The holidays are creeping up on us fast and times are hard for everyone. It doesn’t matter where you live, how old you are or your financial status is everyone is struggling in one way or another. So with that said Are you ready for the holiday shopping?
In all honesty I usually am done with the holiday shopping by this time of year. That’s right I start really early in the year around summer and slowly start buying things for Christmas. If you are buying winter items in the summer they are dirt cheap because they are out of season.
Not only that but you can take your time when you start way earlier than everyone else. However due to some financial hardships and unforeseen problems we encountered this year we were not able to start our holiday shopping as early as usual.
So what is a person to do when this happens? We have children and we can’t tell them that there won’t be any Christmas this year because we are broke. Not only will they not understand they won’t care. My youngest is 3 years old so you can see what I mean.
My solution to this dilemma is to shop smart and cheap. I will be shopping for clearance items, using coupons, accepting charitable donations and with any luck fingers crossed we can get through this ordeal and it not affect us negatively emotionally as well as financially.
Ideas to help you use sites like swagbucks and listia and use the earnings to get gift cards they are great to shop with and also make a great gift. Apply to places like salvation army or toys for tots for help. Take things that people don’t want and are giving/throwing away especially if it is unused.
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