Expert Shares Proven Strategies to Stretch Your Christmas Budget

(KNSI) — Many retailers have already started their Black Friday or holiday sales, and it’s due to consumer demand.

A survey by Bankrate.com says half of shoppers already start buying for Christmas before Halloween.

Stearns Bank Manager Shelby Bowland has some advice to keep you from blowing your budget before you finish shopping. “Make a list of people that you have to buy for. Make a budget of what you can afford and what your target budget is for Christmas altogether.”

Get ideas for shopping at family events and gatherings. She says to save money on gifts by taking advantage of sales all year long and stashing stuff until December.

Bowland believes the best time to stock up on extras for the holiday season is right after it ends. “Get your gift wrap and your tissue paper after Christmas. They put all that stuff on clearance. And that pinches a couple of pennies.”

If you have an expensive item pushing your budget into the red, use layaway if available to avoid paying interest like on a credit card. If you must charge your holiday gifts, try and pay the balance down as soon as possible to avoid paying more than you should.

For more Christmas shopping tips, click here.

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