[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/christmas-on-a-budget\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/christmas-on-a-budget\/","headline":"Christmas on a Budget: 10 Ways to Save Money This Holiday Season","name":"Christmas on a Budget: 10 Ways to Save Money This Holiday Season","description":"Christmas is a time for family and friends, but it\u2019s also a time for...","datePublished":"2021-12-09","dateModified":"2023-03-03","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/#Person","name":"Logan Allec, CPA","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/author\/logan-allec\/","identifier":4,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e74dd0453a5871d1dcfde6d40d9494765ca8bfdb01927cefee4564d4bee9075?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6e74dd0453a5871d1dcfde6d40d9494765ca8bfdb01927cefee4564d4bee9075?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Money Done Right","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Money-Done-Right-Personal-Finance-and-Investing-Blog.png","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Money-Done-Right-Personal-Finance-and-Investing-Blog.png","width":488,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/christmas-on-a-budget.jpg","url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/christmas-on-a-budget.jpg","height":460,"width":1900},"url":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/christmas-on-a-budget\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s1f3PGbJ2qg#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s1f3PGbJ2qg","name":"Shopkick Review: How I Use This Rewards App for Free Gift Cards","description":"Today I am reviewing and walking you through the Shopkick app, which you can use to earn gift cards at places like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more. Keep watching to find out exactly how the app works, the pros and cons of the app, and if you should consider downloading this app!\n\n\u27a1\ufe0f Use Promo Code LOGAN to earn a $5 bonus (1,250 kicks) when you earn at least 10 kicks within the first 7 days of downloading the app!  Download Shopkick here: https:\/\/shopkick.com\/\n\nOther Videos Mentioned In This Video:\n\u27a1\ufe0f BeFrugal Review and Walkthrough: https:\/\/youtu.be\/wiOOCtkolDo\n\u27a1\ufe0f Citi Double Cash Review: https:\/\/youtu.be\/nSi1kdU5o3I\n\nPrograms (Use Coupon Code YOUTUBE for 50% Off!)\n\ud83c\udf93 The Money Course (Paid): https:\/\/www.loganeducation.com\/offers\/FUmjEuPB\/checkout\n\nFree Download:\n\ud83d\udcb8 75 Ways to Save an Extra $100 This Month: https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/75-Ideas-to-Put-an-Extra-100-in-Your-Pocket-Every-Month.pdf\n\ud83e\udd11 15 Referral Programs That Make Me Over $20,000 a Month: https:\/\/www.loganeducation.com\/15-referral-programs\n\nTable of Contents:\n0:00 Shopkick Review\n1:15 Installing The App & Location Settings\n2:00 Create Your Account\n2:45 Promo Code LOGAN\n3:05 How Much Are \"Kicks\" Worth?\n4:00 5 Ways To Earn Kicks\n6:35 Walking Through The App - Nearby Tab\n7:10 Shopping Online Through ShopKick\n8:00 Discover Tab\n8:30 Shopkick Options\n8:45 E-Receipts\n9:55 Account Settings\n10:00 Linking Cards\n10:20 My Saves\n10:30 Invite Friends & Promo Codes\n11:00 Questions & Support\n11:15 Going To Wal-Mart\n12:10 Arriving At Wal-Mart & Receiving Walk-In Kicks!\n14:10 Scanning My First Items\n15:25 Scanning Items I'm Going To Buy\n16:45 Purchasing My Items\n17:20 Scanning My Receipt\n18:45 Receiving Kicks For Purchasing Items\n19:15 Redeeming Shopkick Kicks\n20:00 Breaking Down Kicks Value For Different Rewards\n21:15 Redeeming $100 Amazon Card\n21:30 Shopkick Pros\n22:25 Shopkick Cons\n23:35 Should You Download Shopkick? \n\nI may be compensated if you use the links above.\n\n#shopkick #cashback #rewards","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/s1f3PGbJ2qg\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/s1f3PGbJ2qg\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/s1f3PGbJ2qg\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/s1f3PGbJ2qg\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/s1f3PGbJ2qg\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2021-04-29T16:30:24+00:00","duration":"PT24M40S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/s1f3PGbJ2qg","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCQ9WUXlSuLlbi5BLkgtEUEA#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCQ9WUXlSuLlbi5BLkgtEUEA","name":"Logan Allec","description":"Logan Allec is a CPA and the founder of Choice Tax Relief, which specializes in helping people with their IRS and state tax debt.","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/43_VKqrbO06RGMcxfdQbDXosrkVRq1yf5QgSQEiR4ILUGWV9fJtTh0o2ftYMYqVo6PwnEOPRdg=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s1f3PGbJ2qg#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s1f3PGbJ2qg#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s1f3PGbJ2qg&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s1f3PGbJ2qg#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":12091}],{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=s1f3PGbJ2qg#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_LikeAction","interactionType":{"@type":"LikeAction"},"userInteractionCount":370}]},"about":["Saving Money"],"wordCount":1237,"articleBody":"Christmas is a time for family and friends, but it\u2019s also a time for shopping.Americans spend more and more money on Christmas gifts and other holiday-related expenses every year, with analysts expecting an average of roughly $1,000 in spending for 2021.With that being said, you don\u2019t have to break the bank to have an unforgettable Christmas with people you care about. Here are 10 of the best ways to save money during the holidays without missing out on the traditions that are most important to you.Table of ContentsToggle1. Use Shopkick2. Set a Holiday Budget3. Check Price Histories4. Order Early5. Sell Anything You Don\u2019t Need6. Split Gifts with Friends and Family7. Give Homemade Gifts8. Ask Guests to Bring Food and Drinks9. Check Tickets in Advance10. Go Shopping After the HolidaysTry Just a Few Tips to Halt Holiday Overspending1. Use ShopkickShopkick is a cash-back application that makes it easy to earn rewards simply by spending money at physical and online stores.Users can even earn cash back by scanning barcodes or simply walking into a participating store. Check out my Shopkick review to see how it works.Whether you\u2019re shopping for groceries, gifts, decorations, or