Save on Christmas Essentials: Gifts, Decor, Trees, and More!
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The holidays are such a magical time but also very expensive! There are some simple ways to save on Christmas essentials so that you can make the most of you Christmas budget.
I love to save on everything that I buy and Christmas must haves are no exception. I have found ways to save on Christmas trees, decorations, holiday dinners, and especially gifts.
I want to help you save on Christmas essentials for your family so that you can maximize any type of budget.
Read on for my favorite ways to save on Christmas essentials to give you the most bang for your buck this holiday season.
If you are looking to save money in the long run, an artificial tree is the way to go. The best time to buy a new one is the first few days after Christmas. I bought one for $50 (normally $200) during an after Christmas sale and we have been using it for 5 years now. That’s only $10 per year!
If you need one for this year, stores like Target, Walmart, and At Home are the best places to start looking. Keep an eye out for sales and special coupon offers starting in the beginning of November.
If you want a classic real tree, places like Lowe’s and Walmart usually have specials on Black Friday and Costco is known to have great prices on fresh trees as well.
Once you get it home, make sure to read these 5 ways to keep your Christmas tree fresh all season.
The best time to stock up on wrapping supplies is during the after Christmas sales. I usually grab 8-10 rolls to keep in the attic for next year. Last year, Target had plenty of wrapping paper left at 90% off!
If you need some now, Dollar Tree and other dollar stores are a great place to score wrapping paper and ribbons at a steal.
You can also buy plain white wrapping paper, which is usually cheaper this time of year, and decorate it with colorful ribbons and bows. You could even have the kids do some drawings on them. Grandparents love that!
Stationary sites, like Minted, will usually offer sales throughout November and December. Also, be on the look out for free shipping codes that can be paired with sales.
Sign up for their email lists and they may send you a special discount code to use during the holidays.
To save even more, you can go digital and order ecards from sites like crosscards.com or ojolie.com.
Before you head to the stores to purchase some pricey home decor, you might want to try these 12 gorgeous DIY Christmas decor ideas.
Instead of purchasing a big bouquet of flowers for your centerpiece or mantle, put together an arrangement at your grocery store making half of it with juniper or fir. You will save around half the cost and it will last a couple of weeks longer than a regular floral bouquet.
I personally like to shop for Christmas gifts year round to really save the most money. I stock my gift closet on the cheap around the end of January and July during toy sales events.
Use these Black Friday shopping tips to save the most on Black Friday and even Cyber Monday without having to deal with the crowds.
Most importantly, make sure you use Ebates whenever you shop online to get an extra percentage back on every purchase. It’s free to use and you get a $10 bonus when you make your first purchase.
Now that you have saved on all those gifts, you have to mail them out. You can grab essentials like bubble wrap, packing tape, labels, etc. at dollar stores.
The best option is to get a flat-rate box from FedEx or the USPS so you don’t have to worry about going over the weight limit.
For the best shipping rates, send your packages early. Last year’s holiday shipping deadline was around December 11th for Christmas delivery.
If you are going to be cooking for a crowd, the grocery bill for Christmas dinner can add up quickly. To maximize your savings, shop the sales cycle, use coupons, and make use of savings apps. Ibotta is my personal favorite!
For my favorite shopping tips, see how I save 75% off my grocery bill every week and learn the grocery shopping secrets that will save you time and money.
To save on wine for Christmas dinner, you can easily switch from red to white wine since reds are usually more expensive.
If you will be using a lot of wine this holiday season, you may want to buy in bulk. Most retailers, even grocery stores, will give a discount when you purchase 6 or 12 bottles at a time.
I like purchasing wine from Winc. They have a great selection of wines under $20, some are as low as $13. Plus, when you order 4 or more bottles you will get free shipping.
Save on Christmas essentials like a new dress or accessories for those holiday parties you will be attending. Spending $200 on a new cocktail dress probably isn’t in the budget this year so you can always use sites like renttherunway.com to rent a designer dress for a fraction of the cost of buying a new one.
If you want a dress that you can own, I like checking sites like Zulily for beautiful designer clothes at a steal. Look for a piece that is classic and well made so you can add new accessories to change it up for different parties.
Check out more tips on how to impress for less and save on fashion.
These ideas should give you a starting point on how to save on Christmas essentials this year. Set a realistic budget for the holiday season to keep your wallet happy and your stress in check.
If you need more help, here are some ways to save for Christmas right now.