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While there is no denying that the Holidays are a magical time, they can also be costly. From the food to the decorations, prices seem to increase year on year. This can make it difficult for families who only have a small budget to work with. The last thing you want is to be unable to make ends meet due to overspending at Christmas. But you don’t want your family, particularly your children to go without either. This can leave many feeling tempted to take out large loans. Believe it or not, this is not your only option. Here are some simple strategies you can use to boost your savings and avoid debt this Christmas.
Fill in surveys
This might seem like a strange money saving strategy to use, but it can be very effective. Paid surveys are a simple way for virtually anyone to make some money. There are many companies who offer this money making opportunity in exchange for your opinions. While the majority will pay you cash, gift cards, and vouchers to stores are also popular rewards on these sites. These can then be used to buy presents or to top up your Christmas savings fund. Read this review from Surveys Say and do some research on these surveys sites before signing up with them. That way you can ensure you’re getting the best reward for your time and opinions.
Start collecting change
Spare change is often money that people overlook. But it can provide you with more money to spend on Christmas presents and decorations. Get into the habit of emptying your purse and pockets each week. For even bigger savings, ask each member of your family to do the same. You should also look for any spare change that might be lying around your home. The back of the couch and in kitchen drawers are usually where spare change ends up. Put all of the spare change you have into a large glass jar which you can then add to continually. You can find these online from retailers such as the Container Store. This is an efficient way of saving for the holidays and also gets your family working together.
Sell unused items
It’s likely that your home is filled with items that have never been used. Whether it’s DVDs or clothing, these items can be easily sold to increase your holiday savings. There are companies like EagleSaver which buy unwanted items for cash. Ebay is also a popular option which you can sell practically anything on. So go around your home and start gathering items that you can do without. Parents will always be looking for toys to buy during the Christmas period. So also encourage your children to sort out what toys they no longer want. This will not only boost your budget but also make more room in your home.
As the holidays are still a few months away, you have plenty of time to save. The sooner you start, the more money you will have to work with when Christmas finally arrives. So start saving today to make this a Christmas your family will never forget.