The countdown to Christmas is well and truly underway and it has got us all excited. Well, talking about excitement, it is pretty easy to get carried away with the situation especially when it comes to spending money. So, what can be done to save as much as we can other than going to market or getting online and purchasing through high discounts offered as per normal seasonal practice. Let’s have a look at few money saving tips which can help you in saving.

1. TRACK YOUR SPENDING

Stick a money-managing app on your phone that tracks every dollar you spend on Christmas and items related to it. You can’t stick to a budget if you don’t know where all the money that’s magically disappearing out of your wallet is going. Everything from wrapping paper and eggnog to mangoes and petrol for those endless shopping trips. You can use also use our savings goal calculator to plan your budget & savings.

2. DON’T GO FOR PERFECT CHRISTMAS

Planning a perfect Christmas can lead you far away from your goal and ultimately end up spending more than what you actually had planned. Gift for all? A corking meal, list of every lusted-item, there are many things but one must first prepare the budget for it all and see what is in actually in hand and what can be brought from it. In the end, it is just one day, you don’t have to ruin your entire year for it.

3. CHOOSING LOCAL BUDGET HOLIDAY

Convince yourself of spending holiday season locally and not to fly abroad or to any other city. Though this has its own charm it still can be very costly and since you will not be able to travel alone (most probably your wife will not let you go) so the amount of spending can go sky high. Instead look to do some camping nearby for some lovely adventure and enjoy a savvy Christmas.

4. THE VOUCHER HUNTER

There are discount vouchers everywhere. Search them in magazines, newspapers, and both online and in-store. Get your hands on as many as you can and save more and more.

5. THE DIY LEGEND

By using the DIY technique you can save a lot more than you think. I mean just look at your list of presents and think for once that how many of those gifts can be crafted at home with minimum buying. Decorative fruit baskets, biscuits, homemade candles, handmade jewelry, and many other creative gifts will cost you more in time but very less in cash and in the end, your recipient will love those gifts carrying your special love and affection for them.

6. DON’T BUY GIFT FOR YOURSELF

A real trap this one is and please don’t fall for it. It is very easy in the course to find a perfect gift for others, you end up finding the perfect gift for yourself. Try to resist the urge since you might still be able to get it for yourself after the New Year. Better handle your finances smartly for the Christmas.

7. FLOG THE UNUSED ITEMS

This will help in adding a few more $ to your Christmas fund. It is a good time to sell those unused items at eBay and make some good money. Keep an eye on eBay since the best bit is sales are often instant and there are no fees. However, if you have not much time and prefer speed you may opt for other options available on the web.

8. BUY FOOD ITEMS SMARTLY

At Christmas we often buy food items just in case somebody might fancy it sometime over Christmas. Don’t do this. Plan smartly and know your guests and their favorites. Buy only those kinds of stuff which will be eaten and not that stuff which has a chance to get eaten. This thinking can save you very good money. Also, you can look for something other than turkey since there is no written rule to have turkey at Christmas. Turkeys are expensive so instead go for something cheaper.

9. SHOP ONLINE (Prefer to shop via mobile app)

Shop online will always have less temptation to go over budget. And if you can do this purchasing via mobile app, it is highly likely that you will save plenty more since there are many on top discounts on app purchase. Also if you might just in case have to exchange items you will get a better deal online.

10. SEND Ecards and SAVE ON POSTAGE

Sending Ecards is becoming more and more popular these days. So, instead of buying e-cards and then paying out on postage try ecards and save money. You will find a great selection of e-cards on the web choose your favorite and send them to your loved ones instantly.

11. SHOP FOR CHRISTMAS WITHOUT CHILDREN

Taking your children to the shopping means that they will be adding more ‘must have’ items as they see to their shopping list and making your pocket heavier. Apart from this, they will also get bored and start making a lot of noise (which would be resulting in buying them some more stuff). Assign babysitting duties into your home and shop accordingly.

12. GET A 0% CARD

If you can get one, then you can use it to do all of your Christmas shopping and pay the balance after Christmas without paying any interest. Though, if you are not been able to pay off the balance after Christmas, then Christmas will be even more expensive than you have thought.

13. USING LOYALTY POINTS

We all collect loyalty points but saving them to spend during the Christmas season will have a significant impact on your budget. Plan ahead of time and make a smart use of your loyalty points during the Christmas season.

14. START SHOPPING EARLY

Starting early will help you pick up pre-Christmas bargains especially on snack, drinks, and sweets. Shopping early will also save you from last-minute panic buy which can cause considerable damage to your budget.