The Ultimate Game Plan for Holiday Shopping on a Budget

So is holiday shopping on a budget a real thing? I mean every store drops their prices to pennies on the dollar trying to get my coin. They are doing a great job at getting my attention too. Yesterday I saw the toy my son wants for 30% off. Today jackets and winter accessories were 60% off. I mean seriously?! Am I really suppose to be strong and not run for these deals? Let me tell you, it is hard.

I am a mother of 4 and I love a good deal. Shopping has always been a joy but sales, clearance,  cash back sites and couponing  is how I buy for my family now. So these prices have me running like a kid in a candy store. But let’s be honest, I don’t have it like that. I try to be conscious of how I spend my money and what I spend it on. So, needless to say, this is a very tight season for me.

My birthday is in mid-November, my baby boy’s is a week later, and my oldest is a week after that. Not to mention Thanksgiving, school parties, Christmas, teacher gifts, New Year’s, and family vacations. All of this cost money. Oh, and bills still coming. So you better believe I’m holiday shopping on a budget. But I can’t do this without a serious game plan.

The Ultimate Game Plan for Holiday Shopping on a Budget

Figure out what you need. What are your looking for?  You need to go into this with a general idea of what you want to get and why? Are you shopping for Christmas presents? Are you looking for Christmas decor? Or are you just going for the fun of it? You can go for all of those reasons. Just don’t be the girl that goes just to look cool, knowing you don’t have it. It’s okay. This is not a necessity. Take care of your household first.

Have a plan. Once you know what you are looking for, know where you want to go to get it. Know who has the item you want on sale. Have any coupons or coupon codes available and ready. Be prepared to ask about price matching and rain checks. Some stores will price match with online retailers such as Amazon. Research your items on Amazon before you go shopping. You will be more informed when asking about price matching.

Do not go into this blind. Do not just pick up whatever you see that sparkles. This is a sure way to spend too much money on things you never really needed. Do your holiday shopping on a budget more effectively by using the cashback site Ebates. Ebates is a referral site that offers you some of the money they get from retailers when you shop through their site. For example, if you go to Ebates and click through to Amazon, Amazon will pay Ebates for sending them your business and then Ebates will pay you a percentage of that. Ebates offers coupons and cash back for many retailers including Amazon, Macy’s, Kohls and many mores.  

Ebates takes the financial uncertainty out of holiday shopping. Not only is it easy to plan what you need but coupon codes are built in for you and all you need to do is click on the store you want to shop at.  

Have a budget. This is holiday shopping on a budget 101. You must, I repeat you must have a budget. You need to have a dollar amount that you allow yourself to spend. It is also a good idea to have your holiday shopping money on a prepaid card so that you cannot go over your limit. Do not go out swiping your debit card or credit card. That will end in spending money you do not have and being disappointed in yourself. Set yourself up for success. Please.  

Have a list. Have a written out list of the exact things you are going to buy. Make sure these items do not exceed the budget you have set for yourself. Then go so far as to get the most important items on your list first. you may find out that some things that you have on the list is not necessary or can wait until another time.  

Shop online. This is the easiest, least annoying way to shop this holiday season. See everything you need in one place. No need to fight through crowds to make it to the next store. There are no extremely long lines to battle through. Ebates has all your favorite stores together in one centralized place just like the mall or any other shopping center. You just click to enter which store you like. Ebates allows you to get the sales, shop and make a coin while doing it. Start shopping and saving now. Sign up for Ebates for free and get a $10 gift card to start your shopping.