You see advice everywhere for getting out of debt after you’ve overspent during the holiday season. In reality, it would be better if you could get advice on how to stay out of debt before the Christmas season.
If you are still paying off last Christmas, consider an online installment loan to get you back in the black. So many people have allowed Christmas spending to take over their lives that they worry about the money they spend after the holiday is over, and reality has set back in, instead of worrying about it before they spend it. In this blog, you’ll find a few of the best ways to stay out of debt this upcoming Christmas season.
Make a List, then Stick to It
Santa Claus has a list, so why don’t you? If you don’t have a list when you go Christmas shopping, the spending can easily get away from you. It’s a sure-fire way to overspend because you’re buying gifts haphazardly and may end up with two or three gifts for the same person, or two of the same gifts for the same person. Make a list, check it twice, and then mark off each person’s name on that list once their gift has been purchased.
Shop Early
Once you have your list of people to buy for and the possible gifts you want to buy for them, don’t wait until the last minute to do your shopping. Everyone knows that shopping early gets you the best deals. This doesn’t mean that you have to go out and do all your shopping early, just keep your list in your purse, and when you run across something from that list, go ahead and snatch it up. The last thing you want to do is wait until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping, because it leads to impulse buying, and buying things to just get out of the store and back home.
Always Check Black Friday Ads
Always keep an eye out for Black Friday ads. There are many, many gifts you can get much cheaper if you just check the ads and get the gifts while they’re on sale. Luckily, Black Friday isn’t just about getting up before the crack of dawn and waiting in a line to get into the store before others do. Black Friday is now done online as well, so you can order those deals straight from your armchair and have them delivered to your doorstep in time for gift giving on Christmas morning.
Don’t Buy so Much
While it’s super tempting to go completely overboard with gift-giving during the holiday season, the season is about spending time with family and friends. If you’re guilty of buying too much, especially toys that are never going to be played with again. Try buying fewer but more meaningful gifts and see how that goes. It’ll certainly be cheaper than buying a whole lot of things that will never be used past the beginning of the year.
Give Handmade Gifts
While store-bought gifts can be fun, those that you make yourself have more meaning, and nine times out of ten are certainly more useful. Do you crochet, knit, or sew? If you do, then you have the perfect gifts right there, and they’ll be cheaper than anything you could buy at the store and have more meaning as well.
These are just a few tips for staying out of debt this upcoming Christmas season. Remember, the reason for the season isn’t to buy a ton of gifts and then pay for it all the next year. The reason for the season is apparent to all and free to give as well.
