1) Search the Web for Deals
There's no doubt about it - shopping online really is the best way to get deals and save money at Christmas time. Here are a few ideas on where to find them:
Search for Coupons: Before shopping with any online store, do a quick search for "Store Name + coupon code". Often there'll be nothing available, but when you do find a coupon it's well worth having spent the extra two minutes searching for it!
Sign Up to A Cashback Website: There are a number of cashback websites that cost you nothing to join, and will give you a percentage of your purchase back after a certain period of time. You'll usually only get 1-5% back, but it's still a saving! Note that you won't get your cashback payout immediately, but it'll be a nice boost in the months after Christmas.
Check Groupon: Groupon has become hugely popular with shoppers looking for a deal, so make sure to sign up to email updates months in advance of Christmas. Not only can it help you save on certain goods, but you'll also find experiences like spa days, photo shoots and days out that all make excellent gifts!
Black Friday/ Cyber Monday Sales: Many online stores now have mega sales after Thanksgiving, so get online and see what you can find. Amazon, for example, has a number of very limited discount items. But you really do have to login early on the day to be in with a chance of getting them!
Deals on Site: Many sites will have their own specific deals, like "buy one get one free" or free shipping when you spend $X. Remember, only take advantage of these deals if you actually need extras!
2) Save Money on Christmas Cards
Don't forget that the cost of buying and sending Christmas cards can also add to your holiday spend. There are a few ways you can save in this area:
- You could send eCards instead of physical cards (you can still send paper cards to the really important people).
- You could avoid sending cards altogether and phone everyone who is important to you instead.
- You can deliver some of the cards by hand to save on postage costs.
- You could make your own cards.
- Or, if you do want to send cards, send them as early as possible to get the cheapest postage costs.
We have already established that shopping online really is the best way to save money - but there's another great thing about shopping online: comparison sites! A number of websites will now do the comparing for you so you don't have to spend hours surfing around various retailers and making a note of their prices.
It's worth always having the comparison mindset. If you see something in a store, you can always go online later that day to see if you can find it cheaper from somewhere else. But don't forget to include the price of shipping in your comparison, as this is a cost you will save if buying from a bricks-and-mortar retailer.
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