Saturday, December 17, 2016

Thrifty Thinking: Holiday Financing Tips

We have all experienced the burden of stress that holiday shopping can impose. Whether it be getting the perfect gifts for family and friends, travel expenses or the price tag that comes along with many of our favorite holiday events, the most wonderful time of the year also happens to be an expensive one.   
zulily, an online retailer obsessed with bringing customers special finds at incredible prices every day, recently conducted a survey regarding how to cut holiday stress. We found that 45% of people feel the most stressful part about holiday shopping is dealing with the crowds. This is only one of the stresses of holiday shopping brings.
 
But who says it has to be this way?
 
What we recommend:
·         Have a game plan: According to last year’s American Research Group holiday study, shoppers who purchased holiday gifts months in advance spent 40% less than those who waited until November.
·         Make a list: And do your research. Post-Black Friday shopping with online retailers like zulily can help you score big with great sales and low prices, keeping your budget low. According to our survey, 65% of people believe shopping online from the comfort of home or office reduces stress.
·         Check in: Taking a bit of time every day to monitor your financial progress and watch for unusual activity (like strange fees or double-charges) should be a routine part of your life.
·         Think ahead: Setting up a separate savings account specifically for holiday expenses can be lifesaving. Start by creating a holiday budget spending cap. This total amount includes lifestyle expenses, travel, entertainment, décor and gift. Divide this cap by 12 and put that amount in your holiday savings account each month so that at the end of the year, you have enough to cover all your expenses.

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