Tuesday, September 1

5 Ways to Jumpstart Your Christmas Savings Now!

It's September 1. Yes, it's the perfect time to talk about Christmas savings and early shopping!

Why? Because Christmas is only 115 days away, and you can start preparing for it now! Too many people wait until December to buy gifts. With no money saved, countless people turn to credit cards in a panic and end up paying for Christmas well into the new year. Not the best approach.

It’s much easier to get ready for the yuletide season little by little. You just need to know where to start. Here are five ways you can get a jump on Christmas—in September.

Save a Monthly Amount

Determine the total you want to spend on Christmas gifts and divide it by three (the number of months left until December). For example, if your budget is $1,000, then save $333 a month for three months. Not only do you enter December with your money ready, but you also have a few weeks to enjoy shopping. Next year start earlier if your monthly budget is tight.

Look for Deals Now

Who says you have to wait until after Thanksgiving to buy Christmas gifts? Wouldn’t it be awesome if you see a bargain this month and snatch it up? That’s what happens when you keep an eye out for possible gifts in September—you can save some serious cash. Laptops, camping gear, luggage, towels and more are all on sale. Keep your eyes peeled for those deals! Your family and friends will appreciate a gift you put some thought into; instead of something you found in the bargain bin a few days before Christmas.

Use Your “Under Budget” Cash

When you come in under budget on monthly expenses like groceries or clothing, take the difference and stash it away in your Christmas fund. That $20 here or $50 there adds up in a flash, and it gives you one more reason to look for bargains in your budget. Mr.P puts ALL of his change into a jar at the end of each day. You'd be surprised how quickly that bit of change adds up!

Have a DIY Christmas

Hop onto Pinterest or Instagram to get some ideas for crafts that you can give as Christmas gifts. Our niece did this last year. She gave me a large jar of homemade hot chocolate, among other things. I have used that jar sparingly! It's delicious in my morning coffee. Searching for a special craft now gives you plenty of time to buy the materials and put the effort into creating something that has just the right touch for the recipient. It's a great idea for college students, newly weds, new parents; etc. 

Redirect Your Social Fund

Summer is the season for barbecues, swim parties and weekend getaways. With school back in session, your entertainment budget will probably go down some. Your kids will be busy with school and homework during the week, so save some money for fun on the weekends but redirect the rest to saving for Christmas. 

Saving and searching for gifts early makes Christmas a lot easier to enjoy. It also keeps your stress level down. Wouldn’t you rather focus on holiday traditions and time with your family? Yeah, I would too! Plan for Christmas in advance. September is a good month to start—it's never too early!

Here's a simple chart to help you determine how much you need to save monthly for a stress-free Christmas!

The Domestic Curator
Ronda

1 comment:

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