something else, you\u2019ll be able to earn rewards on each dollar spent with Shopkick.2. Set a Holiday BudgetOne of the easiest mistakes you can make around the holiday season is failing to set a clear budget in advance.Without a financial plan, it\u2019s easy to get lured in by all the discounts and promotions that stores and ecommerce brands run from Black Friday through Christmas.To avoid that issue, set a spending limit in advance for gifts. Put together an idea of which people you want to get gifts for and estimate how much you\u2019re comfortable spending on each one.You can always make slight revisions later, but that kind of plan will go a long way toward keeping your holiday spending under control.3. Check Price HistoriesRetailers love to advertise eye-popping discounts, but just because you see a certain percent off doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019re actually saving money.In fact, some \u201cpromotional\u201d prices are \u201cmarked down\u201d from a sticker price that doesn\u2019t actually exist just to convince buyers that they\u2019re getting a great deal.Fortunately, monitoring price histories while online shopping is easier than ever before.For example, Camelcamelcamel automatically tracks prices on Amazon, and stores a comprehensive price history for each item.Looking at a product\u2019s price history will make it easy to tell which discounts are worthwhile and which ones are just a cheap marketing ploy.4. Order EarlyIt\u2019s easy to fall behind on holiday shopping, but you don\u2019t want to end up paying extra to have items delivered before Christmas.For 2021, the USPS advises that shipments should be going out as early as December 15th (Retail Ground) or up to December 23rd (Priority Express) for expected delivery before Christmas Day on December 25th.With that in mind, orders placed after December 15th will likely be significantly more expensive when you consider the cost of expedited shipping.Placing your orders early will enable you to avoid those extra shipping charges.Keep in mind that those USPS deadlines represent the date an item is shipped\u2014not the date of the actual purchase.You\u2019ll need to factor in processing times when trying to place orders in time for a Christmas delivery.5. Sell Anything You Don\u2019t NeedSelling old gifts and other items you don\u2019t need anymore will help you remove clutter while giving you some extra cash to spend during the holidays.You\u2019ll also be able to find an owner who will get more use out of the item than you do.eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and other digital platforms make it easy to connect with buyers and either ship items or arrange a local exchange.You can add the cash to your existing Christmas budget or put it in a savings or investment account to start earning interest towards future years.6. Split Gifts with Friends and FamilyBuying an individual gift for each person sometimes makes sense, but you may also want to go in on larger gifts with friends or family members.For example, you might get one big family gift for your grandparents and split the cost with your siblings and cousins.Getting one big gift gives you the chance to look for something unusual that the recipient won\u2019t be expecting.In most cases, they\u2019ll appreciate one big thing more than a bunch of smaller gifts that they may not end up using.7. Give Homemade GiftsHomemade gifts are a unique way to show your appreciation for someone, and they give you the chance to be more creative with your approach to holiday presents.Making a gift yourself is generally much cheaper than buying one, so you could save a lot of money by giving homemade gifts instead of buying something for each friend and family member.Check out these DIY gifts to get inspired with ideas for all different kinds of homemade presents including personalized coasters, mugs, wall art, cupcakes, and more.8. Ask Guests to Bring Food and DrinksIf you\u2019re hosting a Christmas gathering at your place, food and drinks might end up being one of your biggest holiday expenses.You can cut down on those costs by asking your friends and family members to pitch in with food and drinks as well as items like dishes, silverware, and kitchen tools that you might need to accommodate all of your guests.With other people handling some of the cooking, you\u2019ll be able to focus on a smaller number of dishes as well as preparing your home for the event.If you\u2019re going to someone else\u2019s place for the holidays, make sure to ask them what you can do to make their life easier.9. Check Tickets in AdvanceTransportation is one of the main costs we deal with around the holidays.Plane tickets typically get substantially more expensive around Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it\u2019s impossible to predict when the best deals will be available.If you wait until a few weeks before Christmas to book your tickets, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll be stuck paying two or three times the usual price for a flight.Monitoring prices for a few months before the holidays will give you a chance to finalize your purchase at the best possible time.10. Go Shopping After the HolidaysRetailers make a big push for holiday items in November and December, but they\u2019re always left with some extra inventory at the end of the holiday season.The first few weeks of January are the perfect time for some proactive holiday shopping\u2014as long as you have the space to store things until next Christmas.Whether you\u2019re looking for winter clothes, TVs, holiday decorations, gift bundles, or something else, don\u2019t think that you missed your chance just because you didn\u2019t buy them before the holidays.Try Just a Few Tips to Halt Holiday OverspendingCosts can add up quickly when you\u2019re buying gifts, decor, food, and other holiday items, but you\u2019ll be surprised by how much you can save with these simple tips.Try one or two of them this year, and you\u2019ll be doing your 2023 budget a big favor."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Personal Finance","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Saving And Budgeting","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/\/saving-and-budgeting\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Christmas on a Budget: 10 Ways to Save Money This Holiday Season","item":"https:\/\/moneydoneright.com\/personal-finance\/saving-and-budgeting\/christmas-on-a-budget\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]