Princeton Happenings

5 Tips for Holiday Shopping on a Budget

‘Tis the season for empty wallets! The holidays are certainly a time when we tend to drain our bank accounts shopping for the perfect gifts. Here are five tips to help you shop this season on a budget!

1. Make a list! Don’t go to the mall blindly. Make sure you have a list of people to shop for and budget how much you want to spend on each person. Cross off people’s names as you purchase their gifts.

2. Buy children something they want, need and something to read! Instead of going overboard with toys and clothes, ask your children to come up with one gift they really want. Supplement that with an item they really need and then finally something they can read.

3. Search for coupon codes. Websites like retailmenot.com offer coupon codes for hundreds of stores we all shop every day. If you’re shopping online, make sure to check for offers first!

4. Wait for sales. Stores like Macy’s offer annual sales every holiday season where you can get many things for a discounted rate. Put items on hold and wait until the sale to pay for them and pick them up.

5. Stop when you hit your limit! We all tend to go overboard during the holidays but make sure you set a spending limit and do not go over it, no matter how early you finish your holiday shopping.