The holidays are fun to celebrate, but all of the costs associated with the season can quickly add up. Even with a budget, you may feel there’s no way you can afford Christmas this year. Don’t worry, however, as there are ways to cut corners and make the special time easier on your wallet. One way that I saved money is doing the 52 week challenge. By the end of the year, I had close to $2000 saved by doing this challenge. Read on to find out six less thought about ways you can afford Christmas!
6 Less Thought About Ways to Afford Christmas This Year
1. Purchase gifts from co-ops or buy-ins.
These are groups where everyone goes in together in order to get a discount on the retail price of an item. You can sometimes get free shipping this way too, saving you money on your gifts. Facebook is home to lots of co-ops, especially for baby and kid items. Search for “co-op” to find the groups that can help you afford Christmas.
2. Enter giveaways for gifts.
Another great way to land gifts for the holidays is to enter blog giveaways. There are some great prizes to win, especially leading up to Christmas. Think gaming consoles, KitchenAid mixers, and sometimes, cold hard cash!
3. Host a potluck holiday dinner.
If you are playing host this year but don’t have a ton of money to spend on the Christmas meal, turn it into a potluck. Assign each guest a type of food (side dish, dessert, bread, etc) and enjoy the wonderful turn out of surprises on the table. Also, cut costs by using your chinaware rather than paper plates.
Related: 7 Easy Ways to Deck the Halls for Less
4. Offer services as a gift.
If your budget just doesn’t allow much in the gift department, offer your skills or time as a present. Create a cute card that will let the recipient exchange it for a free car wash, an hour of sewing lessons, or a mowed lawn come summer. Doing this won’t cost you a dime, and these gifts can be much more helpful than buying something your loved one really didn’t need.
5. Send electronic Christmas cards.
If you have a large family and lots of friends, mailing Christmas cards can be very expensive. There are the cards and envelopes, as well as the cost of stamps – which aren’t too affordable when you are mailing a stack! Most people have an email address these days, which is all that is needed for an e-card during the holidays. Another option is to make your Holiday cards using Picmonkey. I have an easy tutorial that you can follow that shows you how to make your own Christmas cards using PicMonkey. {You can check out that post HERE}
6. Have a family member or friend do Holiday photos.
If you like enjoy having a family portrait made at Christmastime but it’s just not in the budget, ask a family member or friend to help out. Anyone with a digital camera and some inspiration (search “holiday photo ideas” on Pinterest will get you started) can capture your family in a very affordable way!
Other ways to afford Christmas this year:
- 27 Ways To Save Money On Christmas
- 8 Ways To Make Extra Money For Christmas
- Simple Ways To Earn Christmas Gift Cards For Free
- How To Make Money Selling Gift Baskets
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