On average, Americans who plan to buy for friends and loved ones this holiday season aim to spend $660, according to a recent NerdWallet survey conducted by Harris Poll. But budgets are tight. Do you have that much to spend without running up your credit cards?
If you don’t have a holiday savings fund stashed away, smart planning and clever shopping can ensure you don’t end up struggling to pay off debt.
Make a plan —and stick to it
When you hit parties without an eating plan, you may put on some pounds. Similarly, if you go to the mall without a spending plan, you can rack up debt. It’s not too late to formulate your strategy for this year.
Set a budget: In the 2016 holiday season, about a quarter of Americans surveyed didn’t have a gift budget, according to the online Harris Poll of 2,135 U.S. adults conducted in October 2017. Figure out how much you can spend, and think beyond presents. Factor in other expenses — gift wrap, holiday cards and meals, to name a few.
Limit your list: With your overall holiday budget in mind, decide whom to buy for. Your immediate family and close friends are probably non-negotiable. But do you really need to get presents for all of your co-workers, neighbors and the Amazon delivery person?
“Give yourself the gift of a stress-free start to the year by not waking up to a bunch of credit card bills,” says Steve Branton, a certified financial planner in San Francisco. “Once you know the amount you can actually spend without going into credit card debt and who you need to give a gift to, you can work back from there to determine who are the most important people, how much to spend on them.”
Give creatively
Clothes and gadgets are good go-to gifts, but they can be expensive. “It behooves people to consider what all the options are around gifts, and there are a lot of creative things you can do to show someone you care without spending a lot of money,” says Paul Golden, spokesman for the National Endowment for Financial Education.
Give moments: Consider giving experiences, such as a “certificate” to an inexpensive or homemade meal together or a day at an amusement park. Memories may last longer than the latest gadget — and, as a bonus, this lets you spread out holiday expenses instead of stuffing them all into one month.
Get crafty: Homemade gifts can lend a more personal touch while saving you money. They don’t have to be complex, like a hand-knitted sweater. Search online for inexpensive DIY projects, such as photo collages or baked treats.
Hold a gathering in lieu of gifts: If you can give only to family this year, suggest that your friends gather for a potluck, cheap white-elephant exchange or other inexpensive activity.
“There is often relief across the board if you say, ‘Don’t buy me anything,’” Golden says.
Spend smarter
Get the best value when shopping:
Use credit card reward points: Check out CU Rewards for opportunities to use your points to buy gifts without spending money.
Compare prices before buying: Shop around and make sure you’re getting the best deal. If you’re in a store, open a shopping app to see what the price is online (but factor in shipping). Or call a competitor store to see what its price is. When shopping online, search for promo codes.
Activate Choice Checking $hopping RewardsTM: As a member, you have access to exclusive offers and discounts at thousands of leading online retailers. Simply shop online using our customized shopping portal and receive cash back. Your cash back will be held in your Shopping Rewards account to use towards future purchases or conveniently sent to you as a check. But you must register and activate this benefit within e-Club.*
Make sure bargains are bargains: Holiday sale ads tout big savings on select items, but investigate the typical price to make sure.
How do you plan on saving money over the holidays? Tell us in the comments.
This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.
