With autumn arriving, many people are already starting to plan on what to get who for the holidays. This year, budgets might be tight for so many, especially with COVID taking up over half a year of our lives. There are ways that you can take a step back and save for the holidays instead of getting in incredible debt. So, if you’re feeling hopeless, take a deep breath. These ten ideas will help you find the confidence you need to tackle the holidays while allowing you to save some money. With any luck, you’ll be able to handle holiday gifting without breaking a sweat.

1. Make a List
One of the best things that you can do for the holidays is to make a list. Write down the names of the people you would like to purchase gifts for, as well as those you might feel obligated to buy for, like colleagues or neighbors. Once you have the list of people start by picking out the item or items that you would like to gift to them. Then, when you have a list, start pricing items. However, you can also turn this around by writing down names as well as the amount of money that you would like to spend on the person. This will allow you to tally up the amount you need to feel confident about your purchase.

2. Give Up Something
When it comes to holiday shopping, you might have to give up something in order to find a way to save big. This doesn’t mean you have to give up on necessities or even not eat a meal. Please, don’t do that. However, you might consider giving up on a subscription program for a few months. Although these might not seem too expensive, the price does add up over time. Apart from that, you might also stop eating out for a little while. This will allow you to save big time. There are ways for you to recreate some of your favorite dishes from restaurants at home, so you can truly embrace the meals you love while still saving. Another thing you might cut back on his shopping sprees. This will help you to put the money that you would spend on random items onto your shopping list.

3. Watch for Sales
Sales are going to be your best friend during the holiday shopping season. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to hold out on sales that will be happening after Thanksgiving. Instead, look out for sales at all times. You never know, you might find a great deal on a toy you’ve been looking for before the holiday sale madness even begins. In order to keep up with sales, you might have to be diligent. For starters, you might begin signing up for the mailing list for many of your favorite websites. You might also begin searching for your products occasionally on shopping websites to see who has the best deal and what the average price is. This will ensure you’re ready to go when the right price arises.

4. Enjoy Rewards Sites
Without a doubt, reward sites can help you to get some perks that you might not otherwise enjoy. To begin with, you might do a little research to find out which websites are going to help you get the most for less. Some websites require you to watch advertisements, some prefer surveys, and some will actually have you work on a wide variety of things. Swagbucks is probably one of the most popular websites when it comes to getting rewards. This website allows you to play games, watch videos, take surveys, refer friends, and more. With the points you earn doing all of this, you can pick out gift cards as a reward. These cards are generally for most major retailers, so you can easily choose cards that will help with your holiday shopping.

5. Take on a Side Hustle
If you have extra time on your hands, then you might consider taking on an extra job to help you reach your holiday shopping goals. If you enjoy driving or running deliveries, then you might start by working for delivery service. Right now, there are so many services to choose from, which will allow you to easily make a little extra, especially with all of the tips you will receive. Another option is to pick up writing jobs online if this is something you enjoy. There are options out there, so do research before you jump in. If you only have a few minutes extra a day, you might consider taking surveys. Apart from that, you can always consider a part-time job at a restaurant or retail store. There are many other options out here too, so you might consider looking around to consider your options before you take the leap.

6. Commit to Putting Money Back
One of the easiest and more obvious ways to save some money is to make a commitment to putting it back. One of the best ways to do this is to commit to a number. For instance, if you want to start on the lower side then say you’re going to put back $1 a day. This won’t give you a whole lot of spending money to work with, but it’s a start. If you’re giving up drinking coffee outside of the house, then consider putting the $5 or more that you would spend on the coffee back to help you make some money. You could also commit to putting back a certain amount from your check each week or month. This is probably the easiest way to tackle savings and might allow you to feel more confident with your holiday budget.

7. Go Light
These days, it feels like the holidays must be a spending spree, or else you’re not parenting right. The holidays do not have to be this way though, so don’t fall into the trap. If you’re on a tight budget, then make your holiday budget tight too. You don’t have to spend a small fortune just to make the kids happy for a few minutes. Instead, make a commitment to a couple of items you know they want and maybe a few they need. These items don’t have to be expensive either. This will allow you all to enjoy the holidays without the overwhelming number of presents or spending.

8. Use Credit Card Rewards
If you tend to use a credit card frequently then you may be in luck when it comes to holiday shopping. As you spend money, you should be racking up rewards of some sort. So, you might want to start using these rewards to help you purchase what you need for the holidays. Shopping for items might also help you out with this as it will allow you to get even more rewards. This can become one of the best assets for you, so don’t be afraid to make the most out of your credit card during the holiday season.

9. Reconsider Shopping List
Even though you have made a holiday list, it doesn’t mean that you have to purchase everything on it. Instead, use the list as a guide, but don’t be afraid to mark off some of the items that aren’t really necessary. So many of us have the tendency of going overboard during the holidays, so use your list as a way to keep things in check. You can even use the list as a way to scale back on what you would like to buy. Instead of using it as a shopping list, make the list with all of the things you would like to buy then stop and ax some of the items that are really frivolous. You will be surprised by how many things you think you need when you make the list that you really don’t need.

10. Know Your Products
One of the best money-saving tips that you can put into action during the holidays, and any point in the year for that matter, is to know your products. Researching products, you are interested in will allow you to shop more efficiently. Instead of jumping on a sale whenever there is an item you want, you can easily research the average price of the item. This will allow you to know when a sale is actually good. However, during the holidays you should also look into how popular the item is going to be. This is important because some items might actually sell out during the holidays, which might make you more likely to pay extra if you’re not careful. A little research can change the way you shop though, which will help you to save even more money.

Putting back for the holidays doesn’t have to be a huge chore. These ten tips will help you make the saving and shopping process a whole lot easier, especially with everything going on this year. With any luck, you will be able to enjoy everything that the holidays bring you as you won’t have to stress about your budget thanks to all of your hard work saving.