The Money Coach
  • About
    • Meet Lynnette
    • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • QR Code
  • Books
  • Categories
  • Coaching
  • Hire Lynnette
  • Money Coach University™
  • The Money Coach Recommends™
No Result
View All Result
The Money Coach
  • About
    • Meet Lynnette
    • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • QR Code
No Result
View All Result
The Money Coach
No Result
View All Result

4 Smart Ways To Shop Smart, Entertain And Decorate On A Holiday Budget

Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach
in Personal Finance
Reading Time: 3 mins read
holiday budget - Lynnette Khalfani-Cox
11
SHARES
190
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedIn

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are expected to spend $680 billion during the holidays, and the average family will be shelling out $660 on gifts, toys and other holiday items.

If you’ve already done a ton of shopping during Black Friday or Cyber Monday, it’s important to make sure you don’t go overboard before Christmas and wind up in debt in the New Year.

So here are four ways to shop smart the rest of the holiday season, entertain family members and decorate your home – all while staying on a reasonable budget.

Tip #1: Try the ‘Family Gift’ Technique

For a nice way to entertain, while also being frugal, don’t be afraid to identify gifts that the whole family can benefit from. When you use this technique, you’re able to make one meaningful purchase as opposed to buying several expensive gifts.

Example: buy a family pack of movie theater tickets to let everyone go see the latest blockbuster movie during the holidays. That will get everyone out the house and out of each other’s hair; very important if guests are staying with you over the holidays!

For some in-door family fun, you can buy a board game or two that provide hours of entertainment for relatives and guests of all ages. Get something age appropriate – that kids, teens and adults can enjoy. Monopoly, Scrabble, Clue and Jumanji are good options.

Tip #2: Practice the ‘Sell One, Then Buy One’ Method 

Before buying expensive technology and gadgets – like Apple’s new iPhone X, Microsoft’s Xbox One or the Sony Play Station 4 (PS4) – first sell the old tech you have that you no longer want, use or need.

The average household has 7 old devices just lying around the house and those items could be sold for cash, helping you to save money on any new items you buy or just get some much-needed funds for the holidays.

Go to the website Decluttr.com or get their free app in order to sell your old tech, like cell phones, tablets and video game consoles, for top prices.

Right now, Decluttr is paying more than $100 for the X-Box 1, about $150 for the PS4 and around $350 to $400 for iPhone 7 and 8 models. Just ship them your items free and Decluttr pays you the day after they receive your tech.  

Tip #3: Create a ‘Drama-Free’ Drink Zone 

If you’re entertaining or hosting a holiday gathering, you know that food and drinks can get costly – especially when you’re purchasing wine, beer or hard liquors.

Be smarter about your beverage choices and opt for a no-alcohol celebration. You’ll not only save money: you could also save everyone from some family drama!

We all have that one relative who can act up when he or she drinks a bit too much, so replace the alcohol with a different bubbly: Martinelli’s sparkling cider drink.

If entertaining in a 100% alcohol-free zone would be totally impossible for your family, at least diminish the alcohol levels by substituting in two ways. First, having bottles of sparkling mineral water, like Perrier, is a good way to substitute; it will also be appreciated by anyone watching their weight during the holidays.

But if you absolutely MUST have alcohol, skip the Moet, Dom Perignon and pricey champagnes. Get a nice Italian Prosecco instead. It’s still a bubbly, sparkling wine, but Prosecco is a substitution that costs only 1/4th of the price of champagne! For instance, you can get good Prosecco at Costco for only $7 to $12 a bottle.

Tip #4: Decorate With the Right Bling 

Many people want to spruce up their homes for the holidays or decorate in style. There’s nothing wrong with that but you really don’t need to buy high-end, expensive decorations to make a good impression.

Instead focus on one main area: lighting. You can really jazz up your home in festive and affordable ways by using lights strategically to bring the right kind of bling.

A few ideas: ivory candles add charm and warmth to a fireplace mantle or any room.

Traditional Christmas lights, especially mini-lights, can be put in clear mason jars or glass vases and placed in key areas around the house.

Lastly, a lovely homemade table centerpiece can be made from pinecones and tea lights.

All of these items you can literally get from stores like Target, Hobby Lobby, or even Dollar Tree, including candles; mason jars and vases; Christmas lights and tea lights; pine cones, and more.

By following these four tips, you’ll be a much smarter holiday shopper – and you’ll entertain the family wisely without letting your spending get out of control.

Tags: holiday budget
Previous Post

The Most Maxed-Out Places in America

Next Post

What Exactly is Bitcoin? 7 Facts About Bitcoin

Related Articles

household debt

Household Debt Reaches $16.51 trillion in Q3 2022

by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Center for Microeconomic Data today (November 15, 2022) issued its Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit . The Report shows an increase in total household debt...

cost of divorce

High Inflation and The Rising Cost of Divorce

by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

‘Til Debt Do Us Part: Inflation preventing thousands of American couples from being able to separate, reveals survey. Over half of singles would not get into a relationship with someone...

Lynnette Teaches You What You Need To Know To Have A Great Credit Rating

Lynnette Teaches You What You Need To Know To Have A Great Credit Rating

by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

I am so honored to be featured on CNBC Make It for achieving a perfect 850 FICO credit score! Only 1% of Americans have a perfect 850 FICO score. A great credit rating can help...

BNPL

Should You Use a BNPL Plan for Your Next Vacation?

by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

To use a BNPL plan for travel, you start by adding items to your online cart through an airline or travel website’s portal. At checkout, you’ll see an option to...

pay raise

How to Manage Your Next Pay Raise Wisely

by Corey Daley

In a time of inflation and economic uncertainty, it's important to focus on the positives — not only to give hope, but also to motivate us and our commitment to...

Podcast: How To Deal With High Interest Rates on Loans

Podcast: How To Deal With High Interest Rates on Loans

by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

On American Public Media's Make Me Smart podcast hosted by Kai Ryssdal And Kimberly Adams, we discuss the impact of inflation and higher interest rates on your wallet.

Load More
Next Post
Bitcoin-AskTheMoneyCoach

What Exactly is Bitcoin? 7 Facts About Bitcoin

All information on this blog is for educational purposes only. Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach, is not a certified financial planner, registered investment adviser, or attorney. If you need specialty financial, investment or legal advice, please consult the appropriate professional. Advertising Disclosure: This site may accept advertising, affiliate payments or other forms of compensation from companies mentioned in articles. This compensation may impact how and where products and companies appear on this site. AskTheMoneyCoach™ and Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach® are trademarks of TheMoneyCoach.net, LLC.

©2009-2023 TheMoneyCoach.net, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

RSS / Sitemap / Privacy Policy / LynnetteKhalfaniCox.com

No Result
View All Result
  • Books
  • Categories
  • Contact Lynnette
  • Get Coaching
  • Hire Lynnette
  • Money Coach University™
  • The Money Coach Recommends™
  • Home
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • QR Code

©2009-2021 TheMoneyCoach.net, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist