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Keep Holiday Spending In Check
The holiday season is a time for joy and laughter, spending time with family and friends and sharing our blessings. It can also be a time of overspending. Navigator Credit Union has some ways you can make the season merry without putting a squeeze on your wallet.
Make a plan
If you haven’t made your list, now is the time to do it. Take the time to make a list of everyone you want to buy for, note two to three ideas for each person and set a price limit. Be sure to account for any secret Santa and holiday gift exchanges as well. Keep the list handy and check off the names as you purchase the gifts.
Stack rewards with discounts
Reward stacking is combining several shopping rewards programs to maximize the discounts, points and cash back you receive on a purchase. This could mean buying a gift using a credit card that allows you to earn cash back plus using a discount browser extension as well as a store coupon.
You may want to use the Navigator Platinum Rewards card for your seasonal purchases, and if you do you’ll earn one uChoose® Rewards point for every dollar spent. You can redeem the points for thousands of items – including cash back. There’s also no annual, balance transfer or cash advance fees. Learn more at navigatorcu.org/your-card.
Think outside the box
Right now, retail inventories are full of items that had been hard to find during the pandemic due to supply chain issues. Although furniture and home décor aren’t typical holiday gifts, the longer those types of sales are slow to rebound, the steeper the discounts may become as the year goes on.
Give gift cards
If you’re a chronic overspender or are worried about your usual gifts costing way more than you’re expecting, consider gift cards. Gift cards allow you to avoid high inflation on goods and services. A big plus - you’ll know exactly how much you spent at the end of the season.
Try conscious gifting
Instead of loading up multiple gifts per person, consider embracing conscious gift giving. The practice focuses on meaningful spending that fulfills a purpose in someone’s life, such as a unique secondhand item or a family portrait.
It’s easy to get caught up in the holiday shopping frenzy. With some planning, you can wrap up the year in a festive fashion and begin the new year in a strong financial position.