The Best Christmas Shopping Tips

We stress about Christmas shopping because we fear we may not have the means to provide what’s expected without going further into debt.

There are however ways to save money by making a few smart shopping choices. When we think about Christmas shopping, we think about brightly wrapped gifts. But we also spend money on clothing, food and decorations. So here are a few money saving tips to help you navigate this festive season and still keep your sanity.

Budget

• Make sure that you’re budgeting for your monthly expenses as well as your Christmas shopping. 
• Sticking to your budget is paramount if you don’t want to go into debt.

Make a list

• Write down the names of all the people you’d like to buy gifts for and how much you want to spend on each gift. If the total is more than your budget, cut down your list.

Save before you spend

• Don’t use credit, debit or store cards. Granted, cards are convenient, but handing over a card at the counter may not feel like paying. You’ll take more note of what you’re spending when you have to hand over cash. Leaving your cards at home may save you money. 

Leave the kids at home

• They will most likely want everything they see and you might not always be able to say no. 

Shop around

• Look for stores that offer goods at lower prices. 
• Limit the amount spent per gift. Arrange with family and friends to only spend up to a certain amount on gifts. Everybody else is most likely also stressing about finances this festive season, and will be relieved at not having to buy expensive gifts. 
•  Buy for one instead of all. This is an excellent idea for saving money if you have a large family. Get everyone together, put each person’s name in a hat, and each person draws one name. Then buy that person a gift.

Think smart 

• Buy what you need Before purchasing an item, ask yourself if you really need it or if you just want it or because it’s on sale. 

Choose less expensive goods

• Saving a few cents on lower-priced items will cut down your grocery bill. Don’t buy designer labels. You are likely paying for the name. You could get the same quality product with a lesser brand. 

Use coupons

• Saving a few rands and cents here and there could help your budget drastically. 

Get gift vouchers or gift cards

• Consider a R100 gift voucher over paying R250 for a gift. 

Cut out unnecessary spending

• Eat at home then you won’t spend on eating out. Ensure that you have enough cash so you don’t rack up ATM fees. See where you can get parking for free. Watch out for extended warrantees on appliances.

 Now that you’re armed with ideas that will be kinder to your wallet, we trust that your festive season this year will be filled with more cheer.

Read the full article at: https://blog.moneysmart.co.za/budgeting-the-best-christmas-shopping-tips/ 

December 01 2017 By By Wanna Loan? Financial Planning