Right from Halloween people start gearing up for the festive season and the pace for an eventful holiday season is set right now. with festivity comes expense and as an instinct, you tend to think and convince yourself that this expense is just once a year, so it is worth splurging and pampering oneself a little.
But most people go overboard with this kind of conviction and end up exhausting whatever they had saved for the rainy day. However, you must remember that Christmas shopping on a budget has fun and fancy of its own and if you can do it, you will not regret being a spendthrift. Here, let us find out these 10 steps you can take so that you judiciously spend those, Benjamins.
How to do Christmas shopping on a budget
Enjoying this season on a tight budget can be equally very gratifying and fulfilling provided you know the tricks on how to go about the same. Let us find out how you can enjoy it without straining your wallet.
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Restrict use of plastic cards
Think “prepaid”. It means that you set aside an amount that you have decided you will not exceed for Christmas and then spend according to the funds you have at your disposal. But if you use plastic cards, whether it is credit or debit, the tendency to shop more will constantly haunt you.
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Shop throughout the year
Undoubtedly, shopping just before the festival has its charm but due to the pandemic, many people have lost their jobs or suffered pay cuts. And if you happen to be one of the members of such a household, you must have known by now how difficult it is when the bread earner loses his job. Keeping this in mind, shop for things round the year when gifts are reasonable and go for the affordable ones.
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Shed the frills and fancies
If you have had to suffer a pay cut or job loss and you are now surviving on passive income, stop eating out, and the expenses that can be deferred or not required now.
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Arrange for a Christmas potluck
If you want to enjoy Christmas with your dear ones but also keep your expenses in check, a potluck setup is perhaps a good bet. This is one way if you have been wondering how to do Christmas on a budget.
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Shop online
Although you do not see the goods physically before you place an order, yet most of the customers are satisfied, especially if you are buying from well-known e-commerce portals. Compare prices and deals that are being offered by the online vendors and then settle for one.
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Try not to gift one expensive gift for a single person
Uniformity is key. You understand you must shop on a stringent budget, so you cannot afford to gift an expensive present to one person. Instead, allocate the funds for everyone equally or maybe a little less and a little more.
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Decide what you want to shop beforehand
It is important to make up your mind what you want to buy. Since you have been visiting shopping centers throughout the year, you must have spotted something interesting for someone. So, you know that gift costs how much. Similarly, carry a list of the names and how much you intend to spend for each and then take the plunge accordingly.
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Try local vendors
Christmas shopping on a tight budget becomes easier if you buy stuff from the local vendors. It is not necessary that you must buy expensive branded presents for everyone. A small token of love can work wonders and for the same try out the local vendors where the costs might be reasonable. The moment you visit the shopping centers, the cost increases as well.
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Gift handmade stuff
Your friends will appreciate it if you take some time out of your busy schedule and make something for them. Perhaps a woolen scarf or a muffler can be a great gift.
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Bake your friends’ favorite cookies
Your friend has always loved those cookies that you served when he visited your place. Bake some more for your other friends as well as wrap it up in a box and surprise them. You can do the same with chocolates too.
There are various other ways in which you can make Christmas shopping on a tight budget fun and exciting.
