Why You Should Celebrate Christmas in July

By now, you’ve probably seen or heard a number of ads talking about ‘Christmas in July’ sales and promotions. Some stores are taking it one step further and doing special ‘Black Friday in July’ events.

Of course, no one is actually putting up a tree and decking the halls. Christmas in July is simply a way for retailers to create a new reason to shop during the lull between 4^th of July sales and the back-to-school shopping season.

But the idea of Christmas in July isn’t really so crazy. With just under six months to go before the holiday season, it’s the perfect time to start planning so you don’t overspend when the holidays hit.

Here are a few ways you can turn Christmas in July into a stress free, debt free holiday season. Save money by celebrating Christmas in July

Open a Christmas Club Account

Popular at many credit unions, a Christmas Club account is a short-term savings account designed to help you save money for holiday gifts and celebrations. They generally earn a small amount in interest, but the real benefit is that you won’t be able to withdraw your funds until just before the holidays — usually around November 1 — so you can easily avoid the temptation of using the money for other reasons.

Shop Off-Season Items

No one wants to think about wearing sweaters, boots and warm jackets during the dog days of summer. But those same items will be a hit under the tree on Christmas morning. And you can save big if you buy them now. Though not readily available on store shelves this time of year, closeout sites such as 6pm.com have them in abundance, at a fraction of their original prices. And don’t worry about giving last year’s styles; you’ll be safe if you stick with trend-proof classic cuts in neutral colors.

Have a Yard Sale & Save the Proceeds

It’s the perfect time of year to clear the clutter with a yard sale. Gather clothing, household items, books, toys and anything else you no longer want or use, put up some signs, and sell, sell, sell! You’ll be surprised by how much cash you’ll generate in just a day or two. Just make sure you set the profits aside for holiday shopping – or better yet, deposit them in your Christmas Club account.

Struggling with Credit Card Debt?

A debt management plan can help:

Consolidate monthly payments
Lower interest rates
Eliminate collection calls

Get Debt Help

young couple greeting holiday houseguests

Don’t Go Broke with Holiday Houseguests

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the holiday season is having friends and family come to stay for a visit. But having those extra people in the house can often lead to a blown budget and post-holiday debt. Fortunately, there are several ways you can be sure your houseguests will have an enjoyable stay […]

The Most Important Financial Lessons of 2020

As we bid farewell to 2020 (not a moment too soon), one thing is sure: it was a year filled with learning experiences. And many of those lessons were financial in nature. Let’s take a look at the biggest financial lessons of 2020, and how we can use what we’ve learned in 2021 and beyond. […]

Gen Z Black girl with long braids using her laptop to research financial issues

Financial Lessons We Can Learn from Gen Z

Gen Z — those born between 1997 and 2012 — are quickly gaining a reputation as the “throwback generation,” due to their love of nostalgia and rediscovering things we thought were in the past for good. Surprisingly, that includes attitudes they’re embracing when it comes to money. But as true digital natives, they also use […]