Stay On Budget This Holiday Season

Everyone knows that the holidays are a busy (and expensive) time of the year. Well this year we want to help you remain as stress-free as possible — after all, the holidays should be a time of love and celebration, not concern or worry. To help you out, we’re sharing some of our top tips for staying on budget this holiday season!

Plan ahead.

I don’t know about you, but going to the mall at this time of the year is dangerous. There’s so much temptation with bright colours, new products and “unbeatable” sales. The key to avoiding all these tantalizing offers is to start your shopping already knowing what you’re looking for. Avoid buying any unnecessary extras by sticking to your pre-made shopping list and you’ll be in and out without any casualties. Android users can try the Christmas Gift List application to keep track of your budget and shopping list all in one place.

Black Friday.

Need I say more? Probably not, but I will. Thanksgiving is under a month away, and as we all know it’s immediately followed by the biggest sale weekend of the year! If you know what you need for the holidays and have your plan ready by Black Friday, I daresay, you could save some serious cash this year. Also check out our Black Friday Apps Survival Guide to get ready for the big day.

Coupons are your friends.

Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, you can often find coupons that can help reduce your receipt at check out. Personally, I find online shopping to be the easiest way to find the best deals in a shorter amount of time. Sites like Groupon and SlickDeals offer a wide variety of coupons for all your shopping needs. Plus you can avoid the craziness of the malls if you don’t feel like risking a stampede.

Get cashback where you can.

If you haven’t heard of Rakuten yet, I recommend checking it out. Rakuten is a service that will give you cashback on purchases made through any online store that’s listed on their site. The cashback amounts range from 1%-20%, which can be a big bonus on your every-day shopping in addition to holiday purchases. If you’ve seen their commercials I can verify it’s true: there’s no catch! Simply sign up and start earning cashback, it’s that easy.Here’s my final tip for staying on budget this year:

Sometimes the best gift isn’t something you need to gift wrap at all.

You’re bound to get bombarded with pretty lights, big bowed boxes and more sales than you can count this year, but keep in mind that the holidays aren’t just about the physical “things”.

If you have a tight budget this year, give the gift of connection. More often than not, your loved ones just want to spend time with you, hear your voice and know that you’re doing well. Even if you aren’t able to make a trip to see your family and friends a phone call can make all the difference.

TextNow wants to give you, all of you, the gift of connection this season. You don’t need to buy a new phone, you don’t need “minutes” and you certainly don’t need a contract. No matter your budget, TextNow is happy to offer free service for everyone! Download our free app today to give the best gift of all — the ability to stay connected.