Hey there Holiday Enthusiasts,
A lot of you are newcomers to this program, and I’d like to point out that we have a few previous emails that you can access here! Please remember that this program will be organized by weeks, and that we did not send out week 2 content. Now, onto today’s email!
Did you get a chance to make up your gift list and fill out your holiday calendar? I don’t know about you, but I felt a little overwhelmed when I put all the events, activities, and traditions on the calendar. Thinking of what it will take to get it all done – it was mind blowing. I realized that I’m going to need to use a lot of time- and money-saving strategies to get it all done on time and on budget!
So, I’ve put together 9 tips and techniques that you can use to save yourself time and money so that you can fully enjoy this wonderful season!
#1: Prioritize what is most important
Being able to prioritize the most important things to you and your family can help you let the little things go.
#2: Measure ingredients ahead of time
An easy way to stay on top of the crazy holiday cooking is by measuring out non-perishable ingredients ahead of time. For example, if you are planning to bake cookies, you can measure your flour, sugar, baking soda, etc. and store them in bags/containers so that they are ready to go when you start baking!
#3: Pre-cook and freeze some meals in advance
There are plenty of different meals that are easy to freeze and thaw out ahead of time. One of my favorites to freeze is soup! This way, I have plenty of it during those inevitable sick days in our house during the cold months.
#4: Do gifting ahead of time
Waiting until Black Friday comes around to start gift shopping? Why not start now? I know the sales that come around can be tempting, but planning your gifts ahead and even making some of your own gifts (we’ll talk about that later this week 😉) can be very time-saving, and you may end up staying well within your budget if you don’t wait.
#5: Pre-make gift tags and bows ahead of time
It can be pretty easy and cost effective to make gift tags and bows ahead of time! Don’t be afraid to get crafty and use some construction paper and twine with a good pen/marker to make some beautiful-looking tags. If you really want to save time & money, don’t worry about bows. You can still make a gift look really nice in a gift bag or wrapping paper without all the extras.
#6: Use a timer and stick to it
When I go into a store, I get easily distracted by all the new and exciting stuff on the shelves. By setting a timer on my phone, I know that I need to stick to my list and get what I need most before the timer goes off. Be reasonable about the time you spend, too. If you only need 5 items out of the store, maybe setting the timer for an hour is too much time.
#7: Order online
There are so many stores and restaurants now that offer some form of online ordering. For example, if you’ve got gifts from a nearby store that you’d like to purchase, maybe it would be easier to order online and pick up at the store. This way, you can avoid shipping costs, and you won’t have to sift through the store to find these gifts.
#8: Download money-saving apps
There are numerous apps out there now that help you find good deals at many of the stores you like to shop at. But, here’s a piece of advice – make sure the sales you find are reasonably within your budget and plans, even if the deal seems really good! Here’s some apps that I like to use to find good deals:
#9: Start planning early
I hope you find these tips useful! They have certainly helped me out a ton.
-Irma❤
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Hello Giddy Gifters!
Hopefully you’ve had a moment to work on your budget and set your priorities for the season. If not, then I hope you get a chance to very soon!
Today, we’re gonna talk about one of my favorite parts of the season – gifts! Below, I’ve listed plenty of gift ideas that work under specific budget areas. I know that inflation has been really difficult for all of us – so getting some affordable gift ideas that can be super fun is always a plus!
Have some fun, creative, and affordable gift ideas that you’d like to share? Let us know! Reply to this email with your ideas and we will share them later this week😊.
Money wise gift ideas:
I hope some of these gift ideas are inspiring to you, and that you have lots of fun with gifts this year! Always remember that some of the best gifts don’t have to have the biggest price tag on them. Have a wonderful week!
-Irma❤