It seems like every year the holiday season creeps upon us without any warning at all and it always seems as if it arrives at the worse time. Every year right before Halloween my brain starts to twitch because panic slowly sets in knowing that Thanksgiving and Christmas are weeks and months away. In an effort to alleviate some of the stress this time of year, I have compiled some ways on how to stretch dollars during the holidays. I learned a lot of these money saving ideas throughout my adulthood and was surprised to learn that a lot of my personal friends were not aware of them so I knew I had to share.
- Christmas in July: If you have young kids that still play with toys, then this might spark an interest for you. Did you know that some stores, such as Target, have Christmas in July? I did not know this either until 2 years ago when I perused the toy aisle at Target and awesome toys were marked down 50% off! Yes, 50% and awesome toys, name brand toys such as Hello Kitty, LalaLoopsy, and a lot of building toys. The following year I decided to check out the toy aisle at Target in July again and sure enough they had Christmas in July. Keep in mind, they are not advertising this but it happens. I can only assume that this is done to move out the old awesome toys and move in the new awesome toys. So when you see toys marked at 50% off, think Christmas! I know it is hard for some people to think Christmas in July, but really, this can save you a lot of money. I have 3 little girls and 2 grand kids so I always make sure to purchase any toys that I know they will love to open on Christmas.
- Save Your Receipts: You know how you think you are getting an awesome deal, especially on Black Friday, and then a week or two later the price drops even more at the same store? Most stores, like Target, will allow you to bring the receipt to the Customer Service counter and they will provide you with the difference of what you originally paid for versus the sales price. I not only do this around the holidays but I do it all year long! We once purchased a washing machine from Best Buy and then a few weeks later the washing machine was $200 cheaper. We took our receipt to the customer service department and received an immediate credit. All stores may not practice this technique but it is definitely worth a try.
- Shop at Resell Shops: In my opinion, shopping at resell shops is perfectly fine and you can often find some awesome deals. My girls love Littlest Pet Shops and My Little Pony toys and these toys can be pricey if purchased new, so when I discover them at a resell shop, if the price is right and the toy is in top quality shape, I will purchase it, clean it up and stick it under the tree. Just because a toy does not come in a a box with all that plastic does not mean you can’t gift it. In addition, resell shops are not only for toys and kids but for teen and adults. Many consignment shops only sell top quality brand name items that most people would fall head over heels to receive as a gift.
- Giveaways: Did you know that bloggers love to host giveaways and companies love to utilize bloggers for giveaways? I did not know this until I started to blog and read other blogs obsessively and then I started to enter every giveaway that sparked my interest and then I started to win. I started to win a lot; like a lot! There is a giveaway for every interest that a human being would have and there are ways to find these giveaways. First, there is a Facebook group called I Love Blog Giveaways! , this group is dedicated to bloggers that want to promote their giveaway and dedicated to the readers that love to enter. If you have a Twitter account you can search #giveaways or #giveaway or #contest or a similar hash tag. This will bring up current giveaways that are happening. Remember how I mentioned that bloggers love to host giveaways, well another great way to find giveaways is to LIKE some bloggers on Facebook so that you can get updates on when certain giveaways are happening, House of Fauci’s (that’s me) loves to host giveaways and I am actually having one right now; click here. Entering giveaways help stretch your dollar because if you win you can gift your prize or/and you can always win money and gift cards. For example, I have won toys, gift cards and jewelry. Winning toys will save me money for Christmas and I can use the gift cards to spend money on holiday dinner and Christmas shopping. It’s a no brainer.
- Money Saving Apps & Websites: I recently posted Money Saving Apps & Websites that showed you some popular ways to save online. There are so many apps and websites that will put money back into your pocket. If you prefer to shop online, the biggest advice I can give you is to first check Ebates, Shop At Home, and Swagbucks to see if your store is listed. If your store is listed then decide which site provides you the highest money back percentage, remember during the holidays, each site fluctuates so make sure to check. Once you have decided which website you will shop through you then need to do a Google search ‘online coupons for (insert name of store). With this method if you find a good online coupon, then you can save a pretty good amount of money.
- Black Friday & Cyber Monday: I know that Black Friday has always been the day that hardcore shoppers go out and get a good deal, but in my opinion, unless you are the first one in line to receive that big screen TV for next to nothing, Black Friday isn’t really a big money saving kind of day. Venture out on Black Friday but be smart. First never pay full price for an item on Black Friday, I promise that it will go on sale. Always make sure that the deal on Black Friday is really a deal. I find my best holiday shopping deals mid December.
- Amazon Prime: Sign up for Amazon Prime and receive free 2 day shipping on most of their products. After Black Friday, Amazon has flash sales in which they put a variety of products up that are amazingly priced and you have a certain amount of time to purchase them before they run out. I’ve purchases a handful of items and have gotten amazing deals from Amazon Prime and with free 2 day shipping you don’t have to worry about the stress of paying extra to ship.
These are just a few ways on how to stretch your dollars during the holidays but I am sure there are so many more ways. Just remember that the holidays should not be stressful but of course with family visits and feeling obligated to spend money, it can be very stressful. What are some ways you stretch your dollars during the holidays?
Written by: Aimee Fauci
Our family has 4 birthdays from November 23rd to December 27th, so Christmas always seems to be tight. Which means that I’m a huge fan of Cyber Monday (especially on Amazon) & am always crossing my fingers to win one giveaway or another.
I must admit that I spend very little during the holidays. My son is like an uber clean freak so he doesn’t like a lot of toys because he doesn’t want to have to clean them up. He is the only one that I buy for since my parents literally have any and everything they want. We really love the holiday with minimum clean up….lol
Those are some great ideas to stretch your money. I decided to simplify, so that will be a money saver
I love my Amazon Prime. It’s free right now, but I think I’ll end up renewing it for the fee.
