Control Your Holiday Finances With These Frugal Living Ideas

Even during the pandemic, when frugal living was more important than ever, holiday spending in America grew in 2020 over the previous year. Now, Americans are forecasted to spend more than ever before during the 2021 holiday season. The Adobe Digital Economy Index predicts that online sales alone will reach $207 billion through December.

But with so much shopping going around, Americans may find that planning for the holidays can be stressful, especially for those that continue to struggle financially.

But through just a bit of frugal living strategies, you can be sure that the holiday season will go smoothly and that you’ll be spending wisely. Here are a few frugal living ideas that will help you control your holiday spending this year and learn how to use Utah title loans to deal with unexpected urgent expenses.

7 Ways To Keep Your Holiday Spending In Check

1. Make A Budget

It’s easy to overspend during the holiday season. You see something in a store that someone will love and tend to ignore the price tag. When you’re preparing for holiday spending, the best tip to ensure that you stick to frugal living is to create a holiday budget. 

Simply outline everyone on your shopping list and figure out a reasonable budget to accommodate them all to figure out how much you can spend on things you buy for each person.

Another approach: choose an overall holiday gift budget and stick to it no matter what. Write out the expected cost of everyone’s gift and adjust to fit your budget.

2. Figure Out Travel Arrangements Ahead Of Time

If you need to book a flight, train, or hotel, the earlier the better. Prices increase dramatically for travel, especially for airplane seats, as you get closer to the holiday.

Also, look for the earliest and latest ticket options. Flights that leave the morning or night are typically far cheaper than other times of the day. 

3. Only Bring Cash While Shopping

Once you’ve made a budget the centerpiece of your frugal living strategy for the holiday, commit to it by eschewing credit cards in favor of only cash when you’ll out shopping. By only using cash — and the cash you have on hand — you won’t be able to overspend or spend money on gifts that weren’t on your list.

4. Consider Homemade Gifts

Sure, that fancy new toy or latest electronic gadget will make someone on your list happy. But there’s something special — and more cost-effective — about a gift that’s unique and homemade. This could mean baking cookies, sewing a scarf, or creating a basket of fruit or vegetables from your garden. This approach is the perfect gift-giving fit for frugal living.

5. Take Advantage Of Coupons And Sales

Frugal living means doing a bit of homework to get the best prices or discounts for items. In addition, you can wait to shop during major sales, such as on Black Friday or Cyber Tuesday. Scan all of the popular coupon sites to make sure you are actually getting the best deals.

6. Consider Repurposing Gifts 

Regifting has a bad reputation, but it’s a great money-saving approach for those gifts that are lighting used or have not been used at all. We all have them, so why not save a good amount of cash by giving them to someone who will actually use them? 

7. Think About Financial Help For Urgent Expenses

Financial emergencies can strike at any time, and they can be even more impactful during the holiday season. If you’re struggling to make ends meet because of a financial emergency, a car title loan is an option that can help you address the urgent cost of the emergency without impacting your budget.

With a Utah online title loan, the title to your vehicle is used as collateral in exchange for a loan that will be paid off over time. You even get to keep and use your car for the duration of the car title loan.

What You Need To Qualify For A Car Title Loan

At Utah Title Loans, Inc., we specialize in offering fast and easy car title loans between $300 and $15,000. Here’s all you need to qualify: 

• A state-issued I.D. or a driver’s license.
• The lien-free title to your vehicle in your name.
• Your vehicle for inspection.
• To be at least 18 years old.

The Car Title Loan Process

It can take as little as 30 minutes to qualify for a car title loan through Utah Title Loans, Inc. Here’s how it works:

• Fill out the short online form for title loans Utah. A loan representative will give you a call shortly after you submit it to provide you with further instructions and schedule an appointment with you at the store or at a location of your choice.
• Either bring the required items and your car to a store location near you or have the representative meet you at a location of your choosing.
• Your documents will be reviewed, and a quick inspection of your vehicle will take place to determine if you qualify and the value of the loan you qualify for.
• Once you are approved, you’ll receive your loan amount the same day or the following business day. 

Get Started Today

Financial emergencies may necessitate frugal living. A car title loan from Utah Title Loans, Inc. can help you overcome an unexpected medical bill, last-minute travel, or a home and car repair.

Start the process online, give us a call or pay us a visit today. We’re here to help!

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.