There’s something about the back-to-school season that naturally shifts our minds toward the holidays. Perhaps it’s the anticipation of busy schedules and expensive celebrations, or maybe it’s simply the planner’s mindset kicking in. The old saying rings true: make a plan or plan to fail. Starting your holiday preparations now is one of the best ways to save money for the holidays, turning what’s often a financially stressful season into an enjoyable and manageable experience.
The statistics don’t lie – many people accumulate significant debt during the holiday season, only to wake up in January wondering what happened to their finances. By implementing these 17 strategic tips now, you can avoid that post-holiday financial hangover and actually enjoy the season without the burden of overspending.
1. Stock Up on Craft Supplies for Handmade Gifts
For those who create handmade gifts, now is the perfect time to gather supplies. If you’re a crafter, share your specialty in the comments – whether it’s knitting, woodworking, or something else entirely.
Take advantage of rotating sales at craft stores like Hobby Lobby. These stores typically discount different sections throughout the year – florals might be 40% off one week, scrapbooking materials the next, followed by cake decorating supplies. Learn their rotation schedule and stock up when your needed items go on sale.
More importantly, start creating now. Begin those knitting projects, quilts, or handcrafted items while you have time to work without rushing. Last-minute crafting often leads to stress and potentially lower-quality results.
2. Plan Your Holiday Traditions Early
Take time to identify and list all your holiday traditions, then start planning them immediately. Many traditions require advance preparation that can save you money when done early.
If you send Christmas cards annually, purchase them now before supply and demand drives prices higher. Planning a family photo for your cards? Contact photographers who may offer early booking discounts for fall sessions. For families who travel to see relatives, coordinate with family members now and start monitoring flight prices for the best deals.
Early planning for traditions isn’t just about saving money – it’s about reducing stress and ensuring these meaningful activities can happen without last-minute scrambling.
3. Save High-Quality Boxes Throughout the Year
Start collecting beautiful boxes now instead of purchasing gift boxes later. Those elegant stacking gift boxes that companies often send to offices – filled with chocolates, nuts, and gourmet treats – make perfect gift containers.
You can typically find similar boxes at Costco during corporate gifting seasons. The key is that these boxes nest inside each other for compact storage and are often holiday-themed. Once family members understand this system, they’ll often save and return boxes to you after opening gifts, creating a sustainable cycle of reusable packaging.
4. Maximize Online Shopping Discounts
When shopping online, always search for discounts before completing purchases. Browser extensions like Rakuten can provide cashback percentages or points on purchases from participating retailers. While discount apps aren’t typically recommended broadly, this one offers genuine value through partnerships with major retailers.
Before buying anything online, search for coupon codes by typing the company name plus “coupon code” into Google. Smaller retailers especially often have available discount codes. Additionally, copy product descriptions or model numbers and search Google Shopping to compare prices across different retailers – you might find the same item for significantly less elsewhere.
5. DIY Your Holiday Decorations
Skip purchasing new decorations and create them yourself while making memories with family. Simple projects like paper snowflakes, painted and glittered pinecones, or hot-glued tablescapes can transform your space beautifully without the expense of store-bought items.
These DIY projects serve double duty – saving money while creating meaningful family activities that often become cherished traditions themselves.
6. Host Potluck-Style Gatherings
If you’re hosting family gatherings, consider switching to a potluck format instead of shouldering all cooking responsibilities alone. With grocery prices remaining high, preparing entire holiday meals can be both expensive and exhausting.
Organize contributions by assigning categories – some guests bring main dishes, others handle sides, and designated people manage desserts. This approach provides variety, reduces your workload and expenses, and allows everyone to contribute. Even traveling family members can stop at local stores to pick up their assigned items.
7. Plan and Prep Holiday Cooking Early
Whether you’re cooking everything yourself because you love holiday baking and kitchen time, or you’re preparing your potluck contributions, start planning now. Pull out recipes and identify ingredients you’ll need.
Stock up on non-perishables when they’re on sale rotation at your grocery store, not when they’re in high demand closer to holidays. Purchase and freeze items like hams or turkeys now when prices are lower, before seasonal demand drives costs up. Buy shelf-stable baking ingredients during current sales rather than paying premium prices in November and December.
8. Create and Refine Your Gift List
Make a comprehensive list of everyone you plan to give gifts to, then honestly evaluate whether you need to trim it down. Gift-giving often becomes the most expensive part of holiday spending and the primary reason people resort to credit cards.
If you’ve been buying for numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, siblings, and extended family members, spreading your budget thin across many small gifts, it might be time for a family conversation. Discuss changing your approach to gift-giving – you might discover your loved ones feel the same relief about reducing the financial pressure and gift overwhelm.
Many families find that children especially can become overwhelmed with too many gifts and don’t fully appreciate any of them. Having this conversation now gives everyone time to adjust expectations and plan accordingly.
