Looking for ways to save this holiday season? Offerwise wants to help you with these 10 simple and effective ways people can be thrifty during these uncertain economic times.
- Decorate by using your children’s or grandchildren’s holiday crafts and artwork from school each year. Over time, you’ll have more and more decorations, and the kids will enjoy seeing their work too!
- Save on Christmas cards by cutting last year’s in half and sending the more presentable side as a postcard (saves on card purchases and postage).
- Organize planned purchases by making a list and budgeting a reasonable amount for each gift. Then stick to the budget!
- Buy online. Online vendors often have better prices than brick and mortar stores because their overhead is lower. Look for free shipping and little (or no) sales tax.
- Earn cash back on purchases made at hundreds of popular e-retailers through Pig.com, the newly-launched online shopping website. Visitors register for free and can earn money back on each gift you buy.
- Cook meals rather than eating out. You may want to avoid the perceived “hassle” of cooking at home, but it can be good family bonding time and a lot of fun too!
- Use store brands when planning and preparing holiday meals. No one will notice.
- The holidays are a time of giving, but you don’t have to spend money to give back. Volunteer your time at a local food shelter with your kids to teach them the true spirit of the holidays.
- Earn extra spending money during the holidays through BigSpot.com. Members are able to participate in consumer polls paying around $1-2 apiece. Once $20 is earned, consumers can cash out or choose to donate to one of the affiliated charities.
- Set aside a small portion of your paycheck on a regular basis into a designated account for next holiday season. The amount per paycheck will be negligible but will add up over the course of the year.
Do you have any tips you’d like to share? How do you make it through the Holiday season crunch?
