September has arrived and the shops are already starting to display Christmas wrapping paper, sweets and decorations. Before we know it, the festive season will be upon us. Most people will find that Christmas puts a significant strain on their wallet, with so much to prepare and get ready in such a short space of time. A short term loan can help you out of financial difficulty but could you save money by starting your Christmas shopping unseasonably early?
Starting your shopping in September, or even earlier, might seem over the top but spreading the cost of your gifts, decorations and food out across several months will help you to manage more comfortably when it comes to your everyday expenses, such as bills and home maintenance. This is the ideal time to go shopping for gifts, particularly clothing, as many items are reduced in the in-between season sales. If you are really savvy, you can plan your shopping throughout the year to take advantage of transition period sales, for example between May and June when shops start to discount their spring clothes to make room for summer beachwear!
A lot of novelty items and toys are marked-up during the run up to the Christmas period, as retailers know that they will be in high-demand. The same applies to delivery charges, as shops know that everyone wants to get their items in time for the big day. For this reason, it’s a good idea to start early when prices are not elevated. Starting your shopping early also prevents you from making last minute-panic buys; the kind of items which remain untouched in their boxes until next Christmas. Instead, you will have plenty of time to think through each person’s gift. You could even set an appropriate budget for yourself to make sure you are spending within your means. You’ll avoid the hectic December late-night shopping crowds, which is a victory in itself and will give you more time to step back and enjoy the fun of the season.
Remember that you don’t need to replace your decorations every year, so don’t get lured into clever advertising traps which will convince you to part with your hard-earned cash. As long as you store your decorations and even your synthetic tree well, you’ll be able to use them year-in-year out, saving you money and helping you to create family traditions.
Starting your gift shopping early can definitely help you to save money and give you the time to make more considered purchases, without getting swept up in the crowds. You might also find that spreading the cost by buying a few items a month will help you to have more money left at the end of December. Christmas is one of the most enjoyable times of the year, so remember that it’s not all about the shopping and spending. Take the time to enjoy time with your family and soak up the atmosphere.