The holiday season, while on the whole is one of the most beloved times of the year, is also associated with some type of dread for most people. The type that comes with the knowledge that you’ll be emptying your wallet soon – and it may still not be enough.

Are you one of these people? Want to free yourself of this dread and enjoy the season to the fullest?

Then here’s a guide on how you could go holiday shopping while on a budget!

1. Come Up With A Budget

Set the amount of money you’re comfortable spending during the holidays and work all expenses into it. Your budget should be covering everything; the food, celebrations, gifts, travel, and everything else that could be associated with your holiday plans.

Remember to designate a portion of the budget specifically for shopping! That’s the money you’ll be spending on gifts!

Often even the budgeters overspend because they forget to incorporate expenses other than shopping into their budgets. If you do that, chances are other expenses will eat through your finances – even if you stay on the budget while shopping.

2. Go Window Shopping

Look around for possible gift ideas. Visit thrift stores and clearance sections. Even browse Amazon!

The idea is to come up with as wide a variety of prospective gifts as possible so that you won’t have to rework your budget when it turns out not to fit your ideal choices.

Sometimes you just have to settle for the second-best if there’s no room for the best in the budget.

3. Make A List Of Things You Need To Buy

Now that you have some vague idea of what you should be buying, you need to make an actual list of what you’ll be buying and for whom – including yourself!

Try to select a few alternatives for each person on the list. And don’t try to be super-original with the gifts – giving some of them the same thing is perfectly okay, as long as you know they’ll enjoy it.

4. Leave Some Wiggle Room In The Budget

This is the number one reason holiday budgets get holes blown through them. Rigid budgets are set up for failure. There will always be some unexpected expenses when it comes to holiday shopping – make sure to leave at least a little wiggle room in the budget to be able to cover them. At least partially.

5. Say No To Most Sales

Even if the item’s 70% off – that’s still 30% you’ll be spending that’s not in your budget! Don’t buy the stuff you don’t need.

On the other hand, if something on sale can act as a substitute for an item on your list and will cost you less – then you should definitely grab it. Use sales for your advantage, don’t let them use you!

Even if you do find the perfect budget to fit all your holiday needs, the unexpected still happens. Emergencies don’t take breaks just because it’s the holidays. When you are going through an emergency and need quick cash, you should be looking into Alabama title pawns.

 

 

Get A Title Pawn To Help With Emergencies

A title pawn is a way to get emergency cash by using your vehicle’s – car, motorcycle, SUV, truck, etc. – title as collateral. These pawns are designed to be short-term cash-flow strategies; you shouldn’t be using them if your intentions are to permanently fix your finances.

What are the Benefits of Car Title Pawns Near Me?

Car title pawns are probably the easiest and quickest form of emergency cash you could acquire.

Typically, it only takes around 30 minutes to take out a title pawn, and there’s a big chance it might take less if all your documents are in order and we can get you approved.

Since it’s a secured type of loan, Our lenders at Alabama Title Loans, Inc. are free to accommodate all types of credit. So if your credit score is bad or even nonexistent altogether, you’re still eligible for title pawns.

You also don’t have to worry about giving up your vehicle while you are repaying the pawn. We are using your title as collateral – not the vehicle. So if you stick to the repayment schedule, you can keep your vehicle.

How Do I Get Approved for a Title Pawn?

While taking out a title pawn is easy, there are a few requirements you must be able to satisfy to get approved:

• You need to be a legal adult, at the age of 18 or older;
• You must have a driver’s license or valid government-issued ID;
• You must be the sole owner of the vehicle;
• The vehicle’s title should be in your name and completely lien-free.

If you satisfy these requirements, then it’s pretty straightforward from there. Just start by filling out our online form and a pawn representative from the nearest Alabama title pawn will give you a callback. Once you are off the phone you can head over to the store with your items.

Here you will sit down with a pawn representative who will go over your items and inspect your vehicle to determine how much you qualify for. If you get approved, the lender will then take your lien-free car title and give you the cash in exchange.

If You Don’t Own A Vehicle, Get A Payday Loan Instead!

Getting a title pawn is great – if you happen to own a vehicle. If you don’t however own a vehicle, you can try taking out another type of quick loan offered at Alabama Title Loans, Inc. – a payday loan. It’s almost as easy to acquire as a title pawn with few requirements. Look into this loan if you do not meet the requirements for title pawns.

Your Holidays don’t have to be completely stressful. With the right tips, you could get your holiday shopping done on a budget.

 

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