Shopping for your loved ones this festive season can be a lot of fun, but it can also put a lot strain on your bank account as it is quite a stressful and expensive time of year, there's no doubt about it. To make the gift giving process it a little easier on yourself, I'll be sharing with you my best tips on how you can prepare, organize, shop smart and save money this Christmas so you can spend this joyous occasion with a little less worry and have a little more fun.
PREPARE & RESEARCH
Most people will begin their Christmas shopping in November which is completely fine, however I like to be slightly more ahead and start jotting down gift ideas by late September/early October. This gives me time to research and order anything online that may take a while to arrive, particularly if it's coming from all the way overseas. This just ensures that I don't get a 'out of stock' or 'sold out' on any of the items I'm looking for or get caught in major delivery delays during the mad rush.
SPREAD OUT YOUR PURCHASES
If you come across an awesome gift idea in July for example that you know someone will absolutely love, buy it! Find a good hiding spot and place it under the tree when December arrives. By spacing out your purchases throughout the year, it takes the financial stresses away from having to bulk buy later in the year. This is something my mother has been doing for years and when you reach adulthood, it is such a life saver!
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SALES
There are all sorts of epic sales going on all year round (like the end of financial year, end of season or even Boxing Day sales), so take advantage of them and your wallet will thank you for it! I cannot pass up a good sale so whether it's clothing, beauty products, homewares or appliances, grab yourself a good deal and use them as Christmas pressies for family and friends.
DIY GIFT WRAPPING
If you have a plethora of gifts to give, buying rolls of lush wrapping paper and pretty ribbons can get a bit costly. You can totally be frugal and still have wonderfully festive looking presents. Visit your local dollar or department store and pick up some good old brown kraft paper, where you can customize your gift wrapping with other crafty bits and pieces you may already have lying around the house. Brown twine is crazy cheap as well and very popular in replacing it with your standard Christmas ribbon for a minimal look. To jazz it up, get creative by gluing pom poms or loose glitter, paint stars or draw a picture - it is totally up to you! Pinterest is my go-to source of inspiration and it just gives it that personal touch when you're doing it yourself as well.
Love a good Christmas post! I for one made the mistake of trying to do all my shopping in one go and now that I've read this I'm going to take your advice for next year! Xx
ReplyDeleteSophia || Sophia's Sphere || pearlsofsphere.blog 🌺
I'm glad you found it helpful! x
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