Ask:
Does the extra money spent at Christmas stress you out? What do you do to save money or make it easier? Can anyone add to this list?
Shop all year to spread out spending
Shop clearance racks
Shop online sales
Use gift cards I already have to buy new gifts
Shop Black Friday sales
Answer:
Well, I like to put things on lay away and pay a little each week (But Walmart will be changing that next year!)
Make as many gifts as possible.
Answer:
So far this year, I've saved a lot of $ shopping on Ebay. I got my son a $50 game for $27, still factory sealed. I always check the feedback b4 I buy from someone, just to make sure I'm not getting scammed. I've also been able to buy a lot of gifts thru secret shopping at Best Buy and Target. I noticed at Aldi's yesterday, they had a lot of brand name toys on sale. I sell Avon, so I'm able to get a pretty good discount on some of their stuff too.
Answer:
After school starts I go through the house and sell things that we no longer need/ use. We have a free online classified site for our area. Then what ever money I make from selling goes into an envelope and as I find things for Xmas gifts I use that money. I buy all year long so these gifts are usually for those hard to shop for people and finishing up my DDs' presents. I get rid of alot of clutter this way. Also I have found over the years that fall is a great time to get rid of school clothes that no longer fit my children and I get a better price for them when I don't do a rummage sale. I sell excersice items that I just had to have that I've had for years, extra pieces of furniture, books, toys, kitchen gadgets and household stuff, baby things as they are outgrown. The closer you get to the holidays the tighter money is for people so I sell in early fall on top of having a rummage sale at least once in the summer. Also I've picked up great things that we need or would like for cheap around Xmas because people are desperate for cash.
I also try to take $20 out of my monthly paycheck and $20 out of 1 of my DH's paychecks and designate it for gifts be it b-day or Xmas. That way when Xmas time hits it doesn't affect our budget so much. Also the last two years I've cut way down on those just because gifts.
Answer:
I don't need to save towards Christmas but it's just a habit I got into when I was single, so I still do it for some reason. I save $50 each week towards Christmas and just keep it in this side checking acct I have. Then when I start buying things for Christmas, I just transfer into my regular acct. It's all online and super easy. It works out really well for me.
I do shop all year round and when I'm shopping during the Christmas season, I do look for free shipping, coupons etc
Answer:
I can't answer the poll because I have no idea how much I spend!!! I spread my shopping out all year and I don't keep track ( I really don't want to know!)
Answer:
I know this sounds crazy...but I take our previous year's tax refund and set aside a portion of it for Christmas...which, of course, only works if you get a refund!
Answer:
We have a Christmas club account that we direct deposit 10% of our checks to. I treat it as a payroll deduction and don't think about it until mid-November. I also start Christmas shopping 12/26 and shop clearance year round.
Answer:
If you have a health care spending account at work save your billing statements and turn them in oct/nov for Christmas shopping. My friend did this after I mentioned it and had over $1500 to spend on presents. Of course this only works if you don't need that money to pay off hospital bills.
Shop throughout the year and hide presents.
Dollar Tree is where I get most of my stocking stuffers.
Answer:
Start saving $$ early! I start saving $$ in January for December, I have a seperate account set up for Christmas and Christmas alone. I try and put at least $50 from each paycheck in it and sometimes more if we can swing it. It helps ease the financial strain of the Holidays!