Daily Dose of Design: Simple Ways to Save Money During the Holidays

Monday, December 11, 2017

Simple Ways to Save Money During the Holidays


I will be the very first to admit that overspending and buying during the holidays is WAY too easy to do! I swear between the constant sales this time of year and the Christmas music stores play, they do whatever they can to reel you in and it works! ;) That being said, the holidays don't have to cost you a fortune - here's some seriously simple ways to save this season:

ON GIFTS:


Gift giving can be so expensive, but it really doesn't have to be! I know we all get very caught up in wanting to give our family and friends the very best, and not to sound totally cliche but this season doesn't (and shouldn't) have to be all about materialistic items. Giving gifts is always a good feeling, but it shouldn't make you feel like you're going crazy! That being said, there are tons of ways all season long to get great deals.

Do your research before buying. See which store(s) are having deals, which has free shipping, the most cash-back available on Ebates, etc. Chances are at least one retailer will have the items you're looking to purchase for less - even if it's a little bit. Every penny counts when it comes to saving, it adds up!

Set a budget and stick to it. It is NOT easy to stick to budgets but when you do and realize how much you've saved and how your saved money can be divided into so many other places, it's such a great feeling! Make your shopping list for each person you'll be buying for, figure out how much you'll spend on each person and spend exactly that. Even aim to spend less, then you're saving even more than you planned to! It's really fairly easy to do with all of the sales that go on every single day during this time of year.


ON TRAVEL:


Whether you're planning on taking a trip this season or just booking now, you can save. Trust!

Research and know WHEN to book. there are SO many places to book for much less than you'd even expect! There's the theory that Tuesday/Friday are the best days to book flights but beyond betting on which day you'll get the cheapest deal, track a flight based on your destination using tracking sites like Hopper, KAYAK and Skyscanner; you'll get email alerts when a flights price goes down and it's a huge help in saving the most money..

[RELATED]: 9 FREE Must Have Travel Apps

Book through Groupon. Guys, the deals that Groupon has are usually insanely good! They have a variety of locations and a ton of great resorts and hotels. Be careful when you book to read the exclusions/restrictions and fine print - there are lots of specifics you want to make sure you know before booking! I haven't booked through them before yet, but a few of my close friends have and they said they had zero problems and did end up saving quite a bit of money. Some of the trip bundles even include the cost of the flight (again, look closely!) and can save you hundreds.

Avoid super busy days. Weekends, for example, are going to be MUCH more hectic and crowded and expensive - this goes for travel, but also if you're going to any sort of special event. For example during this time of year in New York, I just would not go into the city on a Sunday - not only would it be packed, but ticket prices, specific stores and restaurants and more are all able to bump prices up because the demand is so high. Anyway, the point is (before I REALLY go off on a tangent... LOL this drives me crazy!) aim to travel and attend events on days that aren't going to get you stuck on lines and in crowds AND that'll cost you more.


ON DECOR:


It is sooo easy to end up spending a fortune on holiday themed decor. Too easy if you ask me! Here's how you can avoid that:

Buy AFTER the holiday. While this won't really benefit you this year, come next year you'll have decor and will have saved tons. After the holidays, you can find decorations usually for up to 75% off in some places; some things won't be "on trend" year after year, but there's a lot of things that are timeless and that you can easily re-purpose.

[RELATED]: 7 Last Minute Holiday Things to Get at Home Goods

DIY your decorations. Not only will making some decor yourself save you money, it'll be fun too! There's no better way to have your decor stand out than by making it yourself, and instead of dishing it out, get on Pinterest and see if you can make it. A lot of times, the supplies you'd need will cost more than it would to just buy - but that's where doing your research will tell you what to buy and what to DIY.


ON HOLIDAY OUTFITS:


Between all of the parties, events and holidays this season, it gets expensive dressing for every occasion. Dress smart (and cute) without paying a small fortune, here's how:

Buy pieces you can re-wear. Make sure anything you buy can be re-worn and added into different looks. When you buy shoes, get a classic color that'll match your outfits, for example. Or a simple dress that you can dress-up in different ways. Then you can switch up outfits and mix and match pieces together for each event! No matter what, make sure the things you buy are things you'll wear again and even throughout the winter - you don't want to buy something (especially if it's more of an investment piece) that you'll only wear during the holidays.

