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As a recent stay at home mom, I did not have a steady income during the holidays for the first time. I have had a steady income since I was about 14 years old. The holidays can be extremely stressful to some due to finances. I am fortunate to have a spouse who works. We have paid closer attention to our finances now more than ever. Here are some ways I plan on saving money this holiday season as a mom of two:
1. Purchasing used items. I don’t buy everything used. However, if I can get books that are in almost new condition for $1 a piece, sign me up! I like to scope out stores like Good Will, Once Upon a Child, other thrift stores, and even Facebook Marketplace. We have found some great deals on marketplace, especially on outdoor toys like Little Tikes cars, wagons, and play kitchens.
2. Purchasing items on sale. This seems obvious, but I usually attack this with a plan. We know Black Friday and Cyber Monday are huge sales. I like to keep a list on my phone. It helps me plan what to purchase for people. I’ll then scout Amazon. I also check the direct store or in-store ads to help me get an idea of the best sales. I also like to scout sales around this time for any items I use regularly. I also look for items I’m likely to use more around the holidays, like paper products and cleaning supplies.
3. Not keeping up with the Joneses. Don’t get me wrong, it is totally fun to do all the Christmas things. However, it’s not always realistic. I don’t plan to go do every Christmas activity there is. All that elaborate Christmas décor? I don’t really need it. I still have hand-me-downs from my family, that I love and it is totally enough. Some relatively cheap and sometimes free activities include making gingerbread houses, driving around to look at Christmas lights, and making Christmas cookies. You can also dance to Christmas music all month long and watch Christmas movies. To me, smaller traditions are typically more memorable.
4. Planning ahead. The holidays can also be very busy, but in order to prevent myself from overspending I like to plan ahead. One of the biggest things that is easy for me to over spend on is groceries. I started making lists of foods I planned to cook for each holiday or get together way ahead of time. I even started making some similar foods for some of them. For example, I plan on making turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sometimes turkeys and hams will go on sale after Thanksgiving. I’ll buy them and freeze them for Christmas or other upcoming get togethers.
5. Actually sticking to a budget. It’s so easy to get carried away during the holidays and establishing a set budget for gifts has helped me. I have also learned that quality is better than quantity in terms of gifts for my kids. With trying to get practical gifts, shop sales, and used items, this has been easier for me than before. Sometimes I’ll do a combination of used or new gifts to make one great gift. For example, I found a small container that almost looks like a toolbox at a thrift store for $3. I purchased that. Then, I bought a kids flashlight on sale during black Friday. I also picked up some kids tools to make a DIY tool box. I was able to save money and be creative with it and know my child will absolutely love it.
Flashlight, wooden hammer , and tape measures I purchased to go with it. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
