These smart and savvy ways to save money this holiday season are a great way to stick to a budget.
I have always been a Black Friday shopper. As a kid, it was less about the deals and more about the tradition and getting into the spirit. I loved looking through the catalogs after Thanksgiving dinner, planning our shopping trip out, and then bundling up to stay out all night!
It’s a tradition my mom and I have continued, and it’s when I truly let myself get into the holiday spirit. I love it!
These days, it’s a combination of “getting into the spirit” and “getting good deals.” We don’t receive paper catalogs as much in the mail anymore (RIP print media), but I still plan ahead and save with the strategies I listed below.
And now in this COVID-era, we are avoiding malls and stores as much as humanly possible! These money-saving tips still ring true, however you decide to get your holiday shopping done.
Money Saving or Cash Back Apps
Note: this article is based solely on my opinions, I receive no compensation for recommending these apps or websites unless otherwise noted. I truly use and love them!
Paribus
What is it?
A price tracking website that will monitor your sales through and let you know if a price is dropped on something you’ve already purchased. If the price has dropped, Paribus will notify customer service on your behalf to get you a refund by scanning your emails for e-receipts. It is 100% free!
How do you use it?
Download the app or go online and create an account! Paribus will email you when it detects price reductions and will do the work for you!
Why I love it:
It’s essentially effortless, and it’s totally free. Other similar sites will take a commission from the money you save, but Paribus earns most of its money from advertisements and won’t take a commission. Paribus also notices if an item has been delivered late! I paid for two day shipping a few months ago, but my item arrived on day 3. Paribus had my shipping refunded with no effort on my behalf!
Rakuten (eBates)
What is it?
It’s a website and app that allows you to earn a percentage back on your purchases, and offers coupons for big name brands and stores. It can be used for in-store and online shopping.
How do you use it?
Make an account through the app or website (use my referral link here and we’ll both make $40 when you spend $40!)
When using it in-store, you link offers to your credit card. When you pay, you’ll earn a percentage back.
You can also shop online! Go to Rakuten.com, search for your store, and shop through the link it provides. When your purchase is made, you’ll receive a percentage back!
Why I love it:
It’s SO easy to use, and I’ve earned a lot of money back! Every few months I get a check in the mail, and I’m always surprised at how much I’ve earned.
There are also a lot of app-exclusive coupons that I search before I purchase. I’m going to make the purchases regardless of the price (think Christmas/birthday presents, clothes, necessities) so it’s nice to get some money back. I earned over $100 back alone from Rakuten last Christmas! Look out for extra cash-back bonuses around the holidays – the amount often DOUBLES!
SnipSnap
What is it?
It’s an app that allows you to clip coupons and keep them all in one place. It features most big stores, as well as some lesser known ones.
How do you use it?
Through the app, you’ll see a list of stores, or you can search for your favorite store using the search tab. It will show you all available coupons, and then you can “snip” them into your app’s coupon book. When you go to pay, the cashier will scan the code on your phone and VOILA! Money saved.
Why I love it:
I never, ever remember to bring paper coupons to the store, but I ALWAYS have my phone on me! It’s so much easier to use coupons this way.
Ibotta
What is it?
An app that lets you earn cash back on groceries, alcohol, beauty and skincare products, travel, home improvement, and more!
How do you use it?
There’s a few ways to use it.
- Select from stores like Target, Walmart, Wegmans, BJ’s, Aldi, Trader Joe’s and more. Scroll through and add the products you intend to purchase to your offer list. Scan your receipt or link your loyalty card and earn!
- Select a store to shop online from and earn a percentage back.
- Select restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores or liquor stores, and see what products are featured. If you order or purchase anything on the product list, scan your receipt and earn money back.
Why I love it:
The only reason this isn’t #1 on my list is that I use it less for holiday gift shopping and more for holiday party shopping! I’ve been using this app on and off since October of 2017. It’s SO easy to use, and I’ve earned a few hundred dollars back on products I buy all the time! It also introduces me to new products to try. The product list changes frequently, so I check before I shop each time to plan which brands I’m going to purchase.
There’s also challenges and deals that stack on each other to increase earning potential. I’m not great at checking those out, but sometimes the bonuses are pretty big. You can also team up with family and friends to complete challenges for extra cash.
Once you hit $40 (it doesn’t take long), you can send the money directly to your PayPal account. I’ve earned almost $300 back, and my husband has earned quite a bit as well!
Make some DIY gifts
There are a ton of great tutorials for homemade gifts out there!
Creating Christmas crafts with your kids to give to grandparents and other family members creates a wonderful keepsake as well as fun memories.
Gift a holiday basket with some of these easy homemade Christmas candies to friends and family!
We often feel that spending money on an elaborate gift is the spirit behind Christmas. But the value lies in the thoughtfulness of the gift, not the money spent!
Organize your wants vs. needs
Before purchasing an item, analyze the cost vs. value. Is $20 too much to spend on a movie if your child may not like it? Is $40 worth for a sweater for your mother-in-law, if you know she’s only going to wear it in front of you? Prioritize what your loved ones need so you aren’t wasting money on things you don’t.
Some items can be pushed aside for other times of the year, such as birthdays or smaller holidays. Decide what needs to be given now, and what can wait until later.
Price-check your items at each store, and get organized
Staying organized is key. The items you wish to purchase will likely be at several different stores, but may be offered at different prices.
For example, there were a few items last year I found between Amazon and Target that I wanted to buy for my nephews, such as science kits and video games. I didn’t want to pay shipping costs for each store, so I ended up using Walmart (and earned cash back from Rakuten!) for all of the items and I got 2-day free shipping. It saved me a ton of money, and everything arrived at the same time.
It works best for me to make a list of all the items I am going to purchase, and then figuring out which stores have them and at what price. Then I can organize my shopping list and make sure I am not paying too much in shipping or overall price.
Buy secondhand or “swap” with another mom!
Secondhand stores, or even using online listing services, like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, is a great way to save money around the holidays!
We purchase things like holiday pajamas, “Baby’s 1st Christmas” items, and snowsuits and coats through consignment shops or other parents. This year I bought my oldest daughter a whole snowsuit set and my newest baby a Baby’s 1st Christmas outfit for a grand total of $15 at a kid’s consignment shop. It was a HUGE savings considering the same outfits would each be at least $30 retail price!
There are also “swap” or “trade” groups on Facebook for children’s items. These are great to get rid of toys and other children’s items before Christmas, and also get some things you need. Plus, it’s an easy way to connect with other moms and families in your area!
Stuff stockings with items you need
This one comes from my mother-in-law, and I love it! Each year, everyone’s stocking is filled with affordable things that are actually used. This includes:
- snacks
- gum
- deodorant, shampoo/conditioner
- hair ties
- chapstick
- socks/ underwear
- You name it!
It’s great because it’s stuff that will be purchased anyways for the month, but to receive it in a Christmas stocking makes it so fancy. My husband says he always looked forward to his stocking as a kid because of the sheer volume of gifts – they were overflowing! He didn’t realize how practical this was until later in his adult life. And now we do the same for our kids!
Don’t get me wrong, we fill the stockings with some “goodies” too, but making the bulk of the volume things that are practical helps cut down on the cost.
I hope this list helps you stay organized, save money, and rest easier at the holidays. Have any more holiday money saving tips to share? Leave me a comment and let me know!
