Believe it or not, the holiday season comes with a lot of spending. If care isn’t taken, you could find yourself overspending during this period. With the level of inflation we are currently experiencing, the prices of most items have quadrupled. So, this means you would be spending more on the same items you used to get in previous holiday seasons. To avoid overspending this holiday, here are some money-saving tips for you.
Travel Early/Book Ahead
If you are looking to save some money during this period on travel, you should consider booking your trips a few weeks or months ahead of your actual travel date. There is usually a price hike during this period because of the rush. Many people spend the holidays with their families and loved ones, hence the rush, which results in a hike in price.
Another way to save money is to travel before the holiday season and festivities kick in. If you have a flexible work schedule that allows you to work offsite or onsite or are an entrepreneur who has someone who can manage your business while you are away, you can travel some weeks before Christmas or New Year’s Day. Your pocket will thank you for it because prices will be normal by then.
Pack Your Own Refreshments When Travelling
This is another hack that can save you some money. Food and drinks are usually more expensive at travel terminals and airports. So, bringing yours along would be a wise choice. You just have to make sure that the food and drinks are authorised by the authorities of the airport, airline, or travel company.
Shop in Advance/Take Advantage of Promos and Discounts
The thing with buying items in advance is that you have ample time to plan, and it saves you from impulse buying. It can also save you from the stress of the holiday rush to stock up at the last minute. Some items are more expensive during the yuletide season, especially food. Buying them in advance will be a very wise decision.
A lot of promos and discounts happen around this time, so take advantage of them to get what you need at cheaper rates. One prime example is Black Friday. Items are heavily discounted on this day. So, you can stock up for less than the amount you would have needed.
DIY
If you have an event or party during this period, you should consider doing the catering and decoration yourself if you can, instead of employing the services of professionals. If it is a family event and you happen to come from a large family, you can all come together and do the aforementioned yourselves. If you need to repaint or redecorate your apartment, you should think of doing the same. This will encourage more bonding amongst the family and enable you to spend quality time with family.
For every activity or task that you can do by yourself, please go ahead and do it to save yourself some money this period. You can start early so that you do not become overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be done in readiness for the season.
Budget
This is, arguably, the most important of them all. Before you do anything during the festive period, you need to plan how you want to spend your money and how much exactly you should spend. Having a budget will ensure you do not go beyond your limit. It will help you separate your needs from your wants.
Look Out for Free Shows if You Must Go Out
Unwinding and letting our hair down are some of the reasons we look forward to the festive period. Going out is not cheap. So, if you must, look out for shows that are totally free. You only have refreshment to worry about. You could even decide to bring your own food to the venue if that is allowed. This is way cheaper than buying food at the venue. Picnics are also a great choice if you want to save money.
Put Some Money Away
Rainy day! Rainy day! Rainy day! This couldn’t have been stressed enough without saying it three times. Don’t spend all you’ve got during the holiday season; put some away in your UBA savings account. If you don’t have one, you can open one right here.
Following these tips will help you guard against unnecessary spending this holiday. You can have the most memorable celebration without emptying your purse.
