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5 Ways to Save Money on Holiday Shopping

  October 29

This post may contain affiliate links.

loop-919837_640This post is by staff writer Kayla and sponsored by DollarDig but all opinions are genuine.

The holidays are officially right around the corner. That means two things: it’s time for holiday food and holiday shopping.

Now, much as I can wax poetic about my love for mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving and flavored hot chocolate throughout December, I’m focusing on the holiday shopping this time around.

Holiday season is a great time to snag terrific deals and make sure that everyone in your life gets exactly what they want. Businesses offer phenomenal deals over the next three months and now is the time to take advantage! Often the earlier you start shopping, the better of a deal you’ll get. You’ll also get the peace of mind from knowing your shopping is done early instead of last minute.

First, think about what you want to get so you can stay organized and not miss any deals during the shopping season. (Is it weird that we have a shopping season?) Organization and priorities are key to any big shopping trip. You need to know what you’re looking for, where to get it, and how to get the best deal.

Here are some tips:

  1. Set a budget: You may be tempted to go all out and try to capitalize on every deal you see. Do you really need to scoop up discount fishing gear if you live 100 miles away from the nearest body of water? Nope. Set a budget for yourself and know that you’re only buying what you really need.
  2. Get Outside the Mall: I know that the mall is the place with all the deals and offers but there are a ton of other options where you can save money. Craigslist, thrift stores, Goodwill, Freecycle, even just asking family and friends for things are all options. (My aunt is a packrat and when I moved into my first post-college apartment she gifted me a coffee maker, bean grinder and new bathroom towels that had been sitting in her attic for months.) Definitely put the mall on your list of places to stop by but make sure you check out other options first for some big time savings.
  3. Get Hip: I don’t mean learning how to do the nae-nae, though that is also very hip. I mean using the newest tools that are at your disposal. Cashback rebate sites like Dollardig will pay you to buy things through their site. How easy is that?
  4. Use Every Reward You Can Think Of and Double Up When You Can: Whether it’s coupons or credit card rewards, you can end up with a lot of savings if you double up. For example, I try to use coupons on sale items when it’s allowed, and using cash back rewards cards when I shop (and pay them off in full.)

There are really so many ways to save money online and with a little foresight, planning and of course, budgeting, your holiday shopping will be a breeze this year!

What’s on your shopping list this year?

26 responses to “5 Ways to Save Money on Holiday Shopping

  1. Great advice Kayla! We could probably gift most things you would need in a new apartment from our stash too 🙂 I do most of my shopping online.

    1. I do too since there aren’t many shopping opportunities in my small town.

    1. I do too! I have a list for everyday shopping, like groceries, and for special things like gifts. It makes it easier to stay on track with my spending.

  2. I HATE shopping season, but this year my husband has tasked me with learning about all the appliance deals, so we can snag one (maybe) on Black Friday- ugh (but at least I have full creative control of the kitchen remodel).

    One quick note on grabbing great deals- some high end items (cameras, TVs, appliances, etc.) are not always as good of a deal as they seem. Certain brands come out with super low end products that can be sold at low price points, but are ultimately not typical of the quality sold by that brand. If you’re thinking of buying these items, research the product specs online before you run to the store to grab them.

    1. I totally agree with you! You definitely need to watch out for the quality issue and I don’t think many people are aware of that.

  3. My family suggested a “thrift store or homemade” Christmas last year and everyone found & received really nice, useful and thoughtful gifts. I’m hoping they go this route again because it was fun and way less expensive.

  4. I’m SO glad that we finished shopping for our kids Christmas a few months ago. I save money by shopping clearance at TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Ross and Target throughout the year. My kids may not have the latest craze toy out there each year, but they will be pleased with what they do get because those are things we teach them early on. Again, I’m so glad that part of the holiday season is done…now we can sit back and enjoy the holiday spirit without all of the hectic shopping.

    1. I shop throughout the year too. I have quite a few of my gifts already bought for this year, so it should be easy to get that finished up.

    1. That’s a great way to do your holiday shopping – with “extra” money.

    1. I love them too. They are great to use on things you were going to buy anyway.

  5. I just learned that all of my nieces and nephews are getting ipods and will be in need of iTunes gift cards. That just took a few hours out of my shopping routine!

  6. My parents want a steam mop and that’s about all I’ll be buying. I sound like a grinch, but I’m just not into shopping for gifts for the holidays. I’d rather do something more meaningful with my family. Thankfully, my parents are on the same page!

    1. That’s great! I’m glad you are keeping the gifts to a minimum this year.

  7. Great tips! I don’t really shop much during the holidays — I take people out for dinner, coffee, museums instead. It’s fun. I also agree — get out of the mall!

    1. That’s a great way to spend time with family and friends instead. I love it!

  8. I love me my cash back sites! I think one of the best ways to avoid overspending on the holidays is to get as much of it done *before* the holidays as possible. That’s not usually something I can do, but this year I lucked out. My husband wanted several things that could have run out. So I loaded up on them (with sales and coupons, of course) and told him no more requests for presents. His wish list is covered, with the exception of some books on Amazon. They always have a $10 off coupon closer to Christmas, so I’ll pounce then.

    Best part? With his ADD, he’ll have completely forgotten half of what he asked for by Christmas. So it’ll be a surprise!

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