The craziness of holiday shopping is upon us! Can you believe that stores are already decked out with holiday decorations? I for one can’t complain, because I am the girl who starts listening to Christmas music on November 1. No shame … I love it!
Another thing I love about the holiday is, of course, shopping! I am the designated shopper in my family, which means I’m usually the one at the mall on Christmas Eve picking up those last minute gifts. Obviously all that shopping gets expensive, so I am sharing six ways I save money during the holidays – besides making a budget {that is usually hard to stick to if you’re anything like me!}.
Whether you’ve had your shopping done since the beginning of the month, you are gearing up for Black Friday or you’re planning on starting December 23, I hope these tips help you save a few bucks!
1. Make your own gift “baskets”
When it comes to gifts for my aunts and cousins, DIY-baskets are my go-to. It’s a great way to buy gifts on a budget and they can be customized for each person.
- First, buy a basket to fill. If you are making a larger gift, World Market has great baskets for under $10 – since they are good quality, they will be reused and not just tossed in the trash. If you’re making something smaller, try a coffee mug or a mason jar. Last year I used the golden monogram mug from Anthro!
- Then, buy in bulk. During the holidays, a lot of brands have deals if you purchase multiples of the same products. It will depend on who you are buying for, of course, but these are products I have used in the past and love!
- Candles – I’m obsessed with pretty much every scent of Voluspa Candles. You’ll save a few bucks when you buy the trio or mini pack;
- Lip Balm – Rose Bud Salve is my favorite way to treat chapped, Winter lips. If you buy the trio you basically get one free!
- Nail Polish: The Butter London CheerFull 6 Pc Petite Lacquer Collection has the best selection of fun, winter polishes. They are only $4 for each when you buy this collection!
- Perfume: Philosophy’s Wishing You Grace & Love Coffret perfume trio with three different scents for only $12 a bottle. I promise – one is better than the next!
- Winter accessories – Everyone love a scarf in the winter. Hit up the Gap or Old Navy any time after Black Friday, and you are sure to find a scarf {& probably a matching hat / gloves} on the cheap {sometimes up to 50% off!}.
2. Skip the stores
Personally, I am a buy in stores kinda gal, but that’s especially true during the holidays. I love the decorations and the music and if you go early enough {aka not Christmas Eve}, people are genuinely festive and excited to be buying gifts for the people they love. But on the other hand, shopping online is usually a great way to save money. Over the years, I’ve noticed that discounts online are sometimes greater than they are in stores and you have the option to shop around for the best price {Google Shopping is a quick and easy way to do this!}. This is a total “duh” comment, but don’t forget to order far enough in advance so you’re sure that your goodies will arrive in time for your holiday celebrations!
If you’re like me and Carrie Bradshaw – shopping is your cardio. Before hitting the mall, download apps like RetailMeNot, Cartwheel or Shopkick to snag some extra deals & discounts.
3. She’s making a list & checking it twice
If you’re anything like me, you at least try to make your holiday shopping a mission. So you head to the store Saturday morning – coffee in hand – with a plan to buy gifts for the last few people on your list. But then you walk past a display and think, ‘Hey, this would be perfect for my mom / dad / cousin’, although you know their gift is already wrapped under the tree at home. That is the tried-and-true way for me to get completely off-track while holiday shopping and it happens every single year.
So, instead of heading to the mall with no real plan, I always make a list. Think about who you need to buy for, what you think they would like, where you can find it and how much you are willing to spend. This is a very simple way to save money. Make sure to do your research before heading out so you know you’re getting the best deal {see tip #2}. This is a fool-proof way to avoid spending tons on money on one person or buying unnecessary gifts at the spur of the moment.
Photo: Arts & Budgets
4. Save on shipping
If you are an out-of-towner who travels for the holidays, buy in stores or online from stores that have free {or cheap} shipping and/or gift-wrapping. During college, I loved buying gifts from Von Maur. Great quality items for my whole family, free shipping {aka never risked ruining a gift on my trip home} and they wrap your gifts for free {sometimes better than I could do on my own}.
Hey, people staying in town – this is good for you, too! Take advantage of stores with free shipping {and no minimums} in addition to Von Maur, like Nordstrom, Bauble Bar and Zappos. And a few that will beautifully wrap your gifts for free in stores like Barnes & Noble and Pottery Barn.
5. Get Pinteresty
Thanks to Etsy and Pinterest, DIY-gifts have gone from cheap & tacky to thoughtful & unique. Like most people reading this, I could spend hours upon hours on Pinterest. I honestly don’t know how people come up with these ideas, but I’m so glad they do. Making a gift for the holidays is also a great way to take the stress out of shopping – pour yourself a glass of wine or a cup of hot chocolate, sit at your kitchen table and get crafty. I love this and think it would make the perfect gift for my aunt! Check out my favorite DIY-gifts on my DIY-Holiday Pinterest Board!
Photo: Lydi Out Loud
6. Give experiences, not gifts
This one might be my favorite tip yet. Last year for Christmas, rather than buying our mom a gift, my brothers and I decided to buy her experiences. We each planned outings that were unique to our relationship with our mom. It was a great way to create memories that will last a lot longer than any gift. My older brother, Robert, found a pasta making class on Groupon; my younger brother, Ryan, took our mom to dinner and to see the Zoo Lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo; and my mom and I took a mosaic class that I found on Gilt City. For the crafty types, you also might enjoy a BYOB painting class. If you are interested in a cooking class, Sur la Table teaches classes in more than 70 cities nationwide! If you’re just looking to enjoy a good meal, a little quality time & save some $$$, check out Yelp for BYOB restaurants in your city. They are usually places you’d never think to go, but in my experience – they’re always delicious! Chicago peeps, try Bartucci or Noodles in the Pot!
* Be sure to check out Groupon or Gilt City before purchasing a voucher for a class, because you may find it for a discounted price!
I hope these tips help you to save a few bucks this holiday season! Stay tuned in the coming weeks for my gift guide series. My favorite Black Friday deals go live on Monday!
Do you have any tips that help you stay on budget while shopping for the holidays? Share your favorites in the comments below!
Happy shopping!
xAlex
Thanks so much for sharing my rope basket!