20 ways to save money this holiday season

While it does seem like there are loads of sales just before the holidays arrive, it’s much better for your wallet to do your gift shopping ahead of time. Shopping early also spreads out your shopping, so you’re not spending a bunch of money all at once. 

There’s no reason you can’t go in on a gift with another person. If you’re both giving a present to the same person, ask if they’d be willing to go in on a gift together. It saves you money, and pooling your resources could allow you to get a nicer gift. 

Giving a DIY gift is a great way to save money while getting creative. The cost of supplies for multiple DIY gifts is often the same as the cost of a singular non-DIY gift. It’s also a great way to relieve stress during the holidays. 

Rather than everyone getting a gift for everyone in your group, suggest doing a gift swap where each person only has to purchase one gift. It’s cheaper and far less stressful, and it can result in a fun gift-giving game. 

We often like to use gift cards on personal purchases, but there’s no reason we can’t use them to buy gifts for others. Search through your wallet for unused gift cards and use them for your holiday shopping. If you have a full gift card to a place you don’t shop at, you can give the gift card itself as a gift. 

Don’t be ashamed to use coupons on your holiday shopping, either. There are loads of coupons floating around the internet, so do some research before making your online purchases. You could be saving lots of money. 

While it is prudent to get a head start on your holiday shopping, there are tons of sales going on throughout the season. If you have your eye on a particular item, give it some time before buying in case its price gets marked down. 

Shopping online can relieve lots of holiday shopping stress, but it can also result in overspending, especially when it comes to shipping fees. Rather than paying small shipping fees at dozens of sites, shop at one site if possible so that the cost of your entire order allows for free shipping. 

Oftentimes, an experience is cheaper than an item. Rather than giving an expensive gift, give a reasonably-priced experience. If the experience isn’t going to happen for a while, it can give you a little more time to save for it, too. 

If you’re really strapped for cash this year, stay put. Traveling over the holidays is a huge expense. You can have just as lovely of a holiday at home as anywhere else, and it’ll save you a lot of money. 

Hosting is another huge expense, and you can save lots of money by skipping your holiday party. If you feel pressure to host, ask if others will contribute so you can save some money. People will be happy to bring food or beverages to your gathering. 

If you have personal belongings you no longer need or want, sell them. It’ll give you a little extra cash to spend during the holidays, and getting rid of clutter will relieve stress and unburden you. 

Save money by simply purchasing fewer gifts. Don’t feel the need to give everyone in your life a gift. And if there’s someone you usually give multiple gifts to, give them fewer this year. 

Stocking stuffers can really add up, and there’s no reason for them to. Save money by switching to true stocking stuffers — small and inexpensive items that can truly fit in a sock. Or, if you’re buying for multiple people, buy gifts with multiple items and split them up. 

Lights use energy, and energy costs money. Instead of going all out with your Christmas lights this year, opt for a minimalist look. Do other things like setting an off-timer and only turning lights on when it’s dark to save even more money. 

The mall is a money-spending trap during the holidays. There are more ways than can be counted to waste money at the mall at the end of the year, so it’s best just to avoid it completely. If you must go, enter through stores and only visit the shops where you need items. 

We all want to have a coordinated aesthetic over Christmas, but it’s not nearly as important as it may seem. Instead of buying a bunch of new rolls of wrapping paper, use up whatever you have left from last year. You can also reuse gift bags, tissue paper, and newspapers. 

If you want to avoid overspending, only use cash to purchase your gifts. Withdraw your amount at the beginning of the season, and don’t use your card. It’s an easy way to avoid going overboard. 

So many holiday treats are sold at the end of the year, but most of them can be made at home. Rather than purchasing expensive hot chocolate and Christmas cookies, make some at home. 

If you have your eye on a specific item, don’t just purchase it from the first place you see it. Shop around a bit and compare prices. If you’re shopping in person, you may be able to negotiate a deal if you see a lower price somewhere else.