How to Avoid Overspending This Holiday Season

Here come the holidays, and here comes money being spent and love being shown through purchases and payment plans. Don’t get me wrong – I love a good sale and the feeling of gifting the ones I love with new items. The problem is that we seemingly put ourselves in worse financial positions right before the year ends when really we should be setting ourselves up for the next year and maybe knocking out some debt.

Holiday sales are set up to make us think we are saving money. 

Also, at no time is spending money saving money. We get so hyped up and tell ourselves we got a discount, but in reality, if we didn’t spend the money in the first place we would still have it. I’m not saying you shouldn’t buy anything. I am saying let’s take a moment to spend wisely and to find a way to enjoy the holidays without feeling depressed over money spent or not having the money to spend in the first place.

Here are five tips I use during the holiday, and really all year round, to make sure I am spending wisely and, more importantly, not living in excess.

5 Tips to Avoid Overspending This Holiday Season

1. Make a gift list – It makes it easier to stay focused on only purchasing items you intended to buy and not grabbing extra items just because they are marked down.

2. Comparative pricing – I know Black Friday deals can be tempting, but often end-of-year deals can be cheaper. Shop around, look online, and wait to make sure you get the best price for your big-ticket items.

3. Give before you get – Take a stroll around your house and go through each room and get rid of items you haven’t used/clothes you haven’t worn. Donate items in good condition and toss useless items. This will also help you to clear space and realize things you may or may not really need.

4. BUDGET – This should really be #1 on the list. Make a realistic budget for buying gifts and spending on holiday sales. If possible, use cash instead of your card.  I’ve noticed that there is something about using cash that makes me a little more reserved when spending it.

5. Shop online – Most stores have the same pricing online, so there’s no need to wake up early and spend all day in long lines or fighting over half-priced toys and items that your kids won’t even want a month from now. Spend more time with your family and buy most of your items online.

Overspending and wasting money is a habit we should leave in 2018. So start thinking more long-term and necessity-based when spending your money. We aren’t in competition with one another, and our worth is not defined by how many “things” we can buy. Minimalism isn’t a lifestyle for everyone, but there is a space between overspending and minimalism. Responsible and resourceful spending should be on everyone’s list.