family decorating the christmas tree

Prepare For Christmas By Paying For Your Urgent Expenses First

At Idaho Title Loans, Inc., we understand the expenses associated with the holidays. With all the costs of food, decorations, presents, gift cards, travel, and more, many are left wondering if their finances will be able to accommodate the extra expenses of the holiday season.

So how can we prepare for Christmas financially? The short answer is to take care of urgent expenses first - pay off your debt, take care of bills, and set aside money for your emergency fund. You can use the rest for holiday spending!

And if you don’t have a lot left, no worries - there are plenty of ways to have a wonderful Christmas celebration without breaking the bank. In this article, we’ll list 5 budgeting tips to help you prepare for the holidays financially!

Top 5 Budgeting Tips To Prepare For The Holidays

prepare for christmas by paying for urgent expenses first

1. Establish A Realistic Holiday Spending Budget

The beauty of having paid off your urgent expenses is that you know exactly how much you have available to spend for the Christmas season. It’s essential to make a list of expenses you anticipate so that you can allocate your budget accordingly. Decorations, food, and presents are the top categories, all of which can be scaled down to avoid overspending.

For example, you can reuse and repurpose last year’s decorations, talk to family and friends about having a potluck dinner, or about other low-cost ways to celebrate or choose to give thoughtful instead of expensive gifts this year.

2. Go Bargain Hunting

According to Bankrate, about 87 percent of holiday shoppers plan to follow at least one money-saving strategy this year. At least 42 percent said they plan to purchase fewer items while 41 percent said they plan to seek out more sales, discounts, and coupons.

When purchasing Christmas presents and other items, take advantage of credit card rewards, apps that offer rewards and cashback, discount coupons, holiday sales, and other cost-saving shopping methods.

3. Cut Down On Daily Spending

One good question to ask yourself is “What expenses can I cut down between now and Christmas?” You’ll be surprised at how much you can save and contribute to your holiday spending when you cut down on unnecessary costs.

Simple changes such as cooking easy meals at home instead of eating out or meeting up with friends can free up money that would otherwise go toward your Christmas fund.

4. Look For Small Ways To Earn Cash

One of the easiest ways to earn some extra cash around the holidays is by selling stuff you have sitting around at home and no longer use. It’s the perfect time to declutter and help other people find items that they need - sell old clothes, books, kitchen items, outgrown toys, and the like on eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook.

Whether you plan to have a garage sale, pick up an extra shift at work, sell Christmas cookies, or apply for a seasonal job, there are plenty of ways to earn some much-needed extra cash this holiday season.

5. Consider Online Title Loans

When the budget is tight and you need funds during the Christmas season, you can consider looking into online title loans. This type of loan is short-term and usually just requires a title of a lien-free vehicle that you own. 

It’s an easy way to get some funds to pay for urgent expenses this season without having to tap into your emergency fund or put aside the urgent expense until later.

christmas cash with santa hat

Submit Your Inquiry On Online Title Loans In Idaho Today!

At Idaho Title Loans Inc., inquiring about our online title loan is quick and easy - there is no store visit required and you can get started with the process through phone or online. Here’s a step-by-step process:

Over The Phone

  1. Call 1-800-514-CASH (2274)
  2. You will speak with one of our representatives who will gladly answer any questions and guide you through the entire process.

Through Online

  1. Fill out an inquiry form which is located on our website. It only requires some basic information about you and your vehicle.
  2. Once submitted, wait for one of our representatives to give you a call wherein he or she will confirm the information you provided and schedule a meeting with one of our verification agents, at a time and place of your choice.
  3. Meet with our verification agent who will check your documentation and inspect the vehicle. They will then determine the amount you qualify for and discuss the loan details.
  4. If you agree to the amount and terms, you just have to sign a few documents then you’re set to get your cash. You will receive that cash the same day or the following business day.,

Get Started Today!

The holidays are all about love and happiness and shouldn’t be associated with financial burdens. Having a simple celebration is better than going deeper into debt just to have an extravagant Christmas. It’s important to make sure that all your urgent expenses are taken care of before spending for the holidays.

But if you’re strapped for cash, we’d be happy to extend a helping hand - inquire about an online title loan with Idaho Title Loans, Inc. today!

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

June Mckaig

June Mckaig writes articles on finance and budgeting, hoping to provide insight amidst the overwhelming crowds of information on the internet. She feels that with all this accessibility comes a lot of false data, and she would like to contribute astute, helpful input that she knows can help others. If you would like to learn more about June's research, read more here.