10 Ways to Save Money During the Holidays

‘Tis the season, everyone! I am not ready to fully embrace the holidays, but I have been thinking a lot about how to make them cost efficient. We are in a current season of life where life is just…expensive. Childcare, groceries, car payments, etc. etc. etc. When it comes to gifts, I really want to be intentional about where our money is going. We feel so fortunate that our children (as well as my husband and myself) truly have what we need. This year I just want to focus on enjoying the experience of sharing the holidays with our family and friends. JD and I even decided to do our gift exchange a little different this year, and we are doing a ‘shared gift’ (which I will explain soon in another post). Here are 10 ways to save money during the holidays!

10 Ways to save money during the holiday season

• Sell your stuff!
  • Now is a great time to sift through unused or outgrown winter gear (especially for kids!), toys, games, and home and holiday decor. Sell items that are still in like new or gently used condition and add the cash to your holiday spending budget! My favorite platforms to resell items are Facebook Marketplace and Mercari. I also have brought our gently used children’s clothing and toys to our local children’s consignment store. I price items to SELL, my goal is always getting them out of my house and into the home of someone who will use them. Anything that you can’t sell, consider donating to someone in your community for free through a Buy Nothing group (on Facebook). Decluttering for the holidays is especially a bonus if you are hosting this season!

• Make a list + stick to it.
  • Seems simple, but this is easier said than done. I start making a list in my notes app on my phone of gift ideas for my family and friends so that I can search for the best deals year round. Once the item is purchased, I check it off my list and this helps me limit my impulse buys. In the past I have been guilty of purchasing gifts and forgetting about them, which leads to eventual overbuys. A simple list in my phone helps me limit those impulse buys!

• Consider doing a ‘secret santa’ gift exchange with your family or friends this year.
  • If you purchase gifts for a large number of family members each year, consider changing things up and organize a ‘secret santa’ gift exchange instead. I find that exchanging gifts in this manner helps with finding a more personal and thoughtful gift, rather than just buying filler gifts to check names off a long list!

• Gift a skill or time
  • Do you have a specific skill or hobby that someone on your gift list may appreciate? Consider giving the gift that skill and it will likely only cost your time! Sewing, painting/handiwork, cleaning, car detailing, photography, landscaping and babysitting are a few ideas that come to mind. As a working mother, if someone offered to babysit for a night or offered to give us a gift of a family photo shoot, I would run right up and hug them. It may seem especially frugal to do this, but your loved ones will appreciate your thoughtfulness more than you think.

• Shop secondhand!
  • This is a piggyback off my first tip, don’t underestimate secondhand goods, especially for the holidays. I recently purchased both our children holiday outfits at our local children’s consignment store. Many parents (myself included) overbuy for their children and you will find that many items are still in new condition or even have tags! Children typically only wear their holiday outfits 1-2 times, and when purchased brand new they come with high price tags. Some of my favorite kids clothing brands to shop secondhand are Janie and Jack, Gap Kids, Hanna Andersson, Stride Rite, Patagonia, and Boden. Facebook Marketplace is a great platform to hunt for toys that are unopened and still in the box!

• Stock up on groceries now
  • Start to think about your holiday menu or must have holiday meals/bakes that you do each season. As you do your regular grocery shop, slowly purchase those pantry staples so you aren’t running out last minute as the holiday gets closer. Think of staples like butter and cream cheese (these can be frozen until ready to use!), sugar, flour, frozen pie crust, spices, and chicken/vegetable stock. This may not necessarily SAVE you money, but it may help spread out your spending so you aren’t dropping a lot of cash at the grocery store all at once.

• Get your holiday books at the library
  • If you have kids and are a sucker for holiday books like I am, make a list and reserve them at your local library. At $10+ per book, this can save you a ton! Place your hold requests about a month ahead of time to help ensure you will get them in time.

• DIY a gift this season!
  • DIY gifts are not always cost efficient, but if you have a knack for it and it will save you money, I would consider! You can make salt dough ornaments for grandparents with your children’s handprint. If you can sew, there are endless options! I am also a big fan of consumable gifts like cookies, fudge, small breads, and stovetop potpourri for coworkers and neighbors.

• Skip the gag and filler gifts
  • I am guilty of purchasing these types of items for stocking stuffers and they always end up floating around my home unused or worse, in the trash. Instead, fill those stockings with small items that your family members will actually use and you may end up buying anyway. While the gag gifts may be comical or funny in the moment, most don’t give you the most bang for your buck!

• Whittle down your gift list
  • If all else fails, whittle down your gift list this year. Every individual and family goes through certain seasons of life where saving money is more important than spending it. Send your loved ones a thoughtful holiday card to let them know you are thinking of them and gently remind yourself that the holidays are not JUST about gift giving.