I recently received an email from someone who listened to the replay of the Just Ask Nicole LIVE! show I did on holiday spending tips.
They very kindly thanked me for providing the information (...YOU'RE WELCOME!) and also asked if I was actually using any of those tips myself.
Well, the answer is... YES! You better know it!
I AM actually using my very own holiday spending tips and putting them into action. Most of them in fact.
One of the tips I mentioned that I'm not doing is nixing gift giving all together. This year, I am giving gifts. Some will be creative, some "special," but rest assured, all will be reasonably priced!
I like to think of myself as a "careful" spender who rarely pays full price for anything. I'm not cheap, but I love good deals and bargains just as much as the next person, and I absolutely despise "wasting" money. By that I mean what I consider to be wasting money for me.
Some of the things I'm doing this holiday season include:
- using mostly cash, and planning to pay any credit card charges off in full when the bill comes
- only buying things that are on sale
- doing some shopping online and taking advantage of online sales and free shipping offers (prime example: my beautiful new Christmas tree that just arrived today from Balsam Hill!)
- using the money in my PayPal account to pay for stuff online where PayPal is accepted (came from some items I sold on eBay earlier this year)
- redeeming some of the points I've accumulated in my MyPoints account for gift cards to give to my newspaper carrier and handyman and a few others
- redeeming some of the points I've accumulated in my MyPoints account for gift cards to stores where I plan to do some shopping (online and in-store)
- using TreeGivers.com to have trees planted in honor of some loved ones I've lost
- selling some stuff on CraigsList and using the money to cover some of my holiday expenses and make some charitable donations
And speaking of selling stuff... Isn't it amazing how easy it is to accumulate so much stuff???
Case in point, this never-opened combination TV/DVD. ====>>>
Why it's still around, I have no idea! But that's neither here nor there... I'm just excited to be unloading it as well as all of my other "extras" before the new year and creating myself a nice little pay day in the process! :)
What are some of the things you're doing during this holiday season to stay on track financially & resist the urge to splurge?
I'd like to hear your story, so feel free to send me a message or comment below...
Take care,
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