Start Now for a Frugal Christmas

As of the day of this post, Christmas is just 108 days.  108 days is not very long my friends, you need to start thinking about Christmas right now if you don’t want it to stretch your budget to an uncomfortable degree, I know I don’t at all! The trick is to start your Christmas shopping and saving right now to get the best savings out of your gift giving.

Here are my tips for shopping smart for a frugal Christmas:

• Shop at discount stores.  Stores like Ross, TJMaxx, Tuesday Mornings, and more all have a variety of items for a really great deal.  You can find housewares, clothes, toys, and the list goes on. Oftentimes too, these items are extremely cheap compared to at other stores.
• Shop clearance.  Clearance sections are amazing for rock bottom deals.  Combine clearance deals with a discount store and your prices can’t be beat!  I was shopping at Tuesday morning the other day and found some super cool LED jump ropes that cost $10+ on Amazon for just $1.29 on clearance.  I bought the rest of their stock and now have Christmas gifts for my nieces and nephew.
• Coupon.  Yes, you can find coupons for more than just food!  I have used coupons to find deals on toys, clothes and even cologne before.  All of which make great Christmas gifts.
• Thrift shops.  You would be amazed at the amount of brand new stuff you find at thrift shops.  Our local Goodwill for example, sells a lot of Target overstock products at pennies on the dollar.  Well worth a trip when you can find brand new shoes for a $1 or a new video game for $4.

What is your favorite way to keep Christmas frugal?  We would love to hear all of your tips and tricks!