The holiday season has crept up again! You may have put off holiday shopping for a number of reasons, whether it’s pure procrastination or money being tight, it’s not too late to get started. To help motivate you, continue reading for four easy ways to save money on last-minute holiday gifts.
1. Set A Budget
When you’re in a time crunch, it’s time not to be extravagant with your gift-giving. You can also set a budget for your total spending, then break down how much you can spend on each person you need to shop for. To prevent having to shop for a large number of people, try to narrow down your recipient list so you can do less shopping and save more money.
2. Search For Sales
Throughout the holiday season, there are major sales from retailers. Sign up for emails to get notifications of the newest deals. You can also set up price alerts on specific items with different programs, one example of these programs is Honey. Another option is to search for an item through Google Shopping to check different retailers for the same item to see what store has the lowest price.
3. Use Your Skills And Talents
Not every gift has to be bought from the store. After all, it’s the thought that counts. You can use your talents and skills to give a wonderful gift. If you love photography, give a photoshoot.If you love to cook, give a coupon for a home-cooked meal. If you love to make crafts, make them a lovely gift. You could also plan a day trip or another activity that the recipient would love. You could also give acts of service, such as a coupon for babysitting, cleaning their home, mowing their lawn, or other chores that they may need help with. Time is precious and a thoughtful gift to give.
4. Look For Any Unused Gift Cards
Gift Cards are an extremely common gift since the person can then purchase something they truly want. However, you may not have used the gift card so it could just be sitting in your wallet unused. CreditCards.com found 47% of people have at least one unused gift card, store credit, or voucher. The average amount of unused gift cards is now $175 per person in 2022. You could either regift them to people on your list or use them to lower the price of the gifts that you need to purchase. It’s time to start looking for any gift cards or gift certificates you may have and take advantage.
Budgeting throughout the year can help you go big next year on holiday gifts. However, setting a budget yourself can be difficult. An experienced and knowledgeable financial advisor can make the budgeting process easier. Contact me to help develop a structure for your personal finances and work towards your goals. Email me at jason@fp-wealth.com or call me at 402-454-7204 to schedule your consultation.
Sources:
https://news.yahoo.com/money-saving-tips-last-minute-125324444.html
https://www.debt.com/news/last-minute-holiday-shopping-tips/
https://stories.td.com/us/en/article/how-to-save-on-last-minute-holiday-shopping
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/22/unspent-gift-cards-climb-to-average-of-175-per-person.html