How to Save Money During the Holidays

While setting money aside throughout the year is the healthiest way to pay for your holiday purchases, we here at Amplify Credit Union understand that not everyone has the ability to save for gifts—but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get your family what they really want. We offer a number of competitive loan products that are better alternatives to high-interest credit cards and store financing. We also want to provide you with some holiday shopping tips so you can save money while getting your family gifts they’ll never forget.

Set a Budget

Know how much you can afford to spend before you visit department stores or do any online shopping. When setting a budget, assign a dollar amount to each person on your gift lift. Knowing how much you’ll spend on each person is more cost-effective than limiting yourself to spending a certain amount on all of your purchases.

Buy Gifts for Couples

If you are buying a gift for a couple, get them one gift to share instead of purchasing individual items. This can greatly reduce your holiday shopping expenses, and it can also bring couples closer together. A restaurant gift card or movie tickets are some great ideas.

Comparison Shop

Regardless of whether you shop online or in a retail store, do some research before you make a purchase. Comparison shopping can help you save a lot of money on your holiday purchases. In doing research, you might even find valuable rebates or rewards.

Take Advantage of Free Shipping Deals

If your favorite online retailer offers free shipping, you might be able to save some money by ordering multiple gifts at once all from the same retailer. Some retailers even offer free in-store pickup.

Avoid Impulse Shopping

It’s easy to buy for yourself when you’re shopping for others. To avoid spending money on yourself this holiday season, stick to your list and, if necessary, only bring as much cash as you will need to cover gifts for others.

DIY

If you have enough time, making gifts yourself can also save you quite a bit of money. Not only do you get to share your talents with your loved ones, but you get to give them something truly priceless.