Ready or not, it’s time to start thinking about the holiday season. While we get excited about decorations and snow, the weight of Christmas shopping can hang over us. How do you shop for everyone on your list, especially on a budget? No need to worry—we’ve got you covered!
How to pay for Christmas?
This may sound repetitive but it’s true: the best way to pay for Christmas is to start early. Make your lists and plan what you need to get and how much you’ll spend on each person. Make your budget and begin setting aside money. You can even set up a separate savings account just for Christmas funds so you won’t be tempted to spend it, and automatically have a set amount transferred into the account every month. You can find a ton of free resources online, like a shopping on a budget worksheet, to help you prepare before shopping.
How much should I spend on Christmas based on my income?
We all know that it’s the thought that goes into the gift and not the price tag that counts, but it is an excellent idea to figure out how much you can responsibly spend on gifts based on your income. A good rule of thumb is to set aside just 1% of your income each month throughout the year. This leaves room for all your regular bills, and the 1% is a manageable amount that will add up during the year so Christmas budgeting will be a breeze!
Tips for Christmas shopping on a budget
Shopping on a budget doesn’t have to be difficult, it just takes a little more planning and research. Even if you’re Christmas shopping on a tight budget, these tips can help you get everything on your list! The key to holiday shopping on a budget is planning. Before you go shopping, make a list of what you want to get for each person. Once you decide how much to spend on each person, stick to it! When you’re ready to start shopping, join the store’s mailing list so you can be alerted about sales.
Knowing where to shop on a budget is just as important. If you don’t want the big expense of nabbing all your gifts at the end of the year, consider shopping at stores that offer a credit program. These credit programs let you order Christmas gifts now, pay later so you can get those gifts under the tree. You can get pre-qualified instantly for Masseys credit and shop across our family of brands, so you can find everything on your list! With Masseys credit, you can pay as little at $5.99/month* and avoid having to finance Christmas presents or take out a Christmas loan, which can cost you more in the long run. No one wants loans for Christmas!
Shop off season! You can shop after-Christmas clearance for holiday items. You can even shop Christmas decorations clearance, and get a head start on decorating on a budget for Christmas. Clothes shopping on a budget is also easy off season. Nab trendy tank tops, summer dresses and swimwear in the winter, and snag sweaters, coats and boots in the summer to get top style at a great price. You can also take advantage of sales all throughout the year, like Christmas in July sales.
Low-budget Christmas ideas
Need some gift ideas for Christmas on a budget? No problem! We put together a guide to our favorite holiday gift ideas. You can find tons of affordable Christmas gifts everyone on your list will love. Check out our suggestions for Christmas gifts for the family on a budget, and even Christmas clearance!
When you buy now, pay later Christmas gifts, you can pay as little as $5.99/month* for top-tier gifts, then make payments throughout the rest of the year. You can get all your Christmas gifts like this, including buy now pay later plus size clothing, buy now pay later men’s clothes, buy now pay later women’s clothes and buy now pay later purses—you can get it all!
What to do if you can’t afford Christmas gifts
If you cannot afford Christmas gifts this year, that’s okay. The past year—and even the past few years—have been hard on us all. Think of services you can provide for your loved ones, like babysitting or chores. Handmake gifts with items you have around the house or can buy cheaply. Regift unused or gently used items around your home that you know others will enjoy. You can find creative ways to participate in the giving season without spending any money and start saving as early as you can, so you have money set aside for next season.
Ready to take on the holiday season? You can find all the best gifts at Masseys. Let us know your favorite finds in the comments below and be sure to tag us on Facebook and Instagram!
