While it's a joyous time of year, the holiday season can also be stressful. According to a recent survey conducted by TopCashback.com, 54 percent of Americans feel especially anxious when shopping for gifts.
But spoiler alert: the holidays don’t have to be busy and stressful! TopCashback's Consumer Expert Rebecca Gramuglia lists five ways you can prepare and plan early for a worry-free celebration.
1. Make a List
The holidays are a magical time of year, and it’s all too easy to get swept up in the holiday cheer. To prevent any spontaneous purchases, remember to never go shopping without a list. From hosting a small dinner party to gift-giving, listing the essentials is a great way to stay on budget.
Before you start shopping, create a list of friends and family who you plan on buying gifts for. In addition to that, make sure you add how much you plan to spend per person. By deciding how much you are going to spend on each category (gifts, food, etc.), you are able to remain focused and disciplined with your shopping.
2. Create a Holiday Savings Account
Once you set a spending budget, deck the halls stress-free by setting aside money from every paycheck on your own or look to create a holiday-specific savings fund. By doing this, you’ll actively contribute to your holiday fund and avoid racking up debt.
3. Bundle Coupons and Savings
The easiest ways to save money while shopping are to look for deals and use coupons, as well as a cashback site like TopCashback.com. Save and shop from popular retailers like Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Kohl’s, Sephora and more to score a percentage of your purchase back on all qualifying purchases.
4. Get a Head Start
Don’t wait until the last minute to start shopping for gifts. Instead, get a jumpstart on planning and buy early so you have a few months to purchase gifts instead of waiting until the peak of the holiday season. You can even take advantage of post-holiday sales for the next year to stock up on fancy decorations and ornaments at half price.
5. Do Your Research
While shopping early can eliminate some stress, you may also end up paying more than you want to. Looking ahead at major sale announcements and fliers for events like Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday can help you plan your shopping lists better. Of course, if you see a deal ahead of these sales that is tempting, weigh your pros and cons (and coupons and cash back!) to ensure you’re getting a great deal.
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