4 Ways To Save Money While Christmas Shopping

I’m always looking for the best ways to get more for my money while also balancing quality. And Christmas time is no different. Obviously, the budget is stretched a little around this time of year because we are buying gifts on top of things like taxes coming due. But there’s a few things I do, not just at Christmas, but also year round that make planning for Christmas expenses a little easier. Here’s a few ways you can get more bang for your buck while Christmas shopping and all year long!

Shop Around

The most effective way to get the most for your money is to shop around. This could be in person but, as busy moms, more likely it means scouring a list of websites. And I am getting better about this myself.

I used to HATE looking around for the best price. I always joked that if I were shopping for a pair of black pants, I’d walk into Target and buy the first pair I saw and call it a day. But with the advent of motherhood and reduced income, I’ve discovered the beauty of online shopping. You might find that the same product available at 5 different websites, all with different prices! It has made it easier than ever before to get the best deal.

Do Your Research

Another part of saving money (and time… cause time is money!): doing as much of your own research as possible before you actually decide to buy anything. There’s a lot of aspects you can consider before buying something. For instance, we wanted to buy a kids table and chairs for Christmas, but most of the ones I found required assembly. Thanks to a little extra research, I found one that would ship already fully intact. Can you say TIME SAVER? 

But maybe you are shopping for something requiring even MORE research. For example, phones. (Not unlikely since we are trading up phones faster than they can make new ones it seems!) Straight Talk plans have received positive reviews for their wireless phone plans, offering customers good value for money. Visiting comparative websites like this can make all the difference when you are looking to make more cost effective purchases. 

Besides comparative websites… what about promotions? Coupons? Student, military, or educator discounts? What about making accounts with sites like Ebates? These are just a few avenues to research before swiping your card!

Buy Preowned

Another way my mindset has personally changed since becoming a mom is the idea that I have to have everything new (or brand name). Instead, you should explore the idea of buying preowned as much as you can. 

My parents are a perfect example of this. They are big estate sale shoppers. The down side is that you never know what you are going to find. The upside? They got a brand spanking new leather trimmed couch for $250, which beats the heck out of $1,500.

With things like Craigslist, eBay, Amazon, estate and yard sales, etc. there’s no reason you can’t find what you want in relatively good condition for a much better price.

Adopt a Mom Budget

Maybe you are’t a mom, but you still like to be frugal. You will be way ahead of the game by adopting a mom budget mindset now rather than waiting til you are a parent and have to change all your shopping habits like I did. One place you can start putting that into practice right away is your wardrobe! Check out the post I wrote recently about looking stylish on a mom budget. 

Related: My Winter Capsule Wardrobe

Christmastime can be a strain on the budget, but it doesn’t have to be if you are willing to do a little extra “leg work.” And besides Christmas, you can put these principles of frugal shopping into practice all year long. 

What are some of your money-saving hacks? Do you do most of your Christmas shopping online? Share your tips!