As the December holidays come closer and closer, buying gifts and decorations become more and more chaotic and expensive. Most people wait until later in the month of December to buy the supplies and gifts they need. Last-minute shopping can be very crazy, and the last-minute prices shoot through the roof. I decided to look into it and find some ways to help people save money during the holidays. Here are some tips to save money during the chaotic month of December.

 

• Create a budget.

 

Figure out how much money is too much to spend and make sure you do not go over that amount. Make sure you do not overlook the purchasing of the small items.The biggest mistake people make is they overlook the small items bought, and all of the small items will start to add up.

 

• Make a list of everything you need to buy.

 

This is a great way to see how much money you will need to spend so you can stick to your budget. If you do not have enough money to cover everything on the list, you will either have to make some minor cuts or switch out your item for something cheaper. 

 

• Pay in cash.

 

Paying with cash ensures that if you run out of money, then you can not buy any more supplies You also will not have the temptation to keep using your credit card to keep buying items.

 

• Always allow yourself more than enough time to buy what you need.

 

Definitely avoid last-minute shopping. This way you will have time to look over your budget and compare different prices. This will also help steer you away from impulsively buying something expensive at the last minute.

 

• Make a gift instead of buying one.

 

If you do not have enough money or simply want to give someone something more personal, making a gift is a great idea. Making a gift is a free heartfelt gift for any loved one. Some examples would be baking cookies, drawing or painting something, or simply just making a card.

Hopefully, some of these tips were useful and help you save during the holidays this year. Most of these December holidays are coming up very soon so make sure you know how to spend your money wisely. I hope everyone has a happy and stress free holidays this year!

Sources: https://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/ways-to-save-during-holidays-1.aspx