Ways To Save Money On A Tight Budget For The Holidays

Are you looking for ways to save money on a tight budget for the upcoming holidays?  One of the most dreaded things about Christmas and other holidays at that time of year (other than your in-laws coming to visit) is trying to do your holiday shopping. 

Not only are the stores crowded, but you always seem to end up spending more than you planned on unexpected requests to Santa!

According to Investopedia, people spend about $1,0000 on Christmas gifts each year – and even more, if you have children!  The average parents spend $250-$450 per child.  I don’t know about you, but I do not have an extra grand lying around in December!

Some people are even so desperate when Christmas rolls around; they dip into their 401k’s and other retirement savings!

Please, I beg of you, do not do this!

6 Easy Ways To Save Money On A Tight Budget This Holiday Season

Instead, I am going to give you some simple ways to save money on a tight budget for the holiday season now!  They’re stressful enough without the dread of going into debt for a toy that will never be played with again!

Start Saving Now

Set aside an envelope, or even just a place in your budget, to save money, $50 per month for the holiday season now, this will add up to $600 at the end of the year that you can spend on gifts!  Even if you can’t do a full $50, any amount will help make a difference! 

If you know about how much you usually spend, and you can afford to do so, divide up that amount by 12.  That will give you how much you need to put aside every month.

Start Gift Shopping in September

Did you try to find a Hatchimal or Fingerling in November in the last couple of years?  (If you don’t know what those are, you probably don’t have children!)  Not only were they impossible to find, but if you were lucky enough to see them on eBay, they cost over five times the initial price.

However, if you had been looking in September or October, you would have been able to find them.  Several of 2018’s hottest toys (like Little Live Wrapples) are already available on pre-order on Amazon right now, and it’s barely August!  And they keep selling out, even though they won’t be available until October! Some stores also allow you to set gifts on layaway, to pay a little bit at a time.

Supplement with Gift Cards

There are so many ways to earn gift cards for Amazon, Target, and other stores that are easy to do!  My family will save all of these up until the end of the year.  Last year, we had around $1,000 in gift cards that we used to pay for Christmas!  (And then for birthdays the following year.) 

Sell Current Toys

As my children outgrow toys and clothes, we re-sell them on Facebook groups for our geographical area.  I put this money aside to spend on future birthday and Christmas gifts.  We always choose toys for our children to donate at Christmas time, but these are typically toys they no longer use. 

Draw Names and Set Limits

I am the oldest of 10 children.  My mom has 12 siblings, and my dad has seven siblings.  I’ve lost track of how many cousins I have!  It would be impossible for us to get Christmas presents for everyone, so we draw names. 

The way these works is each child in the immediate family draws a sibling’s name.  Then the extended family (my aunts and uncles) draw family names; this means that my parents’ family is responsible for getting gifts for one of my mom’s siblings and their family, and one of my dad’s siblings and their family.  These gifts are always family gifts (like a board game or matching outfits) that we enjoy together.

We also set limits on how much each gift can cost.  Some years, when money is exceptionally tight, we stipulate that the gifts have to be homemade (like knitting scarves or hats), this keeps us from having to rob a bank to provide presents for all 100+ extended family members!

Reconsider Your Gifting Habits

I have to say that spending $250-$450 each Christmas per child is a bit much for most budgets!  If you are feeling the need to pay more than your budget and income allow for, then you may need to reconsider your gifting habits (especially with regards to your children).

There is no need to go into debt (and that includes credit card debt!) or to dip into your savings and retirement accounts for Christmas. It’s essential to be wise with your money, and to teach your children that prudent spending is more important than the latest toys; otherwise, they will struggle to learn those lessons as adults.

Even though the holiday season feels far away, it’s closer than you think it is!  It’s only 4ish months away; if you were to divide up your $1,000 Christmas, you’d need to start setting $250/month aside right now!  So give these tips a try, and enjoy a less stressful holiday with your loved ones!

More Ways To Save Money On A Tight Budget

Here’s a list of money-saving apps that work hard, so you don’t have to. Sometimes the easiest way to save is to stop buying small and unnecessary things. You can start a savings challenge and save $1400 in a year so you don’t have to use credit cards for the holidays.

Author Bio

Tiffany Thomas is a former math teacher and SAHM who loves finding good deals!  She and her husband, who is an engineer, work together on The Crazy Shopping Cart. 

They enjoy spending time with their family, geeking out over sci-fi together, and saving money. You can also find her on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Group, Facebook, and Pinterest.