How to Hack the Holiday Season And Save More Money

Well, the holiday season is finally here, and do you know what that means? It means that we’re one step closer to kicking 2020 to the curb FOREVER! Yes!

Pandemic fatigue is real! And by now, you’re probably anxious to dive into everything the holiday season has to offer. Like all the shopping, celebrating, cooking, eating, and reconnecting with family, right?

Well, that all sounds wonderful. BUT, before you get carried away, and the money starts flying out of your bank account, think about this…

Wouldn’t it be great to end this awful year by getting through the holiday season without going broke? 

Hmmm, I vote, “yes!” (Oh, and I’m voting “yes” for you too, by the way.)

Do you know why?

Because you still have a chance to show 2020 that there ARE things in your life that you CAN control, like your money!

And all you need are a few simple holiday hacks. So here are some tricks to help you enjoy all the fun of the holiday season without all the money guilt later.

1. Buy Electronics From Last Season

The PS5 has been on fire this holiday season! But you know what? It also has a price tag that may burn a hole straight through your wallet. On the other hand, you could get a brand new PS4 for nearly $100 cheaper! 

And when you stop and think about it, is there really that much difference between the two? I told my son, they both play games, right? Of course, he had some babble about the differences. 

But the point is, if you can’t resist the latest must-have gadget, then be prepared to part with a lot of your cash now. Or, deal with the credit card bills for many, many, MANY months to come later! 

 2. Save Now, Buy Later

Piggybacking off that first tip. Here’s an interesting perspective I saw in an interview recently. A financial expert pointed out that 2020 has not been a conventional year. So, why worry about traditional gift-giving rules.

Meaning that you could save a nice chunk of change by giving smaller, more meaningful Christmas gifts. Then, purchase your more expensive gift items the day after Christmas when the demand drops and the sales start!

I know, it’s radical thinking, right? But hey, it’s 2020, enough said!

3. Trim That Tree Down To Size

Are you planning on a real Christmas tree or a fake this holiday season? Well, either way, it’s easy to save a few bucks when you know the right hack.

So, if you’ve decided on the real thing, then you can always save money by scaling back on the size. Not only that, but Pine trees tend to be less expensive. Plus, you can always haggle for a lower price if you find any tree that needs some extra TLC.

As for the artificial side of things, did you know you can save as much as 75% by checking your local thrift stores? However, if you’re not a fan of used trees, then no worries. Amazon Prime has lots of great prices and free shipping on brand new ones. 

Last but not least, visit your favorite craft stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby. You can find deals for up to 50% off brand new Christmas trees. But remember, not too big though, because less is more (money in your pocket, that is).

4. Take Advantage Of Prime Time

Due to the pandemic, we’re all doing more online shopping than ever before. I mean, I see delivery trucks dropping off packages in my neighborhood all day long.

And if you happen to be an Amazon shopper, then make sure to take advantage of Amazon Prime. I finally made the investment myself, and now my family loves it!

I mean, what’s not to like about:

• Free next-day or 2-day shipping. 
• Free 1-day, or same-day (on eligible orders).
• Free 2-hour grocery delivery
• Prime Photos – offers unlimited full-resolution photo storage
• Prime Music – with unlimited ad-free streaming of over 2 million songs by the hottest artists like Taylor Swift
• Prime Video – has a great assortment of unlimited ad-free streaming on popular movies and shows. Plus, Amazon award-winning originals that rival Netflix
• Prime Reading – offers unlimited access to over a thousand eBooks, magazines, comics, books, and Audible narrations
• Prime Delivery – flat-rate shipping for groceries and household essentials

Oh, and there’s even a Prime Day, which is like Black Friday for Prime members. 

Plus, if you’re not a member yet, you can still take advantage of their 1-month free trial, which is what I did. That way, you’ll enjoy all the great benefits without costing you a dime. 

5. Earn Money While You Shop

Okay, now this one is almost too good to be true. Did you know that you could get some of your money back when you shop online?

Seriously, last year I signed up for a cashback site for the first time. Then, I went about my usual holiday shopping. I even forgot that I had signed up.

But, let me tell you, it was a welcome treat in February when I received a big fat check in the mail. Cool, right?

And a couple of great websites where you can earn cash or gift cards that will come in handy after the holiday season are Swagbucks and Kashkicks.

Check them out and see what you think! The signup is FREE.

I mean, a holiday hack that gives you cashback, that’s a win-win in my book!

6. Buy The Same Gift For Everyone

This is one of my favorite money-saving hacks for every holiday season. When I come across a gift that I know will be great for many people, I jump on it!

