The holidays are coming up which is known for travel, food, shopping, and presents. While the holiday season is supposed to be a time of celebration it can also feel like a financial burden. Whether you are taking time off, traveling to different cities, buying presents for everyone in your family, or just shopping for yourself, many things come with a price tag. Below are examples how I tackle the holiday season financial ordeal. 

Traveling 

If you are traveling by plane or train, I always try to find reservations well in advance sometimes 9-10 months prior. You may be saying how can I look for travel plans when I don’t know what I’m doing for the holidays 9 or 10 months from now. My answer is to predict or project what could be. The further out you can reserve a plane ticket, the higher likely it’ll be less expensive than 2-3 months prior. This holiday season may be too late but keep this thought for next year.  

If you think you may be traveling home, look for flights as early as possible. Airlines have available flights 9, 10, or even 11 months out. If there’s a certain airline that goes to your destination, look into credit card points and potentially getting an award ticket. One of the great benefits of redeeming an award flight is that it is refundable. If you have to cancel, you will get your points back and any costs for taxes and fees. Last Christmas season, I booked a family trip to Las Vegas and Zion National Park 8 months prior with points. Even if my plans changed and I had to cancel my trip, no worries because my flights were award tickets and I can easily cancel and get a refund.  

Food 

Holiday season could mean going out to eat. You may be tired of cooking and just want to eat out. The holiday season tempts you to just splurge. It’s a time to treat yourself. Change your mindset. If you have plenty of food at home because of leftovers or just have a packed fridge, eat the food you have before thinking of going out. According to the USDA, in the United States, over one-third of all available food goes uneaten through loss or waste. Don’t waste the food that you have. 

Shopping 

Stores are going to lure you with big discounts and sales. Whether online or in-person, companies are going to take advantage of the holiday season to increase their earnings. Even if an item is on sale, it may not be the lowest price. Just because there’s a sale tag, it doesn’t mean it’s the lowest. Price compare, ask for a price match, or return the item and buy it elsewhere.  

Look for additional coupons or discounts. Sites like Rakuten and Ibotta give cash back for certain purchases. I’ve earned over $950 with Ibotta. If you have credit cards, they will have cash back rewards if you purchase from certain vendors using their credit card. My Citi card currently is giving me certain percentage back if I were to purchase from eBay, Amazon, and many other vendors.  

When shopping for presents, start looking for presents early. Shop at different places and look for the lowest price. Online could be cheaper than in the store. Look for presents that are meaningful yet practical. How about a Treasury Bond as a gift? It’s not your normal gift from the store but a bond will last and grow over time.  

The holiday season shouldn’t be stressful. It should be a time of joy and happiness. Don’t let the holiday season be a financial ordeal. These are examples how I deal with the holiday season and the financial burden that comes with it. If you are interested in following my journey and their journey, follow them on Instagram and email subscribe to get alerts of latest posts or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.