As the holidays draw closer, decorations around town, music on the radio, and crafts the kids bring home from school will add to your family’s rising anticipation. However, as a parent, you may also feel anxious about how you’re going to afford so many gifts—will you have to work overtime or take out a cash loan to do so? If you want to keep your holiday spending under control, use these tips to your advantage.

3 Money-Saving Tips for Holiday Shopping

1. Establish a Budget

In some cases, you may have enough to shop for all your friends and family—but it’s easy to get excited about a high-ticket item or overwhelmed in the busy stores and spend more. To avoid buyer’s remorse in the new year, set a cap for your total gift-giving budget, as well as smaller limits for each present. While you might want to spend more on your spouse or best friends, you may set lower budgets for a distant cousin or your child’s teacher.

2. Try a Gift Exchange

If you and your family are strapped for cash, you might want to discuss a gift exchange. Similar to Secret Santa, this allows each person in the family to give one gift to a loved one. They won’t have a long list of people to buy presents for. In addition to spending a fraction of the money you normally would, you can take more time finding the perfect gift for that one individual.

3. Make Something

When you consider the virtues of the holiday season, such as love, peace, and gratitude, it’s easy to realize that the thought you put into a gift is more important than it’s monetary value. Instead of giving the kids an allowance to buy gifts for their siblings and your spouse, encourage them to make something for their loved ones. From fridge magnets and ornaments to a homemade video of your favorite Christmas carol, there are many ways to ring in the holidays without spending a dime. 

If you’re struggling to cover the expenses of the holiday season, turn to Advance U Cash for a cash loan. They understand how important it is to display generosity when money is tight, which is why they offer short-term and payday cash loans for Florence, KY, residents. After a simple application process, they can lend you up to $500 in cash, so you can give your family a holiday to remember. To learn more about their cash loans, visit the website, or call (859) 746-2274 today.