The Voice - Student Newspaper

Ways to penny pinch for the holidays

By Ashley Toland
Reporter, The VOICE

In the upcoming months, the holidays are looming over everybody's heads. Especially with the economic downfall, many are wondering how they are going to purchase gifs for their families, to say nothing of the countless preparations to celebrate.

It's not too late to start taking the proper steps on saving for that special holiday.

Here are some simple tips to saving and being able to purchase the right amount of gifts this year.

One step an individual can take is to decide how much one can spend.

Set the holiday budget first, and then make the list of people to buy gifts for. Make the list as soon as possible.

Also, don't overlook all the little purchases that need to be made. For example, the postage, Christmas cards, and the decorations for the home will need to be taken into account.

Then make a list and check it twice, before making the purchases.

Check and see how much will have to be spent on each person.

Then allocate an amount of money to spend per person on the list and stick with the amount. If the gift is over the limit, find something else that fits the amount.

After the amount is set and the people on the list are chosen, make sure to use cash on the majority of the purchases. Using credit cards will haunt one's income months after the holidays. Think about the time needed to make the trips for the purchases; this way it will save tons of money.

Don't overlook the value in a small or non-expensive gift for the family and friends. Look for the meaning in the purchases when shopping for the parents or for the grandparents.

"Especially when you get into your 40's and you've got everything you need, words and gestures mean more," explains Rachel Ashwell, author of "The Shabby Chic Gift of Giving."

Make sure to shop prices, not sales. Many sales are not always the best price, shop around first.

Not one place is destined to give the best price or deal on an item. "You're going to see sale signs everywhere," comments Clark Howard, co-author of the book Get Clark Smart: The Ultimate Guide for the Savvy Consumer.

"Unless you know the relative value, don't be fooled. Just because it's on sale doesn't mean it's a bargain."

The weeks are creeping up on us and the holiday shopping needs to be done.

Don't stress or worry during this time; saving for the holidays will help lessen the load.