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I really hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We had planned to celebrate Thanksgiving quietly this year, but things turned out differently. My sister and her small family flew in from Haiti. To make it happen, extended family members traveled by car and plane from all around the United States.

So, even though we are only 2.5 hours away, we couldn’t sit on the sidelines. We made the decision to travel to New York City. I was astounded by how deserted the roads were. For those who know what I’m talking about, when I arrived in the city, the traffic was so smooth that I initially believed that some routes were closed or something. However, I’m glad that wasn’t the case.

Anyway, next year, I’m trying something new. I am aware that some would think I am being excessive, but that’s alright.

6 ways how to Save Money during the holidays

Spend the holidays at home
Follow a shopping list or make cuts
Shop early
Stop using credit cards
Ditch Black Friday
Gift exchange

Spend the holidays at home.

No matter how near or how far, traveling is expensive. You will undoubtedly spend more money as you travel further. That is true if you are driving, but not necessarily true if you are flying, unless you make a last-minute decision. The cost can vary depending on when you’re looking for a flight.

I am aware that for some people, it may be the best and only opportunity to spend time with their entire family due to their employment and conflicting schedules. This is fine with me.

Staying in allows you to host a friendsgiving, which is a nice perk. Make it a potluck by inviting everyone to bring a dish or some drinks. All of us can enjoy ourselves without breaking the bank. Everybody benefits from the circumstance.

Follow a shopping list or make cuts.

You can prioritize your spending by making a list of the things you need to acquire right away. By doing this, you can stop your curiosity from taking you in unexpected directions. If not, you’ll be wasting money on unnecessary items.

Shop early

I’m not big on shopping online anymore. My frugal ways have made me lose the patience to hunt for deals and have multiple tabs open comparing prices. But when I used to, CamelCamelCamel and NextTag were two of my favorite webapps to get the best prices. 

Now that Google Shopping is so good at compiling information from around the web, it might be all you need.

Furthermore, my wife advises against delaying your purchases until the holiday season. Prior to or during a holiday, when space needs to be cleared out for new merchandise, the real sales can occur. Since retailers are aware that last-minute buyers will still make purchases, they often have to accept higher prices from these customers.

Stop using credit cards

You’ll reach for your credit card in an instant if you make an impulse purchase. Just leave them at home while you shop to avoid using them. Also, stay away from the “buy now, pay later” plans. If you’re not able to make the payments on time, it can have a big impact on your credit score.

I’ve made the decision not to use any of my credit cards unless I can make an immediate cash payment. I promise not to repeat my errors from the previous year. After being regular with my debt payback, I temporarily lost track of my spending when I did this.

Ditch Black Friday

The first thing to consider is whether Black Friday is worthwhile. Do you actually save money when you visit the store? According to Nerdwallet, buyers are unable to determine whether they are getting a good deal or not because prices fluctuate throughout the year.

In my opinion, retailers take advantage of the frenzy. Printing a before-and-after price in today’s market tricks you into thinking you’re getting a deal when, in fact, the price has always been the same.

Gift exchange

One of my favorite activities is this. No matter how big or small the present, we are grateful for it. We frequently acquire items each year that we don’t really need, so we store them safely.

For instance, my son, who enjoys Nerf guns, received two toy guns last year that he already had. We’ll give it to someone else this year so we can save even more money.

The Bottom Line

These are the only six measures I’m taking to cut costs over the holidays. Start your shopping early and with purpose. You can do a lot of things to improve how you view money and holidays.

The idea is that a wonderful holiday doesn’t require going bankrupt. In fact, the experiences you had without spending any money will make for some of your best memories.

I challenge you to do it.

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