4 Christmas Budgeting Mistakes To Avoid | AD

*This is a collaborative post

As enjoyable as Christmas shopping might be, many people make blunders while purchasing gifts. These errors can cost both time and money. That is why it is necessary to have a strategy in place to help you avoid these. This article highlights some budgeting mistakes people make during Christmas and how to avoid them. 

  1. Purchasing with a credit card

People will likely overspend when they purchase goods with credit cards instead of cash. Not only will they buy goods at a higher price with cards, but they can give larger tips and make impulse purchases. If you spend more than you can afford, it might take months to pay off your debt, so keep this in mind. Try purchasing presents with cash or a debit card to avoid the temptation to splurge with credit cards.

  1. Getting gifts for everyone 

The temptation to buy for family, friends, and colleagues during the holiday season may be overwhelming. You are, however, under no responsibility to buy gifts if you canโ€™t afford them. It doesn’t imply you don’t cherish their friendship or aren’t in the holiday mood. The easiest method to cope with this problem is to be extremely clear about who you will and will not buy gifts from early in the season. Inform people who may be anticipating a gift you will not be giving them this year, and explain why. You can always send cards or handwritten notes to those friends, telling them how much they mean to you or how big of an influence they have had on your year.

  1. Purchasing to impress

When you have some money to spend, you may find it tempting to run out and purchase expensive gifts for everyone you know, whether they’re your spouse, parents, or a close friend. However, try not to go overboard to impress the receiver. Most people in your immediate circle would prefer a thoughtful present over a high price tag, so keep this in mind. You can always get your loved one lovely gifts for less than $20, and they will appreciate your efforts. 

  1. Panic shopping 

As Christmas draws near, many may be worried about what to present to their loved ones. However, there is no need to panic. You should spread your Christmas shopping across a few months, so feel free to consider this. Once you’ve established who you’ll be purchasing gifts for, try to set aside some time early in the season to brainstorm two or three potential gift ideas for families and friends you know they’ll like. When it comes time to buy their gifts, you will know what to look for and will have considered backup choices if the supply of specific products has run short.

It’s easy to forget that Christmas is about giving and spending time with those you care about, not spending and shopping. Don’t get so wrapped up in doing everything perfectly that you forget to seize the day and enjoy the moment with your friends and family.

Author

  • Donna Wishart is married to Dave and they have two children, Athena (13) and Troy (11). They live in Surrey with their two cats, Fred and George. Once a Bank Manager, Donna has been writing about everything from family finance to days out, travel and her favourite recipes since 2012. Donna is happiest either exploring somewhere new, with her camera in her hand and family by her side or snuggled up with a cat on her lap, reading a book and enjoying a nice cup of tea. She firmly believes that tea and cake can fix most things.

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