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The holiday season is often associated with spending money and going all out to indulge the spirit.
While you can’t wait to see what purchases you can make to surprise your loved ones, you don’t want to get too festive and end up racking up massive credit card debt when January rolls around.
Instead, check out this list of items this frugal person never buys for the holidays, and consider cutting some of these expenses yourself.
too many decorations
Decorating your home can be fun, and many holiday movies are designed around the idea of doing so, but it can be expensive. There’s no denying how much money is spent on decoration. If you take it too seriously, you can quickly rack up credit card debt. It is easy to become overindulgent in trying to immerse yourself in that spirit.
Here are some ways thrifty people can save money on holiday decorations.
- Reuse your Christmas tree instead of buying a new one every year.
- Choose simple lighting to avoid high utility bills.
- Decorate within your budget.
- Stick to a minimalist approach to holiday decorations to avoid clutter.
- Limit one-time purchase quantities.
Last minute trip accommodations
While it’s tempting to miss a vacation, vacation travel costs can be prohibitive. If you want to visit family during the holidays, book your accommodation far in advance or stagger your vacation.
For example, you can save money by celebrating Christmas a week early when flights aren’t as expensive and it’s less crowded. Last-minute travel plans can have a big impact on your budget, and finding suitable accommodation can be a struggle.
new holiday costumes
During your vacation, you will likely be invited to various events. You can also buy new clothes for every occasion or consider buying a boring Christmas sweater.
These seem like good ideas, but thrifty people know that it’s not worth buying one-time clothes because they’ll just sit in the closet all year long.
You might be tempted to buy a Christmas sweater if you see it at the store, but you might decide you don’t want to wear it when you get home.
impulse gift
You may want to give everyone on your shopping list the best present, but it’s not worth going into debt.
Frugal people make shopping lists so they know what they’re looking for when they go to the mall. This will prevent you from making impulse purchases that are not within your budget.
As much as you want to treat everyone, it’s a waste to go into debt to buy presents, so you need to prioritize your finances first.
Extended warranty at time of purchase
One of the most popular upsells during the holiday season is extended warranties on purchases. While this may seem like a decent investment, frugal people don’t necessarily spend money when it doesn’t seem to make sense.
seasonal trend products
It seems like every season comes some new trendy gadget or electronics that people aspire to. Frugalists avoid buying into the hype, recognizing that this trend may disappear within a few months.
By practicing delayed gratification and waiting to buy, you can save money when trending seasonal items are replaced by other items by February.
exquisite gift accessories
A thrifty person may choose not to spend money on gift wrapping services or gift packaging ribbons. You can take your time wrapping the gift yourself, or you can choose a simple package. Those on your shopping list will likely appreciate the simple approach and handmade touches.
overpriced holiday market
The holiday season is full of markets and festivals. Some of these markets are worth paying for, but many are just an excuse to charge people to see some decorations.
For example, thrifty people look at admission prices and beverage offerings before choosing which holiday market to attend. You don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars just to get through a traffic light when you can do it for free in your community.
An unnecessary gift for everyone
Participating in a gift exchange can be fun, but thrifty people understand that they can’t afford to buy presents for everyone. To avoid giving too many gifts, think twice before writing out your shopping list.
It can also put the other person in an uncomfortable position if you get something and they don’t give you anything. This is why frugal people set expectations by not trying to please everyone they know with gifts during the holiday season.
Expensive food wasted
If you’re inviting people to a holiday party, you’ll want to make sure you buy enough for the number of guests you expect. Frugal people avoid eating too much expensive food that would only go to waste. You may also consider a potluck to save money on holiday meals.
lastly
The holiday season is often associated with spending money, but that doesn’t have to be the case this year.
You can also choose a minimalist approach that focuses on handmade gifts to avoid racking up credit card debt. It’s important to do everything you can to set a vacation budget and stick to it.
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