If you’re starting to feel Christmas breathing down your neck but you don’t yet have the cash you need to make it the kind of holiday you and your family deserve, you’re not alone. However, that doesn’t mean you’re hopeless yet.
Here are a few tips to help you find and free the cash that can make your Christmas truly magical.
Start budgeting right away
How many paychecks do you have between now and Christmas? How much money do you need to save and by when? Sit down and budget your money. Start by working out from your bank statements how much you need to spend on essentials like home, car, and bills. Subtract that and see how much money you have for both discretionary expenses (like your meals out or you daily cup of coffee) and financial goals (aka your Christmas savings). Can you reduce your optional expenses enough to pump up your savings that you can meet your goals in time for Christmas? If so, then you should be fine with getting the money you need so long as you’re able to keep to your budget. If not, then keep looking to the tips below.
Start shopping around
If you’re not able to free up the money you need by cutting down on your discretionary spending, then you might have to start looking for the wiggle room you need elsewhere. First of all, start planning every item in your grocery shop. You can spend less if you plan multiple meals making use of the same ingredients, so you don’t have to pay for more and different types of ingredients. You should also consider taking the trip to shop at more than one grocery store. By finding out who does the best prices, you might take a little more time, but you will save money which can go into the Christmas fund.
Make a little extra money online
If you have a little free time or simply something extra to offer, then you might be able to pump up your budget with a little extra cash. Nowadays, the gig economy is letting people work from home as content writers, social media managers, virtual assistants, and much more. Of course, you can always go online to sell things from the home that you no longer want or use. If you have a parking space at your home, you may even be able to rent that out. Depending on where you live, you might find a lot of people looking for a parking space during the holidays when they come to visit their loved ones, and willing to pay a premium for it, as well.
Use every discount you can
Do you have a figure in your head for how much you need in your Christmas fund? Perhaps, when it comes to presents, Christmas food, and the like, you don’t need as much as you think. There are a lot of online voucher and coupon websites and blogs that are constantly finding the best savings on the market. Keep an itemized list of what you plan on buying for Christmas. Look on the top coupon and voucher websites every morning to see if they offer a deal on any of the items on your list. When it comes to Christmas food and supplies, don’t forget to take advantage of every loyalty card that you have, using your points to find a little more wiggle room in your budget.
Consider getting a cash advance now
Lastly, if you can’t free up the cash no matter what you do, then there’s always the option of <a href=”/cash-advances.php”>taking a cash advance</a>. If you’re able to plan ahead and ensure that you can pay off your loans after Christmas, relying on payday loans and credit cards can help you get the cash that you need with minimal trouble. You can get the money in no time, giving yourself plenty of room to save and pay off what you borrowed. Just make sure that you have a plan to pay back any money that you borrowed and you will have no trouble paying for the kind of Christmas that you and your family deserve.
It’s not too long until the big day’s arrival, now. Start making savings where you can, use your spare time to make some extra cash, and don’t be afraid to rely on your credit if you can handle making the repayments when the New Year comes in. We hope the tips above help you make the Christmas you deserve.