9. Set a Total Budget and Allocate by Person
Take your refined gift list and determine your total holiday spending budget. Then divide that amount among the people on your list, with some receiving larger allocations than others based on your relationships and their circumstances.
This systematic approach prevents overspending on one person while forgetting about another, which often leads to budget-busting last-minute purchases. When you know exactly how much you’re spending on each person, you can make more thoughtful purchasing decisions and stay within your overall limit.
10. Organize Secret Santa Gift Exchanges
Implement Secret Santa or similar gift exchange systems to provide meaningful gifts without excessive spending. Set a specific dollar amount – perhaps $50 – and have each participant create a wish list within that price range.
This approach allows everyone to receive one thoughtful gift they actually want, rather than spreading the same $50 across five different people for $10 throwaway gifts. Use surveys, text messages, or dedicated apps to organize the exchange and collect wish lists. The result is better gifts for recipients and easier budgeting for gift-givers.
11. Ask Directly About Gift Preferences
Don’t hesitate to directly ask loved ones what they want or need for gifts. Express your care by saying something like, “I love you and want to get you something meaningful. What are you interested in right now? What’s on your wish list?” This approach significantly reduces the likelihood of giving unwanted gifts. Statistics show that many holiday gifts are returned because recipients don’t want or need them. Most people can relate to receiving gifts that just weren’t their style or preference.
If someone suggests a gift well over your budget, don’t feel obligated or guilty about not purchasing that specific item. Stick to your budget without compromise – the thought and care behind the gift matter more than the price tag.
12. Redirect Discretionary Spending to Holiday Expenses
For the next few months, reduce discretionary spending and redirect those funds toward holiday expenses instead of using credit cards. If you’re starting this process in September, you have September, October, and November to gradually build your holiday fund.
Rather than spreading holiday savings across an entire year ($100 monthly for $1,200 total, as an example), you can start this concentrated approach in early fall. Adjust your budget to include a specific “Christmas” line item and fund it by reducing other discretionary expenses during these months.
This method allows you to purchase holiday items gradually over the next couple of months, so December arrives without requiring any additional spending or credit card usage.
13. Start Shopping Early for Better Deals
Begin purchasing gifts now while you have time to hunt for the best deals. Since you’ve redirected discretionary spending to holiday expenses, you can afford to buy items as good deals appear rather than paying premium prices in November and December.
Use tools like Amazon wish lists (or similar features on other sites) to track items you’re considering. Monitor prices and wait for the best deals on items for people on your list. Research seasonal sale patterns by searching “when do specific items go on sale” to time your purchases strategically.
Starting early gives you the luxury of waiting for optimal pricing instead of paying whatever the current price is due to time pressure.
14. Inventory Pre-Purchased Gifts
If you’re someone who collects great deals throughout the year and stores gifts in closets, now is the time for inventory. Pull everything out, lay it all out, and match items to recipients.
Check people off your list for items you already have, so you don’t accidentally double-purchase gifts or forget about items you’ve already bought. This exercise often reveals that you’re further along in your holiday shopping than you realized.
15. Research Creative Ideas Online
Use online resources for inspiration whether you need craft project ideas, unique gift suggestions, or experience-based gifts instead of material items. Search for terms like “DIY tablescapes” or specific craft projects you want to attempt.
The internet offers countless creative ideas from bloggers and content creators who share detailed tutorials with photos and videos. YouTube provides step-by-step instructions for everything from holiday recipes to craft projects. Take advantage of these free resources to create memorable holidays without expensive purchases.
16. Plan Your Charitable Giving
Don’t forget to budget for your charitable giving during the holiday season. Whether you give financially through organizations that sponsor children for Christmas gifts, or donate your time by volunteering at community Thanksgiving meals, plan these activities now.
If your giving involves financial contributions, include these amounts in your holiday budget. Research what opportunities are available in your community for volunteering during the holidays. Many organizations need volunteers but require advance registration and coordination.
17. Remember Your ‘Why’ for the Season
Finally, take time to reflect on what the holiday season means to you personally. For Christians, Christmas centers on celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. For others, it might focus on reflection, gratitude, and quality time with friends and family at year’s end.
Whatever your personal reason for celebrating, keeping this central meaning in focus helps maintain perspective throughout all the planning and preparation. When you plan ahead and budget carefully, you create space to breathe, avoid rushing, and truly enjoy the meaningful aspects of the season.
Starting your holiday planning now prevents the January shock of unexpected credit card bills and the question “What happened?” Instead, you’ll enter the new year financially stable and with positive memories of a well-planned, intentional holiday season.
By implementing these strategies starting now, you’re setting yourself up for holidays that are both financially responsible and genuinely enjoyable. The key is starting early, planning carefully, and staying focused on what truly matters to you during this special time of year.