Not going broke over Christmas - possible?

Many people all over the world succumb to the stress and financial pressure that is Christmas. Unlike more traditional countries, Christmas in typical Western countries has become somewhat commercial. People compete with each other when it comes to extravagant decorations, glittery cards and the gift for your cousin’s ex-girlfriend’s sister that screams, “I have money and I wanna spend it!” This is all fine, if you are a millionaire. Below are a few top tips for those who want to spend as little money as possible this coming Christmas. 

Discuss gifts It is a great idea to sit down with your family, friends and spouse to discuss what they would like for Christmas. This is better than going out and wasting money on something you believe they would like, when in actual fact they will open it, smile with fake joy and never look at the thing again. Once you’ve found out what they want, discuss price limits. Agree on a mutual budget. For example, you and your husband might agree to spend $50 on each other. Fair’s fair, after all, right? This method is guaranteed to help you avoid spending money on others’ unwanted gifts. As for work colleagues, host a “Secret Santa”. This is extremely common and involves writing everyone’s names on paper, putting the pieces in something like a hat, and each selecting one at random, revealing the name of the person you will buy for. Secret Santa is cheap, easy and fun. 

Switch where you shop If you tend to spend money you don’t have in expensive supermarkets and department stores, this is probably the reason you go broke at Christmas time. Switching where you shop to somewhere with lower prices for food, drinks, decorations and gifts will save you so much money you won’t believe it. Plus, most of the time, the quality of the products is exactly the same, sometimes even better!

Buy what you need, nothing more If you’re hosting a Christmas party/dinner and want to save money, it’s a good idea to estimate. Write down how many people are coming, and how long the event will last. Use this information to calculate the amount of food and beverages to buy. This will ensure that you don’t spend too much money on things you do not need, and is a great way to avoid unnecessary waste. 

Make your cards at home In most families, hundreds of Christmas cards are sent out, not just to immediate family, but to tons of distant family members that have barely been spoken to before. This is why many money saving experts out there have begun making their own cards during the holiday season. It’s a great idea to buy the materials from an online shop such as eBay, to ensure the lowest prices. So, maybe it doesn’t seem so impossible to save money at Christmas anymore! Follow our tips above and you will soon realize how much money you were spending for no reason. Happy holidays! 

About the author:I’m Blair Thomas the Co-founder of emerchantbroker.com, if you find yourself saying “I need a merchant account for my credit repair business” and don’t know where to start, I’m your guy!  I have 10+ years of experience in the electronic payments industry, managing several successful agent offices and registered ISO's. I work hard during the day and spend my nights and weekends developing my music career as a singer songwriter signed to David Faustino’s label Old Scratch Records.