We will almost start the Christmas holidays, one of the most anticipated seasons for Dominican families thanks to the fact that family sharing and local traditions are encouraged. Although it is a season loved by many, the truth is that it can also represent important expenses towards the end of the year.
Today, after almost 2 years of a pandemic that has brought greater instability to our personal finances, more and more people are wondering how it is possible to save during the holidays. If you are also wondering, we offer you 5 strategies that can help you spend less:
Create a fixed budget
The first thing you should do to save during the holidays is to create a budget that takes into account the additional expenses that may arise in this season (food, gifts, clothing) and make sure not to exceed it. It is not very different from the budget that you would have to manage each month, so it is a useful and easy tool to do.
A fixed budget can not only help you find the best options in products, ensuring that no expense is out of the estimate, but it will also allow you to maintain tight control over your finances, giving you the possibility of making additional expenses in case there are a surplus after buying.
make a shopping list
Many leave Christmas shopping for the second half of the month, something that, although understandable, makes them prone to buying more or choosing more expensive alternatives if they can't find the product they are looking for. A shopping list can mitigate the risk of this happening by letting you know exactly what you're looking for, how much it costs (on average), where to find it, and what time of the month it's best to buy it.
Take advantage of the discounts
There are multiple discount seasons throughout the year, be it Black Friday or Cyber Monday, so you can always take the opportunity to buy what you are looking for without spending too much. It is important that you know in advance the price of the gift you want, making sure that it is really on sale during these consumer festivities, discounts abound during the Christmas holidays.
Thoughtful, Inexpensive Gifts
We always want the gifts we give to bring a smile to our family and friends, however, this cannot be achieved by exaggerated spending alone. Many gifts can be "simple" but have a significant impact on the recipient, so you should never forget this: the best gifts are not the most expensive, but the ones that truly bring joy to your loved ones.
buy in advance
Christmas shopping is done in December, but is there no exception to this rule? Although it is true that many chains launch special products for the holidays, the truth is that in most cases we will be able to execute all Christmas purchases in advance, either during the last weeks of November or even before. Buying in advance will help you avoid the stress of looking for a last-minute gift and will allow you to get all the gifts you want without the risk of running out of stock, however, its main benefit is that it will help you save money, since that most Christmas products become more expensive during the last weeks of the year.
