The holiday season can be fun, but it can also be stressful. And not to mention: expensive. Check out these five money savings moves you can make now before Thanksgiving. Your wallet will thank you later!
1. Stock Up for Next Summer
Buying more summer items might be the last thing on your radar right now, but this is the best time to snag some amazing sales! Now that the summer season has come to a close (ugh), retailers are looking to sell all of their remaining summer merchandise at low prices, to make room for fall and winter merchandise.
Grills, lawnmowers, pool floaties, and any summer clothing are all smart purchases right now. I’m hesitant to buy form-fitting items like swimsuits so early, but a flowy summer dress or pair of linen pants could be a quality staple item!
2. Cancel or Cycle Through Unneeded Subscriptions and Save $ with Rocket Money
Do you really need Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Audible, Amazon Prime, and other streaming platforms all at the same time?
Carefully considering which ones you actually want and regularly use, and canceling the rest, can help you save a surprising amount of money each month.
For streaming services, another option is cycling. For instance, cancel all your services except Netflix, and watch all the available shows or movies you’re interested in. Two or three months later, cancel or pause your Netflix subscription and restart Hulu for a fresh batch of content. You get the jist of it!
If that sounds like too much work, then don’t worry. Like everything else in life these days, there’s an app for that! And It’s called Rocket Money. The app will automatically bring your subscriptions into a single list and track payment dates. It takes the work out of keeping track of all your subscriptions (I know you have more than you need!)
What’s more? Now, Rocket Money can actually help you manage your money, too. Rocket Money empowers you to “save more, spend less, see everything, and take back control of your financial life.” This includes:
- Tracking spending across all accounts (including checking accounts, credit cards, savings accounts, and investments) by linking all your assets and debts together for a holistic view of your finances.
- AutoPilot Savings: Set your preferred savings frequency and goal and RocketMoney puts your deposits into a secure, FDIC-insured savings account.
You can also create budgeting categories and goal trackers. So, Rocket Money provides you an easily accessible interface that shows if you’re on track, and sends alerts when you’re nearing your budget limit.
3. Earn Cashback on Everyday Purchases with Ibotta
Ibotta is an app that provides you up to 30% cash back at thousands of top retailers.
Activate exclusive offers while you’re shopping online using their new browser extension, as well as compare and track prices across the web.
When shopping on-the-go, add offers to Your List in the Ibotta app, then go shopping! Finally, submit a receipt to Ibotta, earn cash back, and withdraw your earnings when you hit $20! Withdrawal earnings include instant gift cards or bank/PayPal deposits.
With Ibotta, just a few clicks could reward you for your everyday purchases. Why not save money if it’s so easy? The savings from Ibotta cash back might end up being enough to buy a nice Thanksgiving dinner!
4. Make Your Own Thanksgiving Potluck
Speaking of Thanksgiving dinner, hosting a dozen family members can take a big hit on your wallet, on top of the responsibility of entertaining guests in your own home.
So, ask everyone to bring a side, and encourage them to get a little creative! This not only saves you money and effort, but the food becomes a nice conversation starter when your crazy uncle starts trading recipes at the table.
Then, ask the kids to help bake cookies while the adults catch up. This chocolate chip cookie recipe only takes an hour to make, and has over 14,000 reviews on Allrecipes (it’s one of my favorites)!
5. Spend Time With Family & Friends Instead of Buying Gifts
I know this might sound corny, but instead of focusing on buying gifts for family and friends this upcoming holiday season, why not just spend time with the ones you love instead? We get so caught up in this materialistic culture, but at the end of the day, the ones you love just want to know you appreciate them. It doesn’t have to be about material goods and money: so, call up your grandma or great aunt and make plans around the holidays!
Read More: 8 Stylish Fall Pieces Every Woman Needs in their Work Wardrobe
