It's that time of year again: the holidays are here! You might wonder how to get and stay inspired with your holiday budget. Well, you're in luck—we've got some tips to help you save money while shopping on our website and have a great holiday season.
A plan before shopping can help you save money this holiday season.
Your budget might be tight this holiday season, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the season. Having a plan before you shop will help you save money and avoid the stress of going into debt at the end of December. Here are some tips for staying on track:
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Make a list before you shop online or go to the store.
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Don't buy anything that's not on your list unless it's an absolute must-have item—and then only buy one! You can always make another purchase and save on shipping costs on NouBess.com or another trip later to the store if something else catches your eye or another gift idea comes along.
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Don't shop when hungry or tired. It's hard to resist buying things when we're hungry because we think they'll satisfy our cravings or when tired because our willpower isn't as strong as usual (or nonexistent). If possible, wait until after lunchtime or after dinner to shop, so that hunger pangs don't tempt us into making purchases we regret later.
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Avoid making impulse buys by enlisting someone else's help in keeping track of what has already been purchased for whom and how much money has been spent on each person/family member/friend group so far; if it's too late for them to get something from elsewhere then consider giving them cash instead, so there isn’t any pressure on either party involved."
Think about homemade options.
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Homemade gifts are more thoughtful. Buy a group of items and create a gift basket or bundle.
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Homemade gifts are less expensive.
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Homemade gifts are healthier.
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Homemade gifts are more environmentally friendly.
Plan to avoid overspending on groceries.
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Plan and buy in bulk if that helps.
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Make a list of what you need, and stick to it. Don't get distracted by sales or other temptations. If you're feeling tempted, ask yourself: Is this something I need? Will I use it often enough to justify spending money on it? If not, put it back and move on.
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Don't shop when you are hungry or tired—or both! These are the times when we tend to make decisions based more on emotion than reason, which is why so many buy things for themselves "just because." Hunger and fatigue also make us less likely to stay focused on our goals (like sticking with our budget).
Make a budget and stick to it.
When you're shopping, it is essential to stick to your budget. Set a limit for how much you will spend, and don't go over it. Create a list of all the things that need to be purchased and add up the cost of each item. If any items aren't necessities, consider whether or not they are worth the money spent on them.
When planning your holiday budget, don't forget about travel costs, parking fees, and other expenses!
It might be better to shop online when Shipping is FREE or you are only charged a Flat Rate Fee. Think about gas prices, mileage, and traffic.
Get creative with decor and stay on budget.
If you don't have the budget to buy new decorations, it's time to get creative. In fact, as a general rule of thumb, always try to use what you already have first before buying something new.
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Look around your house and see if any decorations can be reused from previous years.
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If you're having a party or holiday gathering, consider using the food on a table display as decoration instead of buying flowers or pine garland! Have any extra Christmas cards hanging around? Glue them together in different ways (backward) on a canvas and hang them up with ribbon!
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Our store has a few ideas for your Christmas decorations. Please take a look at our seasonal category items.
Conclusion
So, what do you think? Are you ready to make some plans and stick to your holiday budget this year? We hope we’ve given you some ideas for how to do that. If some other tips or tricks work well for you, we’d love to hear about them in the comments below!
