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Why Debt-Free People Should Look To Online Marketplaces To Save Money During The Holidays

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saving money shopping in online marketplaces

I’m not debt-free yet, but I am always looking for ways to save money, especially around the holidays. This year, I really needed to get a new dining table. My other table was getting unsafe with my baby around it and we genuinely hated it. So, that sent me on a search for something affordable. I landed myself on Facebook Marketplace and if you aren’t already using platforms like this, you’re missing out. Here’s why.

The Table Story

When we moved back to North Carolina two years ago we didn’t have anything. We slept on an air mattress until we could get a mattress here and I stacked up boxes to serve as a desk until I could afford to buy a new one. Thankfully, some people came through with some free furniture to help us get by.

Unfortunately, the furniture definitely wasn’t our style (but hey, it was free). It served its purpose, but once we had a baby, we noticed that the furniture wasn’t only an eyesore to us, but it started getting dangerous for the little one.

My toddler nearly pulled the glass table down on herself one day and I’d had enough. It was out by the curb the next day, but we had a dilemma. Now, we had no table, and I’ll be hosting Christmas Eve in a few weeks. Yikes!

One of my good friends mentioned looking on Facebook Marketplace. After having dealt with bed bugs a few years ago, I’m weary about buying anything secondhand or from garage sales. However, she assured me we could check things out before we paid for them and take everything case by case.

So, I started looking around and we found a table that looked like it would be perfect for us. It is a four-seater with a leaf in the middle, making it easier for when we have guests. Best of all – it was only $150! Now, I’m a huge fan of marketplace sales and giveaways.

My Favorite Online Marketplaces

Of course, Facebook is one of the main marketplaces you can find things for sale (or free). Here are some of my favorite ways to find things on that platform:

  • Get into local groups. Here in Indian Trail there are local “buy, sell, and trade” groups for all of the neighboring towns and cities. These can be awesome spots to find things for cheap.
  • Mom groups are good too. I have seen a lot of great things being given away in “moms giving to moms” groups. If you are searching for toys, household items, clothing, etc. these can be great places to look.
  • Check the Marketplace itself. Facebook has a marketplace section on its app and you can search locally for specific item like a kitchen table.
  • Post an ‘ISO.’ Facebook is a great place to share an ISO (in-search-of) post. This helps people recommend places where you can find what you are looking for or, if you’re lucky, someone on your friends list may already have it on hand.

Facebook isn’t the only online marketplace where you can grab used, budget-friendly items either. You might want to check these platforms too.

  • OfferUp
  • Mercari
  • eBay
  • Craigslist

No matter what marketplace you decide to peruse for your items, be sure you protect yourself against any scams. Don’t pay for anything before you have seen it and, if possible, make sure the seller is verified.

Readers, what are some of your favorite online marketplaces? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to check them out.

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Tips To Stay Calm During The Busy Season

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Tips to stay calm during the busy season

This is a busy season for most of us. There is pressure to keep up holiday traditions, put well-thought-out gifts under the tree, and roll out a feast for your family. I’m here to tell you it’s okay if it doesn’t all get done.

That’s right. It is okay if everything on your holiday to-do list doesn’t get done.

Saying this to myself has helped me manage my stress around the holidays a lot. After all, I put all of these expectations on myself. No one else is asking me to cook Beef Wellington on Christmas Eve – that was my dumb idea. That being said, we could all use a little help getting through our busy seasons.

Here are some tips and mantras I’ve been living by to get me through – and I hope they help you too.

Traditions Don’t Make You Go Broke

Recently, I’ve seen a post going around on social media stating something along these lines:

You don’t have to keep up any traditions that make you go into debt, spend all of your money, stress you out, or cause you to be unhappy.

That was a break-through moment for me, honestly. I never thought about simply not taking part in the traditions if they caused me anxiety or stress. We did these things every year, we have to do them, right?

Wrong! You can pick and choose what you want to do. If you struggle with depression and anxiety during this time of year, that may be doing the absolute bare minimum and that’s okay. No tradition is worth your peace.

It’s Okay To Say No During Your Busy Season

On top of that, it is okay to say no to things. Oftentimes, during the busy season, we overload our calendars with fun, exciting things to do without taking our own mental health into consideration.

It’s good to remember that many of these events and activities won’t be as much fun if you are stressed. If you are worried about making it to every single thing you’ve been invited to, you won’t have a moment to breathe. And, if you’re like me, you’ll get burnt out and sick fast.

So, learn to say no to some things. It will be better for you in the long-run.

Not Everyone Deserves Your Presents or Presence

This point goes hand-in-hand with not breaking the bank, or your back, for traditions. Just because someone is family or has been around for previous holiday celebrations doesn’t mean they deserve to be.

Our generation is breaking a lot of curses and one of them is not feeling pressured to be around people you don’t want to be. We surround ourselves with family and friends who bring love and light into our lives. Not everyone is deserving of your presence or presents. Remember that.

Readers, what are some mantras or things you do to help you get through the busy season?

