4 money savers so you don’t have cut back on holiday shopping

Laveta Brigham

4 money savers so you don’t have cut back on holiday shopping The annual dash to cross everything off your holiday shopping list is officially underway. But according to a new survey from U.S. News & World Report, a third of American consumers are planning to rein in their spending […]

4 money savers so you don't have cut back on holiday shopping
4 money savers so you don’t have cut back on holiday shopping

The annual dash to cross everything off your holiday shopping list is officially underway.

But according to a new survey from U.S. News & World Report, a third of American consumers are planning to rein in their spending this year due to the pandemic. And 41% confess that they haven’t set aside any extra money for their holiday expenses.

Times are tough, but you have plenty of ways to find savings and shop for the holidays the way you’d do it in any normal year. Here are a few ideas so you don’t have to skimp on gifts.

Trim your tree, trim your budget

Holiday budgeting
Stanislav Vinogradov / Shutterstock

Before you embark on your holiday shopping, make a list of everything you plan to buy, including a rough estimate of how much each item will cost.

Once you have a general idea of what you can expect to spend, start making room in your regular monthly budget by looking for areas where you can trim your other expenses.

For example, if you subscribe to multiple streaming services, canceling a few of them for a month or two can give your holiday fund a nice boost.

You might be able to shave some money off your grocery bills by trying out different stores in your neighborhood, since prices can vary a lot between grocery chains.

And make sure to always use a cash-back credit card or rewards app when you shop, so you’ll get a bit of money back on every purchase you make.

Price-check when you shop online

Noise-cancelling headphones
Noise-cancelling headphones

Amazon Savings found on November 19, 2020. Savings may vary. Sample results shown.

Because of the coronavirus, chances are good that you’ll be doing most of your holiday shopping online this year. Huge digital retailers like Amazon make it possible to check off everyone on your list in a single afternoon — but you should know the convenience will cost you.

Unless you comparison shop for every item in your cart, you could end up overspending on gifts by hundreds of dollars.

If you want to save yourself the trouble of checking prices on multiple online storefronts, try using a free price-checking service available as a browser extension or app.

While you’re browsing on big sites like Amazon and Target, you’ll instantly search other online retailers to see whether a better price is out there somewhere else.

Once you’re ready to hit the checkout, the technology will automatically try to apply coupon codes gathered from its database of millions of users.

The browser extension takes only a few seconds to set up. It has helped people save over $160 million in the last year and it won’t cost you a cent.

Offset your costs with some side gigs

Remote freelancing
RLTheis / Twenty20

If you’ve got a special talent like drawing, writing or voice acting, you may be able to earn extra cash for your holiday shopping by picking up a few side gigs.

A number of online marketplaces will help you advertise your services and connect with customers who are looking for exactly what you’re selling.

Once you start completing gigs and accumulating positive reviews, you can increase your rates and bring in even more money.

Pay off your credit cards ASAP

Close up of woman holding mobile phone and credit card against christmas bokeh lights outdoors. Holiday online shopping concept.
zoff / Shutterstock

Once the dust has settled on your holiday spending, your credit card bill will likely be higher than usual. It’s essential to pay off as much of your balance as you can, as soon as you can.

Credit cards are notorious for their sky-high interest rates, and since credit card interest compounds, a high balance can wind up costing you a ton. You’ll end up paying interest on the interest you already owe.

In the U.S. News survey, 35% of consumers say they plan to use a credit card to pay for holiday gifts. The easiest way to avoid getting bogged down with credit card interest is to pay your bill on time and in full each month.

However, if that’s not an option, try to at least pay more than your monthly minimum. Squeezing in a few extra dollars now will save you more down the line.

Depending on your credit score, you may also be able to consolidate your debt with a personal loan at a lower interest rate. When you consolidate, you pay off your troublesome debts with a new one that’s less painful to carry, saving you a bundle and helping you become debt-free sooner.

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