The Holiday Season is among us! I’m excited, are you? I absolutely love the Holidays and all the fun, memories and excitement it brings. I love the extra special time spent with family and I love all the yummy food we get to enjoy!
One thing I don’t love about the Holidays is the extra money I spend. I’m pretty sure I spend the most money this time of year. Between hiring local home cleaning services for a thorough cleaning of the house, buying gifts for friends and family and food for Holiday gatherings, we tend to spend a substantial amount!
Not to forget the exotic vacations that I love–they are one of the major reasons for my increased expenditure. For instance, this time around I was planning to visit Northumberland in Northern England. I have heard that this place is quite a sight to the eyes and heart. But what intrigued me most was the piece of information that it encourages a pet-friendly stay–apparently, dog friendly cottages in Northumberland are abundant. So, I became excited to pay my visit to this county with my furry friend. But then I remembered that I have already planned a meet-up with friends and family, which I cannot cancel now. So, Northumberland might have to wait a bit more for my arrival.
But me postponing this trip does not necessarily mean that I have saved some money. Even if I stay at my house, I would have a lot of expenses. Luckily, I found a few ways to save money this holiday season. Yes, you may spend a little more than usual, but these savings tips will help get you through the holidays without overspending too much.
Shop Clearance Deals – After Halloween, some of my favorite stores had great deals on their Halloween merchandise. I was able to find some great stocking stuffers and snacks at clearance prices. I was also able to find Halloween items that I could use for Christmas.
Use Coupons – When possible, use coupons. You’d be surprised at the many coupons offered for various products. In fact, if you like OREO Cookies as much as my family and I do, you’d be happy to know you can save big on them at Walmart right now! Look for the OREO display at your local Walmart store and chances are you’ll find an IRC (instant redeemable coupon) on each package. The IRC is good for $0.50 off a package expires 2/15, so you’ll be able to enjoy the savings through the Holidays!
Use Ibotta – What’s Ibotta? It’s an app you download to your smartphone. Use it to earn cash back on in-store and mobile purchases. Remember the OREO coupon offer I just mentioned? Well, you can now maximize your savings by combining the ibotta offer (Buy 1 OREO, Earn $0.50 through 11/30/16) with the instant redeemable coupon (Save $0.50 when you buy one package of OREO cookies 10.5 oz. or larger). With both offers combined you can enjoy a package of OREO cookies for just $1.98! Awesome deal, right?
Remember the reason for the season – Christmas is not all about gifts. You must remember that! Don’t overspend. Be sure to shop within your means. For me, the Holidays are about spending time with friends and family. Gifts are an extra, not a necessity.
Make your Gifts – One way to save on gifts is to gift handmade items. Get your creative juices flowing and make your gifts for friends and family. You can also gift snacks. With all the OREO Cookies you’ll be able to buy thanks to the great savings, maybe you can whip up a batch of Chocolate Dipped OREO Cookies. Dip them in white chocolate and cover with red and green sprinkles. A yummy treat anyone would be happy to receive!
However, if you are planning to go on fun trips such as camping, other than the essentials, you should ensure that you have a proper vehicle to go camping in. It is probable that you might come across chaotic weather while travelling. In this case, having a vehicle that is built to withstand harsh conditions will prove to be a great choice. If it is snowing outside but you still want to camp out at night to enjoy nature and gaze at the starry sky, investing in awnings could be a great idea. Also bringing along a weather station should help you predict and prepare for a safe trip.
Additionally, if you would like to go hunting while camping for the holidays with your family, then you might want to think about stocking up on ammo. This step is essential for your safety from possible dangers such as wild animals while you are on excursion. But, other than piling up on firearms and ammunition for your safety, there are many other things to be kept in mind for staying safe when hunting and camping such as:
1.Pack a DIY emergency kit: pocket knife, first aid kit, flash lights, extra batteries, map, and compass. These basic items can make sure that you are prepared for any situation that you are in, while you are out camping/hunting.
2.Bringing someone along with you: when you are in a dire circumstance in a forest, you might not be able to make the right or the best decisions, hence, bringing other people on the trip can help you handle the scenario better.
3.Carrying a gun for your safety: we might tend to run into wild animals in the wilderness, no matter what the time of the year is that you decide to go on a trip. Bringing along firearms to defend ourselves can make sure that you do not become a tasty breakfast for the beasts out there.
That being said, with safety precautions kept in mind, you can enjoy time with your family worry-free. Happy camping!
How do you SAVE during the Holiday season? I’d love to read your tips in the comments below.
I don’t have a lot of space to store things in my small apartment but I do like getting ahead with some bargains. I try to catch the good sales by relying on a few bloggers’ posts via email or tweets. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are big days for me to save for Christmas.
Oreo’s are my favorite! This article is great! Great savings ideas!