How to Save Money During the Holidays

The holiday season is a time of joy and an opportunity to be with loved ones. However, it can also be a time of stretching every dollar! To avoid the post-holiday money blues, follow these simple tips.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Start planning early in the holiday season. Give yourself plenty of time to make gift-giving decisions, so you aren't stuck blowing a ton of money at the last minute.
2. First, decide how much you want to spend on gifts totally. Then, make a clear and concise list of who you are buying for and what you are buying them. This will help you budget and avoid impulse purchases.
3. Buy 1 or 2 gifts a week rather than a lot of gifts at once. This will also help you stay organized and prioritize who you're buying for.
4. Talk to your friends. Suggest that instead of exchanging gifts, you plan a night to go out to dinner, the movies and/or for drinks. More than likely, they too will be relieved to have one less person to buy for!
5. For an inexpensive gift, buy colorful tins and containers and fill them with homemade cookies or other baked goods. Include the recipe.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind what is most important: having fun with the people you love.
• Gifts are a fun way to express how we feel, but they are only things. Try to avoid getting wrapped-up in the material aspect of the season.

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