Welcome to my 52 Ways to Save $100 a Month series. We’re serious about saving money in 2016. Sometimes it’s the little things and sometimes it’s the big things. I’m here to walk you through some little things that can add up to BIG savings. 52 little things to be exact. Every week, join me back here for another small money saving tip or idea that might not seem like significant savings until you see the overall yearly savings. It might just blow your mind. So pop in each Tuesday and read a new tip that will help you on your way to save $100 a month!
Okay, so it might not be July just yet, but we’re talking about planning for Christmas today and all year long. Average Christmas spending is startling, with the average American spending roughly $950 on gifts and parents spending almost $300 per child. Some families go crazier than that, while others tone it way down and simplify. Regardless of where you fall on that spending spectrum, chances are you will be dishing out some money come December. Here’s how to save money while Christmas shopping this year:
Shop Now: It’s universal knowledge that you can score some killer Black Friday deals, but in my experience, it’s a lot of bark and no bite. I’ve been able to find some amazing sales throughout the year that put those Black Friday sales to shame. Have your kids and loved ones make their lists early, or you can always open your ears and listen for the things they are interested in. Then, armed with that knowledge, watch the ads all year long. You might find a crazy good deal on a laptop during a Memorial Day sale or a Labor Day sale might find you that watch your HH has had his eye on at huge savings. By paying attention to great deals all year, you can save hundreds and avoid the insanity that is Black Friday.
Save Now: A $1000 hit to the budget in one month might be crippling. But spreading that out over 12 months and it doesn’t seem so bad at all. Open a “Christmas” specific checking account now and then have a few dollars of every paycheck automatically transferred into it. Or start placing all of your extra change and cash in your wallet at the end of the week into a Christmas cash jar. If you earmark money specifically for Christmas now, you won’t feel the hit as hard come December.
Make it Now: Maybe you aren’t much of a gift buyer and prefer to make all of your Christmas gifts instead. Just like December is crunch time financially for Christmas spending, the same goes for crunch time on gift making. Make a gift list now and then spend the next 8 months crafting away. I like to give jams and jellies and those can be canned well in advance. I have a friend who loves to knit all of her gifts {and we LOVE receiving them}, so she starts early in the year so she’ll be ready in plenty of time. If you plan on painting, crafting, canning, sewing or making some form of handmade gift, start now! Not only will hand making save you a ton money, but doing a little all year long will save you a ton of stress!
Do you shop for Christmas all year long? What, on average, do you spend on Christmas gifts?
How Much Can You Save: Hundreds. Depending on how much you plan on spending this year, you can save big on big ticket items. Sometimes the savings throughout the year are as steep as 60%!
More Ways to Save:
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clean Out Your Closet {Week 1 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Break Up with Cable {Week 2 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Barter Better {Week 3 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Change Your Own Oil {Week 4 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Adjust Your Thermostat {Week 5 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Take Advantage of Your Perks {Week 6 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Pack Your Lunch {Week 7 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Make It Yourself {Week 8 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Preserve Your Bounty {Week 9 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Keep the Change {Week 10 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | The Art of Borrowing {Week 11 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Ditch the Gym {Week 12 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clip a Coupon {Week 13 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Start Your Garden From Seed {Week 14 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Learn to Cut Hair {Week 15 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Become a 1 Car Family {Week 16 of 52}
52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Make a Phone Call {Week 17 of 52}
Brianna says
I love shopping for Christmas all year long! My city just had a citywide garage sale last weekend, and I was able to find a lot of great deals on Christmas gifts for my family. I also like to make a lot of my gifts. At this point I’m about halfway done with my holiday shopping, and it feels great! It’s nice not to have a big rush right before the holidays.
layne says
I love this tip! I gather my gifts from thrift stores and garage sales all sumer long and use November for last minute shopping for Christmas seasonal candies (for stockings) that way I’m done 100% by December 1st and can really enjoy my time with my kids making cookies and looking at lighta, instead in of staying up till midnight wrapping!!
Teresa says
I just pickled 23 quarts of asparagus to be handed out for Christmas gifts! Now if I could just figure out how to get my jars back!
Mavis says
Ha! I am so glad someone else thinks about wanting those jars back.
Brianna says
In my family, we have a rule that you can’t get more canned goods unless you have empty jars to trade. The family members who are best about returning empty jars often get first dibs on canned produce. Not sure how you could make this work for Christmas gifts, though.
Jfred says
Oh Mavis, I LOVE to shop and make year-round for Christmas!! We budget a certain amount each month and set it aside, and as I find deals, I buy (either supplies to make gifts, or the gifts themselves). This yr I was at a pottery seconds shop when they had their spring opening, and was able to get 50% off the seconds prices! So the women on both sides of the family have been bought for. ($30-$35 bowls and casseroles cost me $8-10! $30 bread bakers were $2.50!!!)
I have several handmade goodies to add this yr as well. Surprisingly, I got on the quilted potholder bandwagon just before you posted the ones you worked on, which made me laugh! And we have a friend cutting out for us coasters and trivets from a gorgeous maple tree a friend cut down last fall…and gave us the wood from.
I usually make up smaller handmade gifts to pass out to people who stop by during december, and all the teachers and friends and important people in our lives. One yr it was 2oz bottles of homemade vanilla, last yr it was soap, or chap sticks, or candles for a couple of people. I think I will make a bunch of candles in tin jello molds this xmas. I got the jello molds at an estate sale for .50/6, and I picked up 3lbs of used beeswax/tallow moravian xmas candles for $1/lb last month. I can melt them down and add new wicks….viola….a pretty, fun gift.
Jfred says
Oops, I forgot to add our budget…. Gifts for family members (dh’s and my siblings and parents) are budgeted at $25-30/ea….but…that’s gift worth, not always the price we pay. One yr I crocheted afghans for every couple, so the yarn cost us $20-30 per couple, while the gift was worth $70-80. (So I spent $10-15 per person. I also included some goodies from the kitchen with the blankets.)
We used to spend less on our kiddos, but now they are older, and the gifts are more pricey. They “bought” ea other ipods last yr for xmas ($145 ea), and we filled in with smaller gifts…handmade pillowcases, handmade jammie bottoms, small set of legos for ds, earrings for dd, and 1 or 2 other small things. Total was under $200/kid, and last yr was our most expensive yr for gifts for the kids. We usually stick to 3-5 smallish gifts, and they buy a gift for each other (w our $)….and in the past, we spent less than $100 per kid.
Dh and I spend big for each other at xmas, but it’s really the only time of yr we buy for one another, unless we do something very small for birthdays. We don’t buy for Valentine’s day, nor our anniversary, nor mother’s/father’s days. Our budget is usually around $200-300 for each other.
To save $$ on mailing presents, since we live 10-12 hrs from family and don’t go home for xmas, I try to get xmas made/bought before we visit family earlier in the yr, or I send it with any family members who visit us in the yr. Last yr I knew I was heading for a visit in october, so I spent the week or two prior makingmakingmaking and wrapping everything. I think I sent one small box later in dec, with a couple of things I got after the visit. Mil and my sister are trustworthy keepers of the presents! Mil already has this yr’s xmas gifts for her, my sil’s, and niece hidden away.