8 Ways To Save Money While Holiday Shopping | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

8 Ways To Save Money While Holiday Shopping

Because it's not easy spoiling your family and friends on a college student's budget.

58
https://www.pexels.com/photo/paper-bags-near-wall-749353/

It's officially the most wonderful (and expensive) time of the year! Time to deck the halls, and deck your wallets because 'tis the season to be broke. If you're a poor college student like me, you know the struggle. I love gift-giving. It's one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. For me, there's nothing more gratifying than picking out the perfect gift for someone I love. Nothing makes me happier than seeing their face light up when they open the gift that I picked out just for them. Now it's not easy buying quality presents when you're balling on a waitress's budget, but I've cultivated a collection of shopping tips and tricks that have saved me hundreds over the past few years. Here's my college student's guide to saving a little extra cash this holiday season!

1. Set a budget.

This sounds like a no-brainer, but you have no idea how easy it is to go overboard when you're scoring holiday deals and sales left and right. Tell yourself you're only going to spend X amount of money this year and stick to it. That way you won't be so surprised or have buyer's remorse when you check your bank balance on December 26.

2. Start shopping early.

A lot of stores start their holiday sales in October! If you start picking up a gift here or there early on, you won't be rushed to buy all of your gifts at one time a week before Christmas, and your wallet won't be suffering from a bunch of expenses at one time.

3. Online shop.

Online shopping is the way to go, people. I have saved so much money through online sales and promotions. I receive emails from all of my favorite stores for all of their sales and holiday deals, and let me tell you, they are some deals out there to be had. Avoid the lines and the risk of stores going out of stock and shop online.

4. Download "Honey"

Honey.com is my new best friend! Honey is a free add-on you can download to your desktop browser that reviews your online shopping cart and automatically adds every single online coupon possible to your order. There are thousands of coupon codes out there that no one even knows about, except for Honey! Honey has saved me so much money this year, I honestly don't know how I ever shopped without it. Download Honey at joinhoney.com!

5. Give a homemade gift.

Homemade gifts are the perfect way to show someone you care for them because it says, "Hey I took the time to make something really special for you, all on my own." People love to know you had them in mind when gift-giving! It's so much more personal than just giving a gift card, and it's a lot cheaper too!

6. Buy last season's electronics.

If you're looking to buy something really expensive like an Apple Watch or a new iPhone, consider buying last year's model. Odds are they perform the exact same way, and they'll be a lot cheaper than the brand new editions.

7. Go in on a gift with someone else.

My sisters and I will often pool our money together to get one big gift for our parents. It's nice because then we can buy something really special that we know our parents will love, and we get to do it together! That's what makes it all the more special.

8. Set a price cap with the people you're exchanging gifts with.

This will help you avoid potential awkwardness when someone buys you a really expensive gift and you made them a homemade coupon book. Set a cap saying that no one will spend more than X amount of dollars and that way you can control the amount of money you're pouring into other people.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Gilmore Girls
Hypable

In honor of Mother’s Day, I have been thinking of all the things my mom does for my family and me. Although I couldn’t write nearly all of them, here are a few things that moms do for us.

They find that shirt that’s right in front of you, but just you can’t seem to find.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons To Thank Your Best Friend

Take the time to thank that one friend in your life you will never let go of.

2188
Thank You on wooden blocks

1. Thank you for being the one I can always count on to be honest.

A true friend will tell you if the shirt is ugly, or at least ask to borrow it and "accidentally" burn it.

2. Thank you for accepting me for who I am.

A best friend will love you regardless of the stale french fries you left on the floor of your car, or when you had lice in 8th grade and no one wanted to talk to you.

Keep Reading...Show less
sick student
StableDiffusion

Everybody gets sick once in a while, but getting sick while in college is the absolute worst. You're away from home and your mom who can take care of you and all you really want to do is just be in your own bed. You feel like you will have never-ending classwork to catch up on if you miss class, so you end up going sick and then it just takes longer to get better. Being sick in college is really tough and definitely not a fun experience. Here are the 15 stages that everyone ends up going through when they are sick at college.

Keep Reading...Show less
kid
Janko Ferlic
Do as I say, not as I do.

Your eyes widen in horror as you stare at your phone. Beads of sweat begin to saturate your palm as your fingers tremble in fear. The illuminated screen reads, "Missed Call: Mom."

Growing up with strict parents, you learn that a few things go unsaid. Manners are everything. Never talk back. Do as you're told without question. Most importantly, you develop a system and catch on to these quirks that strict parents have so that you can play their game and do what you want.

Keep Reading...Show less
friends
tv.com

"Friends" maybe didn’t have everything right or realistic all the time, but they did have enough episodes to create countless reaction GIFs and enough awesomeness to create, well, the legacy they did. Something else that is timeless, a little rough, but memorable? Living away from the comforts of home. Whether you have an apartment, a dorm, your first house, or some sort of residence that is not the house you grew up in, I’m sure you can relate to most of these!

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments