Holidays are more than just sugar cookies and carol singing. However, Americans need to be careful not to spend their savings on stocking stuffers in this current economic environment.
These are some great tips for Americans trying to survive and even enjoy the holidays while on a budget.
Avoid impulse purchases. Write down the names of people you wish to gift gifts to before you shop. Start with your closest friends. As you shop for gifts, you can refer to the list and check off items as they are found. It is better to give than receive. Keep your shopping list in order and avoid buying unnecessary extras.
Be realistic about your budget. Determine how much you are able to spend on gifts. When you have made your gift recipients list, determine how much you can afford to spend each one. You might spend more money on your mother’s gift than you would on your cousin. A ballpark figure can help you limit your spending.
Crafty! As much as you can buy store-bought gifts, homemade gifts are as popular as handmade. Even knitters with three thumbs can frame flattering photos. You can’t refuse a tray of cookies, so you might consider bringing your own baked goods to work or to book clubs. It will be cheaper to buy one gift for a group than buying them all.
You can find deals online. You can avoid the bustle and chaos of holiday malls by shopping online. You can save shipping costs by purchasing multiple gifts from the same Web site. Some sites allow you to ship gift-wrapped items directly from your website to the recipient.
To repair your credit, you can use holiday shopping. Spend smart if you know what you are going to spend. A digital camera can be purchased for your sister to help increase or create credit. Pay by the Day is one company.www.paybytheday.comUsers can finance brand-name electronic purchase, such as Toshiba notebooks or Sony flatscreen televisions, by using a credit card (called ) for less than $1 per day. Customers can enroll in an automatic payment program. Customers know exactly what they owe and don’t get penalized for making payments on time. After a customer has made their payments, the electronic is fully owned by them.
Customers can purchase a gift for someone they love by regularly paying for small items like a digital camcorder.
