Money Saving Tips #3
Tomorrow is Valentines Day. There are all sorts of small fun items for this holiday and they will all be on sale at huge mark downs now and even greater markdowns in two or three days.
1. With the holiday in mind our first tip is to shop after a holiday. Thursday is Valentines Day. Valentine cards for the class or family will be on sale today and will work great next year. Pens and pencils and other small items with hearts on them or in red and white themes can make great stocking stuffers. Candy will be on sale and can be used for baking or lunches and snacks. Most candy freezes very well. We have a tradition in our family of giving the children ornaments each Christmas. I alway purchase them after Christmas and save a bunch. If you are not getting together with family or friends until New Years purchase their gifts at the after Christmas sales.
2. To follow the theme, purchase gifts year round. You know you will need birthday and holiday gifts for family and friends so keep that in mind as you shop. Last year I purchased craft books and scrap booking books at a book store that was closing, for cents on the dollar. They made wonderful gifts and saved me lots of money. And they were loved by the recipients.
3. Start a savings account. I remember when I was a very little girl my mom had a Christmas Club account at the bank. Every week when she got paid she would deposit $2.00 in the account. Two dollars went a lot further in those days. At the end of the year that was her Christmas money. I remember my first Christmas club account was at school and we could bring in a deposit each week and watch it grow. Twenty five cents of my allowance went in each week and at Christmas I had my own money to spend on gifts. I wish schools still did this. We need to be teaching our children the value of money and saving. Now that you are purchasing gifts year round you may not need or want a Christmas Club account. However,saving a small account in a special account could be a real blessing during the holiday season to purchase those special, traditional foods your family loves, and your budget won’t take a hit! If you start now with just $5.00 a week you will have $200.00 extra to spend on groceries by Thanksgiving!
The key to all money savings is to start now!!
I started my Thanksgiving account. You’re right I always blow the budget on food around the holidays. Five dollars a week doesn’t hurt and I know I’ll have a little when I need it in November.
This is why I love direct deposit paychecks! We have two separate accounts and I have roughly 20% of every paycheck deposited into our high-yield savings account. I don’t miss that 20% and I know that we have a little something set aside for that infamous “rainy day.”