4 Ways to save money
Holiday cards are a time-honored tradition for many families. Perhaps you are one of those people who enjoy getting the perfect shot of your family to craft a card that is packed with holiday cheer. While holiday cards are fun and heart-warming, they can wreck your holiday budget if you are not careful. Worry not though; we have a few holiday card hacks that will ensure you have great cards to send to your family while staying on budget.
Check your Local Warehouse Store
Warehouse stores do more than sell giant canisters of popcorn at reduced prices. Often, they are your cheapest option when it comes to personalized holiday cards. Costco and Sam’s Club are two popular warehouse stores that generally have photo centers housed within the store. The pricing stays typically the same all year, so you won’t have to worry about busting your holiday budget with price gauging. Order your cards earlier in the season to beat the crowds if you go with this option.
Purchase Blank Cards
If you aren’t sending out a ton of holiday cards, you’ll save on your holiday budget by purchasing blank cards and writing in your own messages. There is an added bonus to this, too. You can write a personalized letter for each person you are sending a card to. Include inside jokes, quick family updates and a cheerful holiday greeting with a nice pen to share your holiday cheer on a shoestring budget. If you like the idea of adding a family photo, tuck a snapshot into the card for your close friends and family. Printing wallet size cards are generally cheaper than ordering full-size custom holiday cards.
Diversify Your Card Shopping
Many websites and stores will offer sales on their cards during the holidays, but the problem with those sales is that they are generally for a set number of cards. For example, 20 cards for $20. After you get your first 20, however, you’ll need to pay full price to finish off the rest. There is no need to do so. Consider utilizing multiple websites to craft cards, using different deals. Sure, the cards won’t be the same, but that can be half the fun. Perhaps you want to create music-themed holiday cards for your friends in the choir, but would rather send a family snapshot to your aunts and uncles across the globe. There is nothing wrong with using different coupon codes to get the job done. Don't forget to shop around for coupon codes to make the prices even cheaper.
Don’t Print Your Cards at Home
Printing your own cards at home is generally not cheaper than the deals you can find online and in-store during the holiday season, strangely enough. If you are planning to create a basic photo card, you’ll need to purchase photo paper and ink. The cost per item is generally higher at home than it would be in store if you break down the price of each component. Budget experts suggest avoiding the print-at-home method if you are looking to save on your holiday budget. Instead, shop for the best deal on cards, and save your printer ink for other projects.
Between buying presents, attending events, and wrapping up your gifts, the holiday season is an expensive period. Follow these simple hacks to enjoy the holiday season without breaking the bank. Your budget will thank you in the new year.
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