Christmas in July: How to Prep and Save

The holiday season brings gift giving, parties galore, and A LOT of eating. These events lead to a full calendar and a tight budget which can take away from your holiday spirit. For many people, the idea of Christmas shopping early is a daunting task, but it can help alleviate stress and save money in the long run.

Start shopping as early as the summer to take advantage of back-to-school sales and other promotions you may come across from now until the holiday season. By using these tips you can eliminate stress and enjoy the holidays this year!

1. Plan

   • Create a list: Start by creating a list of everyone you need to buy gifts for, along with ideas for each person. This will help you stay organized and focused when shopping. There is nothing wrong with Christmas shopping year ‘round. Go ahead and buy a gift when you see that your mom's favorite store is having a sale. This will help avoid last-minute trips to the mall on Christmas Eve, while also lightening the load on your December credit card statement.
   • Set a budget: Set a budget for your holiday shopping and stick to it. Shopping early gives you more time to save money and find deals, so you can stay within your budget.

2. Get Creative with Gifts

   • Make Your Pinterest Board Reality: If you've been eyeing a DIY Christmas gift project on Pinterest, now is a good time to start planning so you're not swamped when November rolls around. Plus, making handmade gifts will save you some money too!
   • DIY Gift Ideas:
     ○ Front door signs
     ○ Candles
     ○ Soap
     ○ Ornaments
     ○ Coasters
     ○ Charcuterie or Cutting Boards
     
     
     
     

3. Save

   • Take advantage of coupons: You don’t have to be into extreme couponing to save money. And you don’t need to dedicate tons of time finding the best deals and coupon codes. Do your research and sign up for your favorite stores email list, they might send you a coupon.
   • Money Manager: Setting up an alternative Christmas savings account is a great tool to help you meet your savings goal. Use Central Bank’s Money Manager to set your goal and create automated alerts to help keep yourself on track.
   • RoundUp: If you are a customer of Central Bank, take advantage of our free RoundUp feature. Automatically round up purchases from your checking to savings account with every debit card transaction. These savings may seem small, but they will add up over time!
   
   By the time the holidays roll around, you'll be surprised at how prepared you are. After all, there's nothing wrong with a little Christmas in July!