Time always seems to fly by, one day it’s summer and the next is Christmas.  The majority of us wait until the last minute to do our shopping and realize we have a huge list of presents to buy.  When in college, we’re often so busy that we push things to the side and get to them later, which hurts us when it comes to Christmas shopping.  Christmas is supposed to be enjoyable and non stressful.  Although, when we have a million presents to buy and a tight budget, that makes it hard.  If you’re looking to save as much money as possible this Christmas, continue to read below to find out how you can do so.

Have a plan – Make sure you always have a plan for shopping.   Know ahead of time who you’re going to buy for, and how much you’re going to spend.  Once you have it written down on paper, be sure you stick to that amount no matter what’s on sale.

Don’t wait until the last minute – Waiting until the last minute is one of the worst things you can do.  Not only do you spend a lot more it is very inconvenient.  Start shopping around September and start getting great deals.  Buying ahead of time and when there are sales saves a ton of money.

Check sales ads – Also, be sure to check out the sales ads.  Once, again don’t wait until last minute though.  Start a few weeks or months before Christmas and see what great deals are out there.  Another thing, when looking through the sales ads, be sure to check and see if there are any great coupons available.

Avoid Gift Cards – Always avoid gift cards if possible.  Gift cards are a set amount of money and don’t allow you to get things on sale or good deals.  It is okay to buy them in smaller amount like $25 but never give a present that a $100 gift card for example.  Instead, shop at the place where you’d get the gift card and see what items are on sale and what they’d like. 

Black Friday – If there is an item that you REALLY want and it’s in the black Friday ad, try to get down there.  Although it may be a pain in the butt, you may be saving a couple hundred dollars.

Make your own – If you can, make your own presents.  For example, if you know someone that loves to wear jewelry and you’re really good at making it, make it yourself!  You can customize you’re own gift and get exactly what they’d like for a cheaper price.

Shop online – If you didn’t know already, shopping online is probably the cheapest way to go.  Websites like www.amazon.com are known for their excellent deals.  Simply type what you’re looking for in the search bar and they’ll have it.  This saves time from leaving the house, fighting the crowds, and wasting gas money. 

There are many ways to save money on Christmas presents.  If you’re really looking to save this Christmas, be sure to consider these ideas above.  Stop throwing your money away, starting getting great deals and start saving!