For instance, fighting to open tightly sealed jars always makes my hands hurt. I mean, who doesn’t struggle to open jars and bottles every once in a while? And ugh, those aluminum seals on condiment bottles are so darn annoying to try and peel off! 

That’s why when I saw this nifty multi-opener gadget for under $10, I snapped it up almost immediately. And it became numero uno on my gift-giving list for this holiday season. (Oh well, I guess the cat is out of the bag.)

However, if you or someone you know struggles with weak grip strength, you may want to choose the automatic opener, which is still an awesome value at less than thirty bucks.

By the way, you can also click here to learn even more great tips on how to shop smart for the holiday season.

7. Zoom Into The Holiday Season 

I know you’re thinking how great it would be to visit your out-of-town family for the holiday season, but there’s just one big problem. Traveling ain’t cheap! And after the holidays are over, guess who’s stuck with a bunch of unwanted bills? (Hmm, you whistle, I’ll point.)

Before the pandemic, many people never even heard of a Zoom video chat. But thanks to social distancing, it’s like, we all kinda became experts overnight. 

Well, just keep those Zoom calls rolling. Because at least you have an opportunity to flip the script on the pandemic and save a butt-load of money in the process.

Covid hasn’t quite loosened its grip just yet. So, you still have a totally acceptable excuse not to travel. The best part is that nobody needs to know that you’re trying to save money. And, you still have an easy, FREE way to connect with your loved ones on Christmas Day and in real-time. So you see, bright side!

8. Skip The Mail And Get Personal

I love greeting cards! And I look forward to sending them and receiving them every year. 

But, what do you think happens to all those lovely holiday cards after you’ve sent them? 

I’ll tell you what. 

People glance at it for a moment and say, “that’s nice.” Then, they put them with all the rest and toss them out once the holiday season is over. 

So, why not try a more meaningful and less wasteful alternative this holiday season? Fortunately, I just happen to have a few free, eco-friendly, and personalized alternatives you can try instead. Like:

• Consider sending an Ecard. Yes, that’s still a thing! And some companies like American Greetings even send them for free.
• Try a thoughtful Email. It’s a great way to touch base with friends and give more detailed updates about how you’re doing. 
• Simply pick up the phone. What could be more special than letting your friends know that you took a few minutes of your holiday to call?

Now, you’ve just saved a few dollars and possibly a few trees.

9. Try A Little R&R

Okay, at first glance, this may sound a bit cheap and tacky. But, if that’s how you feel, then try not to think about it too hard. 

 

Because if you do it the right way, then it really can be an excellent holiday hacking idea. I’m talking about regifting and reusing, of course.

Regifting 

For instance, I was given a cute purse one Christmas that I never quite needed. And, if I have thought about this idea sooner, I could have given it to one of my nieces for Christmas. 

Instead, it’s been hanging in my closet unused for years. (Well, I’m definitely thinking about doing it now.) The trick here is that the gift needs to make sense for the person you’re regifting it to. 

Reuse

As for the reuse part, I am the queen of saving pretty bags, bows, and gift wrap to use over and over again. In fact, I hardly ever have to buy new gift wrap.

Here’s all you have to do:

• Open wrapped packages gently instead of ripping into them
• Cut off any wrinkled or torn edges
• Use undamaged portions to wrap small gifts
• If the bows lose their stickiness, then add a piece of tape 

That’s it, easy peasy!

10. Have A Do-It-Yourself Holiday Season

I am a big believer in the idea that…

 The most meaningful gifts don’t come from the store. They come from the heart. 

And here’s a perfect example.

One of my former managers was handing out a single ornament to everyone as Christmas gifts. At first, I thought they were cute. 

But once I found out she mixed, baked, cut, and painted them herself, then immediately I knew they were special!

It’s like, I was suddenly awe-struck! And I couldn’t stop staring at all the wonderful details knowing that she personally did them herself. I didn’t even realize she was crafty. 

After that, it was on! I had to have more! I think I harassed her the entire work shift for another one because each one was different. 

However, she only brought one per person. But, fortunately for me, someone didn’t show up to work that day. So after my constant begging, she finally gave me a second one. (hehehe)

Let me tell you, those are my most precious ornaments that I hang on my Christmas tree every year. And every time I look at them, I fall in love with their beauty all over again. Plus, I think of her because she made them.

The Takeaway

It’s so easy to get swept away in all the excitement of the holiday season.

And it’s just as easy to find ourselves getting over our heads with spending.

Although 2020 has been rough, it’s not too late to take back some control by NOT going broke for the holidays!

So, this time, let’s start the new year off right. 

Try some of these simple tips and prepare to enjoy the season and save some cash!

Now, what hack will you be trying this holiday season?

Reply below. I’d love to hear your thoughts.