Christmas shopping is here again, and we are all thinking of those beautiful Christmas presents we are going to either get for ourselves or for those close to us.
This is an important period of time when people splash their hard-earned money on certain stuff to make the celebration more enjoyable.
Saving money on Christmas shopping is what many people don’t bother to do. If you are not very careful, you could end up making Christmas shopping mistakes you will later regret.
Christmas shopping mistakes
But for the people that have little to spend on Christmas shopping, having a proper plan on stuff to buy and not to buy for Christmas could be the only means to save some money.
As much as we want to be able to buy something we would like for our friends and relatives, it is an unlucky reality that many people would have to budget rigorously to be able to buy Christmas items for friends and family. Below are some Christmas shopping mistakes you shouldn’t make this Christmas:
#1]. Plan your Christmas shopping early
Christmas is a festive period during which most people spend their hard-earned cash on shopping. As Christmas approaches, a lot and lots of adverts both on the television and radio are usually about Christmas shopping.
Therefore, in order to be able to control the temptation to buy more, doing your Christmas shopping early could help you. Apart from the temptation, at times, doing your Christmas shopping early will help you save some money on stuff like Christmas cards and other gifts alike. Yes, prices seem to be a little bit lower during Christmas, but the problem is that you might end up buying what you don’t actually need.
#2]. Budget, do not overspend
When Christmas comes we all usually get too excited to even remember to set a budget on what we want to buy for family and friends. As a result, we usually ended up spending more and more on Christmas shopping than we would have ever done had it been that we set a budget.
With a proper Christmas shopping budget, what you will get is the ability to manage your resources reasonably and do your Christmas shopping with ease and peace of mind. With this, you don’t have to worry about whether to buy or not to buy because you will be able to know what you can spend your money on that will meet your budget as well as satisfy your needs.
Most of the people that overspend during Christmas shopping usually do so because they had no real budget set for their Christmas shopping. Apart from overspending, another devastating effect of not having a Christmas budget is the possibility of ending up buying the stuff you don’t need just because you think you can afford them.
#3]. Don’t do “buy now pay later”
While doing your Christmas shopping, it is very important to buy what you can afford. By buying what you can afford, you will be able to spend within your means and not owning anyone. Impress yourself, don’t try to impress your friends or families.
Don’t be tempted by those supposedly cheap “shopping deals” whereby you will be asked not to bother with instant payment. Shoppers can get carried away by the courteous manner in which the salespersons often talk to get you into debt by ensuring that you buy the stuff they are trying to sell. But the problem is that most of these “buy now pay later” deals are not what you think they are.
Yes, you will have the freedom or relief of having to pay after Christmas. But the problem is that you might struggle to pay the money back after Christmas probably because of the economic situation. Depending on your income and expenditure, you might end up paying more than thought because of the interest on the payment.
#4]. Don’t overdecorate your house
A recent survey by a reputable energy watchdog stated that the majority of people use more energy in their households during Christmas than any other festive period. See our tips on How To Make Your Home Greener And Save Money On Your Household Bills.
Christmas lights and other Christmas decorations couple with cold weather could increase your energy consumption. It is very important to make sure that you manage your energy consumption during the festive period. Don’t try to please anyone, please yourself and your pocket!
Because appliances can account for up to 30 percent of your home energy use, make sure that you change the way you use light. By changing and improving your lighting efficiency during the festive period, you can reduce your environmental impact at home and also save you money on utility costs.