How To Stretch Your Dollar Through The Holidays PLR Ebook

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How to Stretch Your Dollar through the Holidays

The end of year holidays are supposed to be all about taking a break from work and spending quality time with friends and family. Unfortunately, money worries often get in the way of having a truly carefree celebration.

Travel Expenses

The pressure to spend comes from almost every angle. Visiting relatives will often mean:

* Flights
* Accommodation
* Transfers to and from the airport
* Car rental
* Gas

And if you drive to your family, it will mean gas and possibly long hours on the road in bad weather.

Your travel-related expenses might also involve pet care, such as in-home pet sitting or boarding.

Festive Food and Drink

Then there are the food and drink pressures. Everyone loves seasonal treats, but the excess doesn't just burst your belt, but your budget too.

Many people host meals at their homes. They also participate in a range of social activities with food as the main focus of attention, such as church suppers and potlucks. Some people feel like they can’t live without decadent desserts and candy, while others like to include alcohol as an essential part of their celebrations. All of these items can make the cost of your shopping list soar.

Holiday Activities

Then there are the activities. With the children out of school for a couple of weeks, they need to be entertained. This can be tough if you don’t get a lot of days off work yourself. In this case, you would need to sort out childcare for the days they are out of school and all the adults are work.

Holiday Decorations

No celebration would be complete without decorations. The trouble is, they can be very expensive if you opt for store-bought. The good news is that a few simple school and art and craft supplies can help you and the children decorate your home for pennies on the dollar compared to ready-made. These can also be fun projects to keep the entire family occupied if the weather outside is bad, as you make all the holiday preparations at home.

Gift Giving

Finally, there are the gifts to consider. This is where people are likely to overspend if they don’t have a list and a plan on how to pay for the presents. The last thing you want is to run up credit card bills and get stuck with interest payments long after the holiday is over.

The secret to saving at the holidays is to be as organized as possible in the months and weeks running up to Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa and so on. Making the most of the harvest season starting in September and October can help you save on food. Buying pantry items for all your baking, and purchasing gifts that are perfect for the people on your list as and when you see them, can spread out the cost of the holidays over several months, not cram it all into December.

Let’s start with a look at how to save on all your holiday travel costs.

1. Saving on Holiday Travel Costs

If you are going to travel to family and friends, or take a winter vacation, the secret to getting the best deals is to plan ahead. The earlier you book, the better chance you have of getting a good price on the flights you really want rather than the ones that are left over.

Who Is Going?

Make a list of every person traveling. Then make a list of the dates you will be leaving and returning. See if you can give yourself a bit of leeway, because being flexible can lead to big savings. Also check off all airports that are good options for your location. One might be further away from your house, but have cheaper flights and perhaps even easy public transportation so you don’t have to spend a fortune getting to the airport or parking at the airport while you are away.

Bargain Websites

There are a range of sites that offer good airfares, and some also have affordable, all-inclusive package deals with flight, hotel (for some or all of your stay), car rental, and entrance fees to popular attractions.

Some people swear by Priceline to get big discounts, while others use Expedia or Travelocity to book their packages. Some travel experts recommend that you purchase flights at 1 AM on a Wednesday to catch any remaining discounted fares from Monday and Tuesday.

Keeping Down Food Costs

Bring snacks with you to avoid the expense of costly airport food. Remember not to carry large bottles of water or full stainless steel water bottles in your carry-on luggage, as they can be confiscated by security. Wait until you get past security to fill up.

Accommodation Issues

In terms of accommodation, your relatives might have room to put you up, or you would need a hotel or motel (preferably with a kitchenette) so you could be more independent - especially if you have younger children. Another good option might be an Airbnb property near your family, if possible. This could give you some space and privacy even as you are spending time away from home. Be sure to read the sleeping specifications and the fine print. Don’t take your lively toddlers to a property full of expensive antiques, for example.

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