The holiday season can be an expensive time and to help take some stress out of the festivities, we’ve put together a list of ways you can shop savvy and make a budget you can stick to!
Write a list of holiday expenses
When making a festive budget, the best place to start is by making a list of all your expected expenses over the holiday season. This will allow you to have a basic idea of the things you will need to pay for, allowing you to prioritise your saving and spending accordingly. Holiday expenses can include things such as gifts for loved ones, travel expenses, cards, festive food outside of your normal budget, shipping costs, gift-wrapping supplies and charitable contributions.
Decide on your spending limit
Now that you know what you will be spending your money on, it’s good to determine how much you can realistically put aside to cover these expenses. Once you have taken a look at your household budget, you could allocate a set amount appropriately to each holiday expense and keep a record of this to help to track your budget. Be sure to make a list of everyone you need to buy gifts for, the amount you would like to spend on each of them and remember to note down your purchases as you go.
Shop smarter
Shopping online is a great way to save time and compare prices to find the best deal. Be sure to take advantage of pre-holiday sales like Black Friday and Cyber Monday and look out for voucher codes, discounts and free shipping options to help cut costs. However, as tempting as sales may be, remember to stick to your budget and not purchase more than is necessary! Avoiding social media when you can around the holiday season may help with this.
If you’d rather not shop online, try visiting charity shops, car boot sales or second-hand shops. Extra tip: when shopping in-store, try to pay with a cash-only system as much as possible as using a credit card can lead to overspending.
Enjoy a festive feast for less
If you’re looking for a delicious, cheap and cheerful three-course meal to treat friends and family with this holiday season, be sure to download our Live Vegan for Less festive menu working out at just £22.18 for six people! You can also save money on your festive feast further by asking friends and family to contribute either by chipping in for the cost or bringing along some food of their own.
Arrange a secret Santa
Buying presents is often seen as one of the most stressful parts of the holidays. However, opting to do a secret Santa with friends and family is a great way to reduce your spending during the festive season. It’s important to make sure that everyone involved agrees to a spending limit on presents and some suggestions to ensure your money is well spent!
Don’t compare your situation to others
As tedious as it may seem to create a festive budgeting plan, you should remind yourself that you are doing a very positive thing by creating a budget and finding ways to stick to it – not only will it help you stay organised throughout the holiday season but it will save you the financial hangover as we enter into the New Year. And remember, the festive period isn’t about how much we spend on the fanciest presents, but rather spending time with loved ones, which is the best gift of all!
We hope this list of money-saving tips has helped you feel a bit more positive about heading into the festivities so that you can make the most of them. For more tips on how you can live a vegan lifestyle on a budget, visit our Live Vegan for Less webpage and follow our #LiveVeganForLess campaign on social media.