I need to enter more giveaways. I would enter a few each day (sometime last year) and actually won some decent stuff.
Christmas is July is amazing! How did I not know about this? Thanks.
Thanks for sharing this, Amy! I am always looking for ways to spend less during the holidays. Never thought about consignment shops. Great idea. I always find great Christmas gifts at Tuesday Morning. Particularly for kids.
*Aimee
These are some great tips – I would also add you can work at the store where you want to shop to get deep discounts as an employee and then quit after the holiday season.
Our local Goodwill’s get donations from Old Navy and Target. They always have brand new items with tags at a fraction of the cost. I always find a few gifts there.
Now THAT is awesome!
Awesome tips Aimee! Thank you for sharing 🙂 This year since we are spending quite a pretty penny on the wedding, we will be sending out pictures of us in a frame to our family and friends. LOL Something they will love forever 🙂
http://neatly-packaged.com/
That reminds me the holidays are coming soon, I’ll need to go buy some gifts soon!
Great tips! Definitely will take advantage of all the online deals this year.
http://bohonouveau.blogspot.ca/
These are great tips, you spend so many around the holidays it’s hard to keep track.
There are so many giveaways, Facebook groups, website, etc. that one could never list them all. I’ve won a couple times myself, but probably entered 1000’s!
I shop year ’round for Christmas! Usually I am done with my gifts in September/October unless someone decides they want something that just came out (like a movie or something). I also save my receipts and compare while shopping.
These are great tips. The holidays can really add up fast!
Holidays are the time where in we tend to spend spend spend – I’d rather spend when its not a holiday lol
The holidays can be very expensive if you do not use some of these great tips. I have already started shopping which is early for me. I am making a lot of my gifts this year.
I have been buying Christmas for the last month. I have my list and when I’m out and about I pick things up. That way December is not a killer! Great tips – sharing to SU!
Thanks for the info! I do follow some of these, but I need a little more help this year! Pinned.
These are great tips. It’s such an expensive time of year! I always keep all my receipts just in case.
What some fantastic ideas – I have to admit I keep meaning to sign up to Amazon prime, perhaps I should take out their trial through the festive season.
Nice tips. I am glad to be a prime member. It has come in handy often. Not fond of the high prices but well worth it.
Thank you for the tip about the receipts. I never knew that stores did this.
you know I’m all about the savings. great tips. and you know I love Black Friday lol
I’m always surprised when I win giveaways. I love your tips. I need to shop year round more!
I did not know about Cheistmas in December! On my way to wnter your giveaway!
Amazon Prime saves me so much money all year, but especially during the holiday season. These are all great tips!
I’ve picked up a few gifts over the past several months that I knew would make great gifts for family members. I also loveeeee shopping Amazon (especially over Thanksgiving and Black Friday.)
Those are really good tips! I’m going to save these, it’s always a hard time of the year and with a big family we have to stretch the bucks!
These are some great tips. I use a number of these and they really do help.
Great tips Aimee! I like to save the money I earn from completing surveys and cash out during the holiday shopping season.
Giveaways are a great idea! And I do ALL of my shopping on Cyber Monday every year, and then watch as the gifts arrive at my door! LOVE IT!!!
I typically don’t go out on Black Friday anymore, but I do love Cyber Monday deals from home! I also LOVE those Amazon flash sales!
We usually shop through out the year to keep things more manageable this time of year but we did not get to do that this year. I love the holding onto your receipt thing, I have done that one often.
Great tips! I definitely needed to read this blog post. Amazon Prime is a great way to save on shipping!
This is so helpful! I love posts on how to scrimp and save during the most expensive time of year
Great tips! For as many giveaways as I host, I never really enter them. I should!! (It is time consuming.) I just signed up for Ebates! Can’t wait for the money to start rolling in! lol We love Amazon Prime. 🙂
These are some really great tips! I love the Christmas in July idea and can’t wait until next year to check it out for myself. I will have 4 grandchildren as of next year so saving money is definitely something I need to consider when filling up the Christmas tree with presents! Thanks so much for sharing these wonderful ideas.
It definitely pays to plan ahead. It’s hard to spend money on Christmas things when it’s warm outside but in a few months you’re ahead of the game.
I am usually 1/2 way done with my kids by now but this year I am slacking. Great tips! I usually practice all of them but this year I am just going to make the most of the money saving apps along with mypoints.com
I think I have mypoints.com! I need to look into that.
I love Amazon and Cyber Monday. Online shopping is my friend during the holidays. Great article.
Cyber Monday is the biggest shopping day for me! I always tell myself that I will start shopping early “next” year. Maybe if I keep saying it . . . A friend on FB posted last week that she was completely finished with her Christmas shopping. I didn’t know if I should be jelly or mad. 🙂
If I get all my shopping done early early..I find myself spending more money because I feel like I want to keep shopping until Christmas.
These are some really good tips. I really wish I could shop earlier. When I do, I find myself still spending near Christmas.
Those are all great tips. I am one of those people who shops all year long and I like to be done shopping by 12/1!
Those are really great tips. I love Christmas in July but I very rarely buy toys these days. I always take advantage of Amazon’s deals. I can never get too much of Amazon.
I love “shopping” through giveaways. I’ve won a few things that I have in turn given away as gifts. Great list
I know I would do so much better if I shopped OUT of season! Thanks for pinpointing a good time to do it.
And yes, there are so many creative ways to package a resale toy that isn’t in the original package. Totally worth it. My town has a toy resale shop with bulk bins of miscellaneous Legos. I stuff my kid’s stocking full of them and it’s super cheap.
What a cool idea with the Legos!