5 Ways to Save on Goods this Holiday Season
Guest post by Maya S.
If your house is the place where Christmas convenes every year, then there is a good chance that you rack up a pretty high bill on entertaining all of your guests. Not only do you have to make sure that you have enough items for your immediate family, but you have to make sure that there are plenty for all those staying at your home. Then there are also gifts to buy.
However, the holidays don’t always have to force you to go broke. There are several easy ways to save on the items you will need to get you through the holidays:
1: Make a List
While making a list may not seem like it is going to save you money, it is actually one of the best ways to keep you from over spending during the holiday season. Before you start shopping for gifts or food, create a list for yourself and check it twice. Make sure that everyone you intend to shop for is covered, and make sure that you have everything on your list that you will need to make your holiday meals and desserts. Having that list will keep you from making last minute trips to the store, which often result in unneeded purchases.
2: Buy in Bulk
If you are going to have several people over to your house this holiday season, you will need several rolls of toilet paper and paper towels. You will also need snacks and goodies to keep your masses appeased. Instead of buying these items in smaller quantities at higher prices, visit your local bulk store, such as Costco or Sam’s Club, to buy what you need at a more affordable price.
3: Do-It-Yourself
If you have multiple office parties to attend or several co-workers you would like to get a little something for this holiday season, make something for them instead of buying them all individual gifts. If you have a favorite cookie or canned jam recipe, put it together in mason jars and hand them out. Gifts like these are always crowd pleasers, and they are incredibly inexpensive.
4: Let Your Kids Decorate
Even when stores offer in-store coupons or sales holiday decorations still come at a high price. Don’t waste your time and money buying new decorations this year. Instead, have your kids decorate your halls, walls, and trees. Kids’ decorations are not only cheap, they always steal the show away from those expensive decorations anyway.
5: Discount Stores Aren’t so Bad
When many of us do our holiday shopping, we are often afraid to purchase generic brands or venture to discount stores because we believe we will receive a lesser product. While there are certain products where the name brand may actually taste “better,” there are several generic items that offer a great product for a cheaper price which can really impact your budget if you plan on doing a lot of holiday baking or cooking this holiday season. Discount stores, like Aldi, also offer great products that are often a dollar or two less than what you would pay in big box stores and they have the same quality taste.
Don’t put yourself in the red this holiday season simply because you feel the need to buy all name brand or all new. In addition to the above, there are several other ways that you can keep a few extra dollars in your pocket while still providing your guests with a great holiday experience.
About the author: Maya Szydlowski is a Blogger for Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s leading VA loan provider.