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Debt and the Holidays: An American Story

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<p>Are you someone who goes into debt every holiday season? You're not alone. Debt and the holidays go hand-in-hand with one another for many families. Many people spend more than they have or money they simply don't have to fund the holiday season (i.e. gifts, a Christmas tree, cards, dinners, treats). However, they don't consider the lasting impact on your finances throughout the rest of the year.</p>::Pexels

Are you someone who goes into debt every holiday season? You’re not alone. Debt and the holidays go hand-in-hand with one another for many families. Many people spend more than they have or money they simply don’t have to fund the holiday season (i.e. gifts, a Christmas tree, cards, dinners, treats). However, they don’t consider the lasting impact on your finances throughout the rest of the year.

Debt and the Holidays: A Story

Growing up, I was good friends with a larger family that was fairly well-off. Each year around Christmas, their mother took out a loan to pay for gifts for the kids. Yes, a LOAN. It sounded insane to me then and it still sounds fairly crazy to me now, but I realized more people do this than you might realize.

Every single year, they would have new Michael Jordan sneakers under the tree, a new phone, a new iPod, and literally whatever they asked for. In my family, we always had a nice Christmas, but within reason. When I would visit and see how they celebrated, it would always blow my mind. To me, it didn’t feel much like Christmas. It felt more like they were showing off for someone. But who?

I’m not sure if that is true or not, but it is certainly how it felt. Once I learned a loan was taken out for it each year, my jaw dropped. How did that make any sense at all? Then it was explained to me that they would pay it off before the next year’s celebration. While, in theory, this could work and even benefit your credit score, I’d still avoid it like the plague.

Why This is Generally a Bad Idea

Of course, if you have the means to pay off the loan in a short period of time like they did, great. But wouldn’t it be even better if you used that money and put it into savings each year? Your savings can accrue interest, while your loan’s interest isn’t the desirable sort.

On top of potentially putting yourself in a hard spot financially, it is also supporting bad habits with your money. When you take out a loan to cover Christmas gifts, you are giving yourself the “okay” to do it with other things too. Before you know it, you have tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt and need a loan to be able to pay for rent, not just gifts once a year.

So, before you go over the top and think about getting a loan out or going into debt over the holidays, think about how you can better budget your money, save, and give meaningful gifts. After all, the true meaning of the entire season is the spirit of giving – that doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune.

Readers, what do you think about debt and the holidays? Have you ever considered getting a loan out for Christmas or any celebration?

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How Inflation Will Impact Our Holiday Plans

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<p>Inflation is hitting everybody hard this year. Prices are through the roof. In fact, the price of turkey alone has gone up 23% in the last year. Eggs? 35%. So, getting together for large meals with all the traditional foods may be a bit more difficult this year. Here is how it will impact our holiday plans.</p>::Pexels

Inflation is hitting everybody hard this year. Prices are through the roof. In fact, the price of turkey alone has gone up 23% in the last year. Eggs? 35%. So, getting together for large meals with all the traditional foods may be a bit more difficult this year. Here is how it will impact our holiday plans.

Inflation: A Look At The Numbers

While many government officials have been hesitant to use words like “recession” and “inflation” when speaking about the United States economy, everyone is feeling it.

@districtmediafinance Thanksgiving dinner is looking a lot more expensive this year. #greensbeanspotatoestomatoes #thanksgiving #savingmoney ♬ GREENS BEANS POTATOES – DJ Suede the Remix God

Though the upbeat song in the video above makes you feel a little less anxious about it, the rise in cost of everyday essentials is crippling some families in the U.S. When it comes to celebrating the holidays this year, things are looking very different. People are swapping out their big turkey dinners for something a little cheaper. In some cases, they may choose to skip the big gathering altogether.

Here is how inflation is impacting our holiday plans.

How Inflation Is Impacting Us

This year, we aren’t going to be doing any extensive travel around the holidays. That is the biggest change that will be happening. However, we are also making some changes to our typical menu for Christmas.

Our family typically does a turkey and a ham on Christmas. This year, I am hosting the holiday gathering at my house. We are likely going to only do one main course protein. Sides and other items will be decreased this year as well. After all, it is only one meal. How much do you spend on your weekly dinners?

Tips For Your Family To Beat Inflation

As mentioned in a previous blog post, household debt is at an all-time high in the U.S. For people like us trying to avoid racking up credit card and loan debt, this is simply not an option. How do you still enjoy the season without breaking the bank?

  1. Change the menu. While turkey and ham are the traditional main course items during the holidays, consider changing it up to save money. Swap your turkey for roasted chicken or your ham for a pork loin.
  2. Downsize your celebration. A lot of people get hung up on doing these huge, elaborate celebrations. Downsize things a bit to help you stick to your budget this year.
  3. Find joy in the simple things. The best thing you can do to beat inflation is to find joy in the simple things. A Christmas movie night in your home or driving around to see the lights will provide memorable moments too.
  4. Check out local events. Churches and other organizations in the community may be providing free dinners or items for your holiday meals.
  5. Get help where you can. Whether it is checking the local food bank or asking everyone to bring a dish, it’s okay not to do it all yourself!

How is your family dealing with inflation around the holidays this year? Let me know your tips and tricks in the comments.

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