That time of year is just around the corner, and the preparations have already begun. The Christmas tree is up, it’s pretty cold outside, and the air has that peculiar taste. The only thing left to do is to buy some presents. Well, this is the moment when it all starts falling apart for some people. It’s hard to put some money on the side for the holidays, especially if you’re struggling with finances. Not all is lost, however! There are still ways to avoid spending an excessive amount of money on presents and be sorry after. It’s important to remember that you’re not the only one who’s struggling with a limited budget; there are thousands upon thousands of people with the same issue. Here is some advice on how to save money during the Christmas shopping mayhem.
First of all, you need to determine what you need and what you want. Those two choices are not the same. Prepare to relinquish yourself from something you wanted but don’t need. When you make a precise selection of wanted-to-needed ratio, you can start the budget calculations. Before you even begin calculating your financial capabilities, make sure you include only the lowest prices from online discounts, store actions, happy hours, and so on. The Black Friday is a great opportunity to acquire some goods, but if you missed it – don’t despair, there are still ways and active discounts online. All of this goes for buying the presents. When you get it over with, it’s time to think about the food.
Luckily, Christmas food is getting cheaper and more accessible, unless you want to include some whiskey or beer. One research that was conducted in the UK showed that the food is, on average, $4 cheaper than in it would have back in 2005. Furthermore, it costs around $10 less now than in 2010. This shows that the food is getting cheaper as the years pass by, which is a good thing for individuals on a tight budget. On the other hand, the drinks are getting more expensive. A bottle of blended whiskey is at its highest price peak in the last ten years. So, if you’re prone to alcohol consumption during the holidays, you shouldn’t expect an improvement in your budget.
In the end, the question remains unanswered – Can you have a decent Christmas with a tight budget? The answer is – Yes, you can. All you have to do is calculate your expenses and pay attention to big discounts.
