15 Ways to Save on Christmas This Year

Every year, millions of Americans go all out for Christmas. And this year will likely be no different. In fact, almost one-third of consumers said they were still paying off last year’s gifts — in October.

But if you’re sick of being stuck with a huge credit card bill after the holidays, there are ways you can spend less this Christmas. Here are 15 of the best ways to save this holiday season.  

The easiest way to spend less on Christmas gifts is to reduce how many people you shop for. And even though it might seem awkward to tell someone you want to stop buying them gifts, they might feel exactly the same way. 

If you have a big family, you can decide to only buy gifts for the children or do a Secret Santa. This is becoming more popular as people realize that it’s unsustainable to buy gifts for a dozen people. 

If you’ve always hosted and cooked Christmas dinner from scratch, now’s the time to make it a potluck. The average Christmas dinner costs about $50 and you may spend more than that if you buy high quality or organic ingredients. 

Try to assign dishes so everyone contributes equally. And give people plenty of notice so they can find ingredients on sale.  

When you think about Christmas gifts, you probably imagine a perfectly wrapped present. But this might be the right time to give an experience, not a physical item. For example, you could buy your cinephile sister a gift certificate to her favorite movie theater. Many attractions sell discounted gift cards around the holidays so you can save money.  

You might be surprised at how much money you can spend wrapping gifts. Instead, why not put the money toward the gift itself? Use free newspapers or leftover magazines to wrap your gifts. You can also save gift wrap or gift bags during the year so you’ll have enough for Christmas gifts.  

What most people love about Christmas aren’t the gifts — it’s the memories. Focus on making memories by setting aside time to spend with people thoughtfully, like making cookies together or going on a winter hike at a state park. Even enjoying a nice dinner out is better — and less expensive — than buying lots of pricey gifts. 

Buying used gifts at Christmas might seem miserly, but it’s more economical and sustainable. You can find quality gifts at high-end consignment stores or thrift stores in wealthy neighborhoods. If you’re buying gifts for the kids, a thrifted present may be better if your kids are the type to forget about a toy after a month. Even Facebook Marketplace can be a good place to look for gently used gifts. 

If you're like many people, you may have a stash of credit card rewards you can exchange for holiday presents. You can often buy merchandise with credit card rewards. However, gift cards are a better idea. Save up your credit card rewards throughout the year so you’ll have enough for Christmas gifts.  

If you’re having problems buying presents for other people and worrying about how much they might spend on you, set a price cap. Have everyone agree on a reasonable amount. This can take a huge weight off your shoulders since you’ll know exactly how much to budget for Christmas presents. And if you ever need to change the price cap, bring it up to your loved ones.  

One way to make Christmas gift giving fun is do White Elephant, instead of buying specific gifts. Set a price limit (like $40) and have each person buy one gift that might suit several people. Then you can play White Elephant, where each person draws a number and then picks a gift from the pile.  

Advent calendars used to be simple. However, now they’ve become as commercialized as every other part of Christmas. Try to avoid the pull to buy a fancy advent calendar and stick to a traditional, reusable one. You can put random items in there to make it fun for the family.  

Sometimes we buy expensive gifts for people because we couldn't think of something they might actually want. Anytime you see the perfect gift for someone, write it down so you know what to get them later. This also gives you time to look for sales or deals throughout the year. You can use the Notes App or Google Keep to track potential gift ideas. 

One recent phenomenon that you may have seen is families feeling the need to dress up in matching PJs on Christmas. While it may look adorable for everyone to be dressed the same, it also means buying a brand-new set of PJs every year. Skip the peer pressure, and wear whatever you want.  

Instead of buying gifts that people may not want or need, try buying a game or other type of group or solo activity. Games have a much higher chance of actually being used, and you can even start a tradition of playing games on Christmas, instead of just opening mounds of presents.  

If you have trouble budgeting for Christmas, you can simply buy gifts during the year, instead of all at once. This can help your budget and take the pressure off the holidays. Just remember to track how much you’ve spent so you don’t end up paying more in total. 

You might be surprised at what kinds of stuff you can find at discount stores. They may have better or similar quality items as what you’d find at the regular places you shop. This is a great option if you want to buy gifts for kids who already receive a large pile of presents.  

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