This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Chase Ultimate Rewards for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.
I think it’s fair to say we all want to save money this holiday shopping season. Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? I started mine today, and I jumped into things that made me reconsider my game plan. I have four children that I have to buy for; it’s not cheap because there are also monthly bills, food, an extra thing we buy for the holidays, and blah blah. It’s never ending, and I’m not going to make the same mistake I made last year and not be prepared for holiday shopping.
I noticed a huge difference in the amount of money I spent last year because I didn’t take the time to plan things out. There are several things you can do to help you save money during the holidays. I can promise you that not planning is almost always going to end up with reckless spending. I learned the hard way, and I never want to come out of Christmas upside down again, especially because I was too lazy to spend a few extra minutes on things I know will help me shop smarter.
8 Tips To Help You Save Money This Holiday Shopping Season
If you’re looking for a few ways to help you save money this holiday season, here are a few things that actually work for me.
- Set your budget. Before anything, I have to set a budget! Last year, the main reason I overspent was because I didn’t have a starting point, and because I didn’t have a budget, I didn’t know where to stop. When you have 1000 things going on at the same time, it’s easy to think you’re doing okay.
- List: Write down everyone you are shopping for and put how much you are planning to spend next to each one of his or her names.
- Check it twice. Look at your list again and see if anyone on it would appreciate something homemade. My mom tells me every single year she would rather me help the kids do a craft for her and put it in a frame or make her cookies in a mason jar. She has always wanted things that come from the heart!
- Make a deal. As an adult, I don’t need anyone to get me a Christmas gift! My main reason for doing everything is the kids. Every year, I talk to all the adults and make sure we are all on the same page, not getting the other adults a gift. It’s not hard for me to get my family on board with this idea because it saves everyone money.
- Start early. Don’t wait until it’s almost Christmas and you’re freaking out trying to get everyone something last-minute. It’s difficult to stick to a budget if you don’t start shopping early.
- Shop online—I am all about shopping online! I can purchase anything I need, normally have it shipped free, and save myself the headache of fighting the crowds. Shopping online is less stressful for me, which helps me to budget better.
- Discount codes, coupons, etc.: If you are going to shop online, be sure to check for discounts, free shipping, coupon codes, and other ways to save money.
- Credit Cards: If you’re shopping online, you’re likely going to use a credit card. If you stick to your budget, you shouldn’t end up overspending, but you should make sure you have rewards on your credit card. I have two cards, and my Chase card has a rewards program that helps earn points for purchasing items using my card.
I am a huge believer in rewards and savings that are easy. I know you can save big bucks by being a couponer, but I lack the organizational skills, patience, and ability to focus. Hats off to all of you amazing people who can save money with coupons.
I still use coupons, search for discount codes online, and use the rewards points from my credit card, but I avoid the stack of paper coupons because it’s too much. I can handle the digital coupons because my phone saves them all, but my favorite way to save money is with the rewards program on my credit card.
Are you a Chase customer? If not, you’re missing out because earning rewards on things you were planning on purchasing anyway is great! My husband and I actually got a credit card with Chase when we started adding on and remodeling our house. We wanted something that wasn’t attached to anything we were doing so we could keep track of what was spent and how it was spent, and the Chase Ultimate Rewards program was a definite perk!
I have two cards, and my Chase card has a rewards program called Chase Ultimate Rewards, which helps me earn points for purchasing items using my card. My Chase credit card has more points than my other card because we have purchased items for the house. I am going to break the rules a bit, and this Christmas, I will use my Chase card to do my Christmas shopping. I want to keep racking up those points, and when it’s all said and done, I’m going to do something nice for my husband and me because you can trade in your points for all sorts of neat stuff.
Let me explain a little about how the rewards program works.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase Ultimate Rewards program is available to Chase Sapphire, Chase Freedom, and Chase Ink cardholders. When you use any of the cards, you can earn points on every purchase made with your credit card. Redeem points for all sorts of goodies—travel, merchandise, experiences, gift cards, and even cash back!
I just learned this myself, but Chase Ultimate Rewards gives cardholders cash back with direct deposits. The cardholder would begin getting funds when they reached 2000 points, which is $20 for doing absolutely nothing unusual. I use my credit cards for everything and pay off my balance at the end of the month. The last time I thought I was cool and tried to carry cash, I lost several hundred dollars, so I stopped trying to look cool and started to act smart. Cash doesn’t reward you for spending it; one moment it is there, and the next it’s gone!
When you use your Chase Ultimate Rewards, there is no need to stress about those crazy markups. When you purchase gift cards, merchandise, or redeem your points for cash, there are no markups. If you decide you want to trade in your 10,000 points for a $100 gift card, that’s exactly what you would pay—10,000 points and no more.
I love the awesome VIP access members can access—movie premieres, concerts, and even sporting events. Doesn’t that sound great? I would love to have VIP access at any concert, movie premiere, or sporting event. Oh, and don’t forget that you can also use your reward points for travel! This means any flight, and no, there are no blackout dates or restrictions.
It’s nice to receive rewards for doing something I enjoy, like shopping for the people I care about.
The Chase Ultimate Rewards program has been a great experience for me! After the holiday season, I am going to try to trade in my rewards points for a gift card. I want to take my husband out for a fun date night that’s basically free for us.
If you’re already a Chase Ultimate Rewards customer, then you probably have some points saved up. Check your rewards point balance, and trade in some of those points to save a little money on your holiday shopping. I have always used my rewards credit card for major purchases, like holiday shopping, because it’s nice to earn points on items I was planning on buying anyway. When it’s all said and done, I have enough points for a little treat for mom because all that shopping was such hard work!
