Holiday Time Savers

Answer 1

Saving time is as precious as saving money during the holiday season that starts with the secular holiday of Thanksgiving and ends with New Year’s Eve. Depending on the city and community you live in, the celebration of certain religious and cultural holidays is more prominent than in others. Listed are a few ways to save money and time on the preparations of the holidays you celebrate.

Religious and Cultural Celebrations

Shop in grocery stores and malls that are inside of communities that are predominantly of a faith that is not celebrating the religious holiday you are preparing for. The lines will be shorter—saving you time, and there’s likely to be discounts on the popular foods and home décor items that are specific to the holiday. Merchants in these areas may not have every specialty item you want, but most will carry some of the more traditional fare. They are also likely to discount it more quickly, because the items are not in high-demand in their area. Look for discounts on food and beverage items that are popular to a particular celebration to go on sale. Some of these items are staples like baking supplies, soda, and alcohol, all of which may be practical to stock up on for your own celebrations.

Mailing Services

Avoid standing on-line for hours in the post office or UPS. Schedule free package pickup service with FedEx, USPS, and UPS. These services will pickup from your place of business or home. Receive packages the same way. Buy postage online or use the self-mailer centers available in many local post offices. Have online purchases sent directly to recipients with gift cards enclosed.

Save Gas

Incorporate your holiday errands between work and home, or do them on your lunch break. You will free up your weekends by shopping a few hours a week after work. Look for gifts everywhere you stop. Stocking stuffers and gag gifts can be found in mini-marts and convenience stores. Make a plan to buy all of your gifts in one mall or at a local holiday gift fair. Shop online. Items like books, CDs and so many other gifts can be bought online and sent directly to the recipient.