10 Tips for your Christmas shopping
1. Analyze your budget
First of all, check which bills you already have to pay on your credit card and which expenses tend to appear at the beginning of the year .
Those with children, for example, need to buy school supplies in the first few months. Expenses such as vehicle IPVA, car insurance , property IPTU and other taxes still often arise . It is very important to know your personal finances before making any purchase so as not to “put your feet in your hands”.
By analyzing all these factors, you’ll have a better idea of how much you can spend on Christmas shopping so you don’t get into debt .
2. Define how much you will spend on Christmas shopping
Keep an eye on our Christmas tips and learn how to save!
Now that you already have an idea of the available budget, it is time to decide how much you can invest in buying gifts.
One way to define this is to assess what your monthly income is, look at the expenses at the beginning of the year and stipulate a percentage of how much you can invest. Some people determine that they can only spend 30% of their income, which is already a considerable amount. In this case, whoever receives R$1,000.00 will already have R$300.00 available for Christmas shopping, for example.
Attention: don’t think about using your entire 13th salary for gifts. After all, you have other expenses throughout the year and that money could be useful up front. So, separate a part to make your emergency reserve or investment for the future .
3. Make a list
Identify which people you want to gift. It’s common to have the desire to please everyone, but that’s not always possible. So, keep your feet on the ground when planning your Christmas shopping.
Make a list of the names, list them by priority and then divide the total money available for the purchase of gifts by the number of people . Ready!
You will already have a clear idea of how much you can spend on each item . If the value gets too low, it’s time to cut some names or understand that you won’t be able to give gifts of the same value to everyone.
4. Don’t leave everything to the last minute
The last week before Christmas tends to be very busy for everyone, which can turn into a real pitfall for those who want to save money. So do your shopping in advance and in an organized way .
This will enable better choices in your Christmas shopping, with calmness during the analysis of options and easier negotiation with the seller.
5. Take advantage of promotions
Be aware of offers that appear on the internet or in physical stores. Evaluate carefully to find out if the value has even been reduced or if it is an attempt to deceive the consumer. The more you can take advantage of promotions, the greater the opportunities to give good gifts at an affordable price.
6. Research a lot
To organize yourself financially, make a Christmas shopping list and do a lot of research.
Once again, the internet can be your ally when doing your Christmas shopping . Do a lot of research online for the products you want to buy and write down the prices. Then you can go to physical stores and compare offers.
Another option is to access the store’s website at the time of the search within physical establishments and use online prices to negotiate reductions with the seller .
7. Bet on experiences
Do you want to present an unforgettable memory, but you have no idea what to give your parents or friends? Take the opportunity to invest in experiences instead of objects!
Often, scheduling a tour in a different place can be more affordable to surprise the recipients. How about a picnic in a park, a trip to the nearest beach or a lake in your area? Use creativity to provide amazing experiences for the people you love!
8. Give gifts made by you
Creating your own gifts is also an option to save on Christmas shopping. Imagine you have a child to give as a gift and an old toy stored in your room. Why not reuse this item? A doll, for example, can be given a different outfit, a hair accessory and become a great game.
If you know how to sew, for example, you can mak, clothes or decorative items to give as gifts to family members. That way, you only spend on the fabric and threads and you get a personalized item.
9. Ask for discounts
Don’t be shy about negotiating prices! Sellers also need to hit sales targets and can always lower the values a little.
So do your research, choose the items you want for your Christmas shopping, and talk to the seller. Often, he manages to give a special discount for those who pay in cash, for example.
10. Avoid installments
Try to do your Christmas shopping paying in cash and, if possible, in cash. This will help you avoid credit card installments at the beginning of the year and can also be an excellent option for negotiating more attractive prices.
Remember that there is already a law that authorizes different prices for cards and cash. So, take advantage of this opportunity to go shopping this Christmas. Thus, you will also have a limit available on the card in case any emergencies arise during the year.
