Finance-kind holidays
Saving tips: How to keep Christmas affordable for families
Updated 12/02/2024 – 4:57 p.mReading time: 4 min.
The party of love sometimes tears quite a hole in some people’s household budgets – after all, there should only be the best for loved ones. But does it always have to be expensive?
Gifts, Christmas menu, visiting relatives and the like: the celebration of love can sometimes be quite expensive – especially with children or a large family. So that you still have money after the holidays, we’ll show you where you can save.
Do your children, families or friends have full wish lists? Then it’s best to start looking for the right products early – for example on online price comparison portals, where offers from various retailers are displayed. according to the price comparison portal Idealo,the density of bargains is particularly high in November,and the price level is comparatively low compared to October and December.
But is the current price of the desired product really a good offer? It can make sense to check the past price history on comparison portals.If the product is substantially more expensive than it was recently, it may be worth waiting. If you don’t want to constantly check for yourself whether your desired price has already been reached, you can also set a price alarm on comparison portals. Information will be sent by email as soon as the product is available
Hermann-Josef Tenhagen, editor-in-chief of the advice portal Finanztip, also recommends remaining flexible when choosing products – for example, not necessarily choosing the latest model or the most popular color combination.This can also lead to a significant price difference.
And: Does it really always have to be brand new? It can be worth looking at B-stock or refurbished products. Tenhagen has bought used smartphones for his family in recent years. “The discounts range between 30 and 50 percent,” says tenhagen. Idealo even speaks of an average saving of up to 60 percent compared to buying new. If you don’t like the product or it breaks after a short time, customers can also make use of their right of withdrawal and their twelve-month warranty for used goods from the dealer.
Buying a ready-made Advent calendar in the store is easy - but also expensive. According to Tenhagen, the 100 gram price of chocolate from an Advent calendar, such as, can be many times higher than if you pick up the same chocolate on the supermarket shelf.“Then you can see that it might make more sense to make the Advent calendar yourself,” says Tenhagen. Once purchased or made,the bags,bags or gift boxes of an Advent calendar can be used again year after year. In addition, gift givers can vary more – and along with sweets, they can also pack nuts, writing utensils, souvenirs and other small items.
Should there be something special to eat at Christmas – a menu with good wine, for example? Then it can be worthwhile to rummage through offer brochures some time in advance or to use appropriate apps for this purpose. “This means you can buy things when they are cheap,” says Tenhagen. This applies at least to those ingredients, baking utensils or drinks that can be stored for a long time.
What you can also do if you are a bit flexible when planning your menu – and simultaneously occurring want to do something about food waste: use apps like “Too Good To Go”, “Foodsharing”, “ResQ” and Co. There you can see offers from dealers, bakeries, butchers, Christmas market stalls and the like that offer surprise bags with unsold goods for little money. This is a great way to get delicious and affordable bargains.
“the same applies at the Christmas market: compare prices,” recommends Hermann-Josef Tenhagen. The stands further in the “hustle and bustle” tend to be more expensive than those on the edge. There may also be discount campaigns or sales times at Christmas markets – it’s worth checking.
According to Tenhagen, there are also Christmas markets where you can bring your own food.So if you don’t necessarily want to eat raclette, sausage or chestnuts, but would rather get the Christmas market feeling, this coudl be an option.
– How can parents effectively plan their holiday budgets for gift-giving and meals?
Engaging Interview on Affordable holidays
Interviewer (Time.news Editor): Welcome to Time.news! Today, we’re diving into an critically important topic that resonates with many as the holiday season approaches: how to keep Christmas affordable for families. Joining us is Hermann-Josef Tenhagen, the editor-in-chief of the advice portal Finanztip. Hermann, thank you for being here!
Hermann-Josef Tenhagen: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to share some tips on navigating the holiday expenses.
Interviewer: let’s get right to it. Many families struggle with holiday expenses, especially when it comes to gift-giving. What advice do you have for parents trying to maintain a budget during the festive season?
Hermann-Josef Tenhagen: That’s a great question. first, I always recommend starting early, especially if you have a list of gifts in mind. This gives you the prospect to browse online price comparison portals, which showcase deals from different retailers. Interestingly, November is a particularly good time to find bargains, as prices frequently enough drop significantly compared to October and December.
Interviewer: So timing is key. Once you’ve found a product at a lower price, how can parents determine if it’s truly a good deal?
Hermann-Josef Tenhagen: Excellent point! It’s not just about the current price but also the price history. Many comparison portals allow you to view past prices. If you see that the current price is significantly higher than it has been, it might be worth it to hold off and wait for a better deal. Another useful tool is setting up price alerts, which notify you via email when the desired item drops to your target price.
Interviewer: That sounds incredibly helpful! Adaptability also seems to play a role here. How can being flexible with choices help save money?
Hermann-Josef Tenhagen: Exactly! Remaining flexible can open up many possibilities for savings. As an example, choosing a different model or color variant that isn’t the latest trend might save you a ample amount. Sometimes what’s considered a ‘must-have’ is just a clever marketing ploy.There are plenty of equally valuable alternatives that won’t break the bank.
Interviewer: Great advice! now, what about other aspects of holiday spending, such as festive meals and family gatherings?
Hermann-Josef tenhagen: Right! Meal planning is crucial as well. I recommend setting a budget for food, and perhaps coordinating potlucks with family and friends where each person contributes a dish. This not only diversifies the meal but spreads out the costs. Plus, homemade meals can often be more meaningful and flavorful.
Interviewer: that makes complete sense! Lastly, what would you say is the most important mindset for families when approaching the holiday season?
Hermann-Josef Tenhagen: the key is to focus on the spirit of the holidays, rather than the material aspects. With some planning and a willingness to be adaptable, families can create truly memorable celebrations without overspending. Remember, it’s about togetherness, joy, and love—not how much you spend on gifts.
Interviewer: Wise words, Hermann. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise with us today. I’m sure our readers will find your tips invaluable in navigating their holiday budgets!
Hermann-Josef Tenhagen: Thank you for having me! Happy holidays to everyone!
Interviewer: And to our readers, thank you for tuning in! We hope you feel inspired to make this holiday season not only joyful but financially manageable. Until next time!