Christmas is just around the corner, which means an exciting time full of gift-giving for everyone. After all, who doesn’t love sitting down with the family by the tree, opening presents on Christmas morning and sharing holiday cheer? It’s a fun, beautiful time, and some of the moments you’ll treasure most as your kids get older. But Christmastime can also be a little stressful. In addition to worrying about family responsibilities like getting along with your in-laws, there are financial stressors, too. Lots of people are stressed during the “most wonderful time of the year,” and you need to do all you can to stay level-headed during this time. That’s why it can make such a huge difference to save on your kids’ Christmas toys.
And even though prices are jacked up because of the holidays, you have to remember that there are always ways to save. It’s all about knowing the best strategies, from finding the best deals online to getting creative. And here’s how.
1 Buy second-hand
When it comes to enjoying their Christmas gifts the most, your kids don’t care if you’ve bought a gift from the big expensive shop in the mall or if you’ve found it online on eBay. What matters is that they have the gift and that it’s still in original packaging and not too scuffed. There are lots of people who regret the gifts they buy for their kids (after all, lists for Santa get changed constantly), which puts them in the position of having to sell what they’ve spent money on. And that’s where you can score a deal. Check out classic eBay, of course, but look around on Facebook Marketplace, too. Toy shops near you might also have discounts on gifts that are impeccable but have already been opened, which forces them to sell them at a much lower price.
Baby Boomers spend an average of $576 on gifts during the Christmas season, so you can see just how expensive it can get. By going online, you’ll spend way less.
2 Purchase gifts online
We know that there isn’t anything as fun as holding a gift in your hand and knowing that it’s the perfect toy for your kid. You’ve seen him staring at it and playing with it in the store, and you get his Dad to distract him while you sneakily buy the gift and get it wrapped before slipping discreetly it into your Crate & Barrel shopping bag. But shopping malls are also crowded and overpriced. So why not buy your gift online, where it’s not only less stressful, but you’ll also get a better discount? Checking out online toy stores like eToys and Jizels will get you a way better deal than at a brick-and-mortar store.
The US e-commerce holiday season sales in 2017 were $106.14 billion, which is no surprise considering how useful these sites can be for saving money.
3 Use Deals Websites
These days, there’s something for everything online. And in the same way that a company like SocialGoneViral helps an online entrepreneur get more engagement on their Instagram account, a deals website like Groupon will help you get great deals on popular Christmas toys. Peruse mom blogs and Instagram accounts for busy parents to find out what’s trending, then sign up for different deals websites so that you can get a huge percent off whatever you need. It may take some hunting down the bargains, but with patience, you’ll find what you’re looking for at a way lower price.
Online holidays sales were predicted to grow 18 percent this year, so get in on these deals while you can!
4 Get toys your kids can use together
In the pricey world we live in, you’re already spending so much on Christmas parties and traveling across the country to see family, and buying a toy for each one of your kids can feel like a lot. But if you get them something they can play with together can save you money. For example, if you get a gift that involves fun projects like baking or making music, your kids can all use it together. In addition to being cheaper, this will also encourage them to play together, and make the Christmas holiday more memorable. You can still include cute, individualized gifts in their stockings, so that they’ll still feel special, of course.
Considering that the average holiday shopper spends $935 online during the holidays, this strategy will help you save money, so you don’t end up spending too much! It’s way too easy during this busy season to do that.
These are some of the best ways to save money on Christmas toys this holiday season. What other strategies have worked for you in the past?