It’s safe to say that this year’s holiday season will probably be close to the same as last year. Twenty Twenty was an unprecedented and unpredictable year. Though it may be a cliché by now (who hasn’t seen a commercial talking about these “unprecedented times”?), it’s likely that the holidays will be affected by COVID-19, yet again…

The most clear impact may be seen in the size of gatherings for holidays this winter. However, a less talked about outcome could be the negative financial impact that the ongoing pandemic may have on the economy, families, and small businesses in your community.

As members of your community, Dune Gift + Home has teamed up with Grasshopper Goods to provide you with tips to lighten the burden. The holidays are something to look forward to, a welcome reprieve from many troubles and a break for your mental health. This year shouldn’t be any different on that front, and lessening the financial stresses that may come with a holiday season affected by COVID-19 can help ease your worry.

Tips to Spread Out Your Holiday Spending

Start talking about how giving will look this year

Whether you typically exchange gifts with just your immediate family, or if you participate in annual secret santas with friends and coworkers, it’s smart to start those conversations early this year. Once you have a better idea of how many gifts you’re committing to (including budgets for some gift exchanges), you can determine which gifts you should buy when to get a bigger bang for your buck. Which brings us to...

Make a purchase plan

Holiday shopping can get out of hand when it’s done impulsively. Set aside some time to write down the individuals you are buying gifts for this year and brainstorm a few ideas for each person. Then, once you decide on the ultimate best gifts for the loved ones in your life, you can plan out which gifts should be purchased first, and which should wait for future paychecks.

Download Purchase Plan Template

Seek out holiday promotions

Small businesses are going the extra mile this year to serve their customers. Make sure that you follow your favorite local shops on social media or join their newsletters to be in the know about upcoming promotions that you may want to participate in. If you know these ahead of time, integrate them into your purchase plan - larger gifts can be purchased during promotions to cut down on cost.

Take advantage of no-interest layaway programs

Some stores may have layaway programs that allow you to purchase an item but pay for it in increments. These programs are particularly great for the holidays where you’re purchasing many gifts at once and need to spread out your spending. Just make sure it’s a no-interest program before you sign the dotted line - you don’t want to accumulate any extra debt!

Bonus: Shop small when possible

We say it all the time, but thought we’d slip one quick reminder into this post. Shopping small over time helps inject funds into your local economy - not into the hands of big box stores and ecommerce giants. Though it may not drastically diminish your holiday spending, you’ll know that you’re getting high quality gifts for your loved ones while supporting businesses and families right here in your community.

The holidays will look a little different in 2021, but we are of the fervent belief that they shouldn’t be the cause of greater distress for you and your family. By using the tips above, you can spread out some of your spending and lessen the financial burden of gift giving this year.