Today I am launching the ‘I am THAT lady’ – Operation Christmas Cash 2012. This is a challenge where, if you should accept, you will have your Christmas money already in the bank when it comes time to shop for Christmas in 2012.
I did this in 2010 and was able to save over $300 in 7 months. Through these tips and tricks that I learned, I hope that I can help you earn a few hundred dollars towards Christmas next year!
Do you know that Christmas comes the same time every year? Yet every year Americans are not ready for it financially, more and more people put Christmas on credit cards because there just isn’t any extra money to purchase presents. Then they spend the next year paying off those Credit cards, only to do the same thing again. I hope to help teach you and encourage you to do it another way, what if by the time mid November rolled around next year, you already had a few hundred dollars in the bank?
I recommend setting up a separate checking account just for Christmas this year, don’t touch it all year long, and see what you can come up with. I am so excited to be doing this along with you, and can’t wait until next year to see how much you have saved in your Christmas Cash fund!
We are going to have a fun 11 months ahead of us, leave in the comments if you are up for the challenge! I would LOVE to hear if you are!
Here are just a few resources for you to help plan this out:
1.) The first thing we are going to do – is sign up for Swagbucks here. You are going to use Swagbucks as your search engine – you won’t get rich quick but you may be able to save up enough points to earn a $5 Amazon gift card every month. Multiple that by 11 months and you have $55 towards Christmas already! Read about what Swagbucks is here.
2.) We are then going to sign up for these at home survey companies – I have used each of these, and can personally say that they work!
- Synovate – This one is my favorite! I got a lot of full sized products from them to review + great payout. They are currently accepting applicants – You can sign up for Synovate here. (not currently accepting applicants.)
- Valued Opinions – They pay you in the gift card of your choice, surveys are usually quick and you can rack up the points very quickly. I got my All You magazine through them for choosing a Magazines.com gift card.
- MySurvey – This was also a personal favorite of mine! I earned points quickly and cashed them in frequently.
- Ipsos – Isay – This one is fun! I got a lot of media surveys, such as watching a short TV commercial then telling them what I thought.
- Inbox Dollars- Get paid for reading emails (I actually never read them I just click through them to get my points). Takes seconds per day, the points don’t add up that quickly but for spend literally seconds per day you can earn a gift card for in as little as 3 months!
- Opinion Outpost – Take short surveys that are usually worth $2-$3 each, then you can cash out as soon as you reach $5!
- MyPoints.com – Similar to Inbox Dollars but you can cash them in for gift cards.
- Nielson Home Scan Consumer Panel - gives you a Home Scanner device that you can set up and scan your purchases at home. Earn points and trade those points in for prizes!
3.) Sign up for Daily Deal sites and start searching for Daily Deals towards Christmas on a Monthly basis. Set aside a certain amount of money every month, to put towards Christmas shopping. I bought some of my kids Christmas presents in February this year from a Groupon deal – because I was thinking ahead I save 50% off already reduced prices.
- Groupon
- Living Social
- Eversave – FREE $3 sign up credit
- Plum District – FREE $5 sign up credit
- The Clymb- FREE $10 sign up credit
- Ruelala
- Zulilly
- Totsy
- Mamasource
4.) Set aside a few boxes in your Basement or Attic – start creating a Garage Sale pile now. That way you will be ready to have a garage sale in summer 2012. My last garage sale I made over $200 to put towards Christmas, just from junk laying around my house.
5.) Make a list of all the stocking stuffers, books, and decorations that you would like for Christmas 2012. Shop for them the day after Christmas this year and save up to 75% off retail.
Here are some ways to stay connected with me during this challenge:
- To get latest up to the minute updates, plus extra tips and FREEBIES, sign up for the I am THAT lady Facebook Page.
- Find us on Twitter here.
- Don’t have time to check my site daily? Sign up for my FREE email subscription and get my posts emailed to you daily, then you can check at your convenience!
Awesome! I’m up for the challenge!
Great, I look forward to hearing your progress!
Awesome tips! I definitely want to do the garage sale thing this year!
It really does work! My last yard sale I made more than ever!
I am so excited to do this! I added two new little ones and three grownups to my gift list this year (my boyfriends nephews and family) so this kind of planning will save us so much time and money
Liz, planning ahead saving so much time and money! I am excited to hear how you do!
Ready for the challenge! I did well this year by buying things all year-long when there was a good deal, but would love to have saved money too! BRING IT ON!
Count me in!
Great! Keep us updated!
I’m in!! I only paid cash this year, which was a great feat but I would like to spread it out instead of all in one or two months. Love this idea!
I am up for the challenge !!!
I have put myself on a $75 a week budget and with the help of you and other couponers I have saved $37 in 6 weeks. I take $75 a week to spend aldis,tops, rite aid and walgreens and if I don’t spend it all that week I put it in a sperate saving account
That is a really good idea. I have started couponing a few months ago, but since I have not put myself on a limit I just spend whatever. I am going to start doing this!! THanks
I LOVE this idea. You’re totally right about not planning and I’m awful – I really spoil everyone even though I can’t afford to. I started off by getting the ING EO account you posted to get the $50 bonus and labeled it my Christmas Savings account so it’s all seperate and I have no excuse. AND I’m going to track all my progress and deposits on my blog so I’m head accountable from not touching it! Thanks for the motivation, love your website!
I save ALL my coin change throughout the year, rarely spending even a quarter. I managed to save over $200 last year. I will be adding some of these ideas to my savings too.
Great idea Darla! I should start doing that too!
I am up for the challenge. I do the searching for gifts throughout the year and buy them cheap, but I would love to contribute a portion of the Christmas money and surprise my hard working husband. Looking forward to being even more frugal for the Christmas season in 2012!
I’m so exited to do this!!
Great! I look forward to hearing your success!