Shop stores when they have sales. This seems to be a re-occurring point I'm making, but there is almost ALWAYS a great sale going on from October-January. Wait until there's a coupon code for what you're looking to buy - if you're anything like me, your luck will have it that you'll buy and a day later the item will go on sale!

Save or splurge: there are lots of high-end, trendy buys but these days, you can always find a good "save" for every "splurge". It's fun to see what you can find, and if it's a more trendy buy that you don't know will always be in style, it's better to save on it.


How do you save during the holidays?
XOXO -A

25 comments:

  1. I always buy the majority of my decor after the holidays. I keep it packed up so I can open everything new the next year and it's fun to see what else I picked up!

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  2. These are all such great tips! I always buy decor when it's discounted after the holidays, haha. :) And I never thought to book through Groupon!

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  3. Very helpful, especially travel tips! I love SkyScanner and I need to check out Groupon for deals!

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  4. These are great tips for saving money. One key thing I do is start in September. I always thought that waiting for Black Friday is the best way to save money and it really isn't!

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  5. Great tips! I love how you broke it down into different categories, so that people can save in all realms of the budget!

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  6. These are such good tips! I have the hardest time with decor. If I see it, I usually just want it right then. But you're completely right about waiting or DIYing!

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  7. Such a helpful post! Travel can definitely be expensive if you aren't careful.

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  8. These are great tips! We stock up on holiday decor and non-perishable stocking stuffers after the holidays when everything is on sale! I'm making quite a few handmade gifts this year as well.

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  9. Love these tips! When I buy presents I always check multiple places so I can find the best price for a purchase. And yes to buying clothes you can wear anytime as a holiday outfit. You have a special item for the holiday, but a new outfit overall. :)

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  10. These are such good tips, and most work for anytime of year, too! I really need to take advantage of buying decorations AFTER the holiday!

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  11. This is soooo good! You need as many shopping tips as you can get this time of year!

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  12. These are great tips! It's so easy to just spend spend spend during this time of year. I actually made the conscious decision to not exchange gifts with most of the people in my life this year. Instead, we're spending quality time together, including doing some volunteer work. Instead of focusing on getting each other stuff, we're trying to refocus and remember what the holidays are really about.

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  13. I spend a lot, not only on gifts but on a cookies and sweets, so thanks for sharing this tips xo


    www.theninebyivana.blogspot.com

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  14. I love these tips I'm all for looking for deals and buying decor after holidays to use the next time I need them. Thank you for sharing.

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  15. I found this app called Hopper that watches flight costs to tell you when to buy, and now I'm "watching" a trip to Turks and Caicos, just in case. ;) HA!

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  16. We save about $150 dollars when we do not go out to eat or buy take out food in a month. We do that in November and December and it helps cover the costs of Christmas presents! :)

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  17. The when to book it's so important! Great tips!

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  18. I shop for Christmas gifts year round so it isn't so much of a financial burden to buy them all at once! I have a "gifts shelf" in my closet to store them. :)

    xoxo A
    www.southernbelleintraining.com

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  19. This is awesome. I love buying gifts year round - it's SO much easier!

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  20. I love all these tips! I love organizing secret santa gift exchanges with my friend groups/family/office so I can save money by buying only one gift for the group instead of buying for everyone. I also definitely only by holiday outfits I can re-wear. It's so hard to resist those sparkly new year's dresses but I know I'd only wear them once!

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  21. It can be so easy to get carried away, so setting a budget is a must for me!

    -Carine
    www.rinnyandbean.com

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  22. Grabbing decor after the season to use next year is such a great way to save $!
    Mindy

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  23. I totally agree with buying after the holidays!

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  24. DIY outfits and shopping sales/clearance are such great ideas. So many stores already have Christmas decor on major sale such as Michaels and AC Moore.

    -xo, Azanique | www.lotsofsass.com

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  25. These suggestions are wonderful. I'm all for finding discounts and purchasing decorations after the holidays to use again. I appreciate you sharing. Cheap SMM Provider

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