Tips to Help Stretch your Holiday Budget

Being on a tight budget means you need to find every possible way to stretch your money. But does that mean you should be sacrificing quality for the sake of saving?

“Absolutely not,” says Gail Vaz-Oxlade, Canada’s self-proclaimed ‘money-honey’, who is best known for her tell-it-as-it-is personality as it relates to personal finance. “All you need to do is shop smart and look for products that will give you bang for your buck.”

Vaz-Oxlade gives us the following simple tips to ensure we get the most out of our holiday budget:

1. “Common Cents” comparisons – Often we default to budget brands thinking it will equate to savings – which is not true. For instance, you might need to use more of a budget-product to get the results you desire, or need to rewash items to get the clean you need. Vaz-Oxlade recommends products that offer value and efficacy at a great price like Tide Simply Clean and Fresh, Ultra Dawn or Charmin Basic.

2. Take advantage of coupons and deals – Common ‘cents’ couponing can equal cash. Websites like savingmadesimple.ca offer time-saving tips, deals and coupons that equate to cash savings on products you already use and love.

3. Only use cash – Only withdraw cash twice a month and more importantly, only spend the allotted amount of money and only when it’s needed.

www.newscanada.com

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