Special occasions that may take place earlier in the year–like Valentine’s Day, wedding anniversaries, or children’s graduation ceremonies–are a time for joy and celebration. But whoever is in charge of the event is likely also worried about shopping for gifts, food, and decorations.
Fortunately, with a few savvy shopping tips, you can make the most of your budget and be better prepared to enjoy the momentous occasion you’ve planned with your partner or with the rest of your family. Here are some practical tips you can incorporate into your shopping strategy for each event to ensure that you get the most value for your money and focus on the festivities stress-free:
1) Start Early to Avoid Seasonal Rush Pricing
As the “month of love” and graduation season loom, prices for popular items—such as chocolates, self-care gift sets, and ingredients for grand or romantic dinners—tend to rise due to increased demand. If you know that this will put a strain on your budget, it’s a good idea to plan ahead to avoid the dreaded last-minute rush.
Shopping early gives you more time to compare prices across different stores or online platforms, ensuring that you get the best value for your money. It also allows you to spread out expenses over several weeks or months, making the financial burden of the season more manageable. Whether you’re picking up non-perishable groceries, scouting for sales on gifts, or ordering custom-made items, getting a head start can make all the difference.
2) Make the Most of Your Credit Card’s Rewards Structure
Your credit card can be your best friend when it comes to shopping for special occasions if used wisely and strategically. With many cards offering rewards such as cashback, points, or miles, it shouldn’t be hard to use these perks to help offset your expenses and even reduce costs for future purchases or travel plans.
To maximize these benefits, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with your card’s rewards structure. This will allow you to take full advantage of higher rewards rates for specific categories, like groceries and dining experiences, which are common spending areas for special occasions.
For instance, the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card by Maya gives users up to 5% cashback when they shop at Landers Superstore. This makes the card a perfect companion for Landers members because the more they shop at Landers, the more savings they can earn on their purchases.
In addition to this, the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card offers 2% on dining spends and 1% on all other qualified transactions. That could make the Landers Cashback Everywhere Credit Card the best credit card for online shopping and everyday spending not only for special occasions that take place during the early months of the year, but all year round.
3) Take Advantage of Themed Sales, Freebies, and Other Promos
Retailers often roll out deep discounts in the weeks leading up to holidays like Valentine’s Day, so keep an eye out for these sales to significantly reduce your shopping expenses. You might find a clearance event for items that were at peak prices during Christmas or the New Year, and thus find great deals on items that are still relevant to you or your gift recipient.
What’s more, many brands and stores offer freebies, such as gift-with-purchase promotions, or extra perks like free shipping, which can further stretch your budget. To make the most of these offers, sign up for store newsletters and follow your favorite brands on social media, as they often announce exclusive deals for their subscribers or followers.
4) Plan Your Special Menu in Advance
One of the keys to managing your spending for a special occasion is to plan your menu well in advance. Take the time to decide on the dishes you’ll prepare and create as detailed a shopping list as possible. Remember that impulse buys, especially when it comes to special food and drinks, can quickly add up.
Start by selecting recipes that align with your budget and the number of guests you plan to serve. This will keep you from overbuying ingredients for dishes you won’t need. You might be able to score specialty items like pasta sauces, premium cuts of meat, or dessert items at the grocery, so check for deals and discounts on these items early to lock in lower prices.
If you’re serving a crowd, for example for your child’s graduation dinner party at home, consider including dishes that can be made in large quantities, such as pancit or kare-kare, as they’re often more affordable when prepared in bigger batches and will go well with special occasion favorites like lechon. Don’t forget to plan for beverages and desserts, such as soft drinks and mango float, as these can quickly increase costs if not thought out in advance.
5) Buy in Bulk for Group Gatherings
Are you the designated host for a big family get-together or a reunion with your school friends? Buying in bulk can be an effective way to save money for these special, but often costly occasions. Compared to buying smaller, individual packages, purchasing in bulk often results in a lower cost per unit, allowing you to stock up on ingredients like meats, canned goods, and baking essentials without breaking your budget.
This approach is especially helpful for dishes that require large quantities of staple ingredients, ensuring you can feed a crowd without overspending. Additionally, buying in bulk helps you avoid having to make multiple trips to the store, saving you both time and money.
Perhaps there’s no better time than a special occasion to savor the company of your loved ones, and you shouldn’t be constantly worried about overspending or managing your expenses if you want all your focus to be on the event itself. Alleviate some of that stress by incorporating these practical tips into your shopping strategy. These tips should allow you to save money and stay organized, giving you more time and energy to focus on what’s important: making memories that you cherish looking back at all year round.
