I may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. I only recommend products that I truly believe would be helpful. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.
It seems like every year, Christmas shopping sneaks up on me. I like to think that I will get ahead on my Christmas list and avoid the last-minute rush but inevitably, life happens, and I end up having to scramble and get a present for someone on my list. However, I do manage to save money on Christmas gifts, even when shopping last minute.
I love saving money, especially when it comes to gifts. One of the reasons is that I usually shop for presents on a budget so my figuring out creative ways to save money on Christmas gifts, I’m able to get nicer presents for those on my list that my budget would otherwise afford. One thing to keep in mind is that the tips below can be combined for even more savings. Often, I will go through a cash-back website such as Ebates.com and also use a coupon on my purchase and get more savings!
Because I think we can all use some extra cash, I wanted to share my top suggestions on ways to save money on Christmas gifts. You can use only one of those or combine as many of them as you can to get the maximum savings. Some of these will also work for last-minute shopping although it may require some extra creativity on your part.
Related:
The best ways to save money on Christmas gifts
Cash-back websites
If you are planning to order something online, one of the simplest ways to save money is by going through a cash-back portal such as Ebates.com, TopCashBack.com or Mr. Rebates.com. All you do is create an account, search for the website where you are going to shop, click on the link to the portal then shop as usual. These websites will give you a percentage of what you buy through their link as cash back. They earn a commission for referring you and pass some of that along to you.
Around the holidays, many of these portals run great promos with double or triple cash back for certain websites. If you go through my referral link for Ebates.com, you will get a $10 after your first purchase of $25 or more. To date, I have made more than $200 cash back just from Ebates.com. Don’t forget to install the Ebates button on your browser, which will alert you when you are on a site that offers cash back so you don’t miss an opportunity to save!
Click here to sign up for Ebates through my link and get $10 for FREE after spending $25!
Daily deal websites
Another grea
t option for those on a budget is a daily deal website such as Groupon.com or LivingSocial.com. They have great deals on a variety of products or services. One of my favorite ways to use them is to buy a massage, manicure or a pedicure for someone as a gift. I chose a place close to where they live and call them to book an appointment. That way I can explain it’s a gift and also pay for the tip. Using a deal voucher makes this a fantastic deal so I can afford to book a nice massage or a facial for someone I care about without going broke. In addition, you can go through a cash-back website such as Ebates.com and get some cash back on your purchase. How cool is that?!
Click here to sign up for Groupon and find great gift deals at a discount
Click here to sign up for Living Social and find great discounts on presents
Discounted gift cards
Another great way to save money on Christmas gifts is to buy a discounted gift card and use it to purchase the present. You can also go ahead and give the gift card as a gift as well. However, you get better savings by using it to buy a present because you can stack it with a coupon when buying a Christmas gift. You can also sell any unused gift cards that you want to get rid of through those websites. This will give you more cash in your pocket to spend on gifts.
Price match
Price matching is a great way to save money on Christmas gifts – especially when you are shopping at the last minute. Many people don’t realize that most stores have price-matching policies that you could save you real cold hard cash. The store’s website is the best place to find the price-matching policy. Many will match both online and brick-and-mortar retail prices. Your best bet is to get familiar with the store’s policy before going in to request a price match. Have the policy handy to show any associates because, in my experience, many of them are not very familiar with it. You can also use a discounted gift card to buy the item, further saving you money.
Related: How to Manage Your Money the Right Way
Use coupons
Coupons are an excellent way to save money on Christmas gifts – or really on anything. They can often be combined with some of the other money-saving options for even greater savings. For example, you can go through a cash-back portal such as Ebates.com to buy a present then apply an online coupon to your purchase to save some more money. Then you will get cash back on your purchase in addition to the money you saved with the coupon. It’s like savings magic!
Facebook sale groups
I have also found Facebook online garage sale sites to be a great source for inexpensive gifts. Many people will sell items that are new in the box or new with tags for a fraction of the retail price. Many of these are presents that they received and don’t want, or they just missed the return window. Either way, you can often find awesome deals at a very steep discount. However, you do need to check those sites regularly and be quick to jump on any deals as the good ones usually go fast. However, it’s totally worth keeping this option in mind if you are on a tight budget.
eBay
Another great option for buying brand-new items for a fraction of the cost is eBay.com. eBay is a little more reliable than local Facebook sale groups because people from all over the world use it to sell items. It’s a lot more likely that you will find what you are looking for new with tags on eBay although it may be more expensive than on Facebook. Another great way to use eBay to save on Christmas gifts is to buy coupons or discounted gift cards. Just like Raise.com, eBay also sells discounted gift cards that can be used at a retailer. In addition, you can buy coupons to many retailers at a negligible price that you can then use to save on Christmas gifts when you go shopping.
These are some of the best ways I have found to save money on Christmas gifts. What are some of your favorite ways to save money on presents? Please share below in the comments.
Resources that I love:
If you’re looking to save money on your shopping, then I highly recommend checking out these ideas!
Amazon Prime – With free unlimited two-day shipping and no minimum purchase required, Amazon Prime is the perfect solution for your holiday shopping. You get a FREE 30-day trial membership for signing up through my link. I absolutely love my Amazon Prime membership!
Click here for a FREE TRIAL of Amazon Prime through my link!
Ebates – Get cash back for any purchases that you are already making online. Just go through the Ebates cash back portal and you will get a percentage back of your total order price. You can also use coupons on top of going through Ebates for even more savings. Read my review of Ebates here. You get $10 FREE cash back after you make a $25 purchase for signing up through my link.
Click here to sign up for Ebates through my link and get $10 for FREE after spending $25!
Ibotta – Get cash back for purchases, including groceries, clothing and more! Download the app on your phone, check it before heading to the store so you can add any rebates that interest you, then shop as usual. When you get home, just scan your receipt and enjoy the cash back. It’s such an easy way to get some extra cash!
Click here to sign up for Ibotta through my link and get a $10 as a FREE welcome bonus!
These are some great ideas on here! I definitely will be implementing them this holiday season!
These are great tips! I never thought about the price matching option. I am definitely using cashback sites this year so I’m excited to see the savings.
Thanks Dayana! I’ve saved hundreds just by price matching and I think many people don’t realize it’s such an easy way to save money. I love cash-back sites as well!