Tis' the season for spending, my friends. For me, it's so hard to stay within a reasonable budget during the holidays. After all, I have children with lists and a big family to shop for. Not to mention all the new decorations and wrapping paper I need! And the stamps, and the Bailey's and a new sparkly outfit and ..well, you get the idea. December is brutal on my wallet, and every year I try to think of ways to save money so I'm not weeping into my credit card bill come January. I mean, I'll already be dealing with a case of the winter blues, so I don't need "I need to sell my house because I spent too much money in December!" as something else to be blue about, right?
Mobilicity recently conducted a survey about holiday shopping, and results showed that 58% of Canadians say they spend more than they should during the holidays. 59% (that would be me!) say they make impulse purchases which of course leads to feelings of guilt and a bad case of Holiday Shopping Hangover. Not surprising, really, since 1 in 5 Canadians are also binge shoppers.
I have put together some helpful tips for you (and I!) to save money over the holiday season so we don't have to deal with a huge Holiday Shopping Hangover in January.
Three Tips To Avoid A Holiday Shopping Hangover:
1. Make a list, and check it twice. You know who you have to shop for and you know what they want. Stick to the list and don't buy more than you have to. When you stick to your list, you'll avoid buying things you don't need.
2. Do some comparison shopping. If you think the store you frequently shop at is selling the items you need for a great price, do yourself a favour, and look around some more before you make your purchase. You'd be surprised how many great deals you can find if you just take the time to look around! (You can also use apps to help you navigate your holiday shopping—some apps help you track the best sales, and alert you when the things you want go on sale, even.)
3. Get creative. My favourite gifts to receive are the ones that come from the heart. A thoughtfully written holiday card sent to me from a best friend is more special than any gift wrapped under the tree. And any gifts that my children make for me are also gifts that I treasure more than anything else, even the gifts that come in little blue boxes! Bake some cookies, offer your services to a loved one, and voila... you've saved money while still giving a pretty thoughtful gift!
Content courtesy of Mobilicity, Canada’s smart mobile carrier. Find out how to avoid a holiday shopping hangover and reduce your monthly spending all year round with unlimited data, talk and text, without contracts and hidden fees at Mobilicity.ca. Now that’s smart!
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post that I was compensated for, brought to you by Mobilicity.
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