on ways to save money durring the holidays please ask EdGAR.
