The holidays can be a stressful time for most of us. We're all pretty well aware that a bigger chunk than normal will vanish from our bank accounts.

I love giving, so I'm not completely upset about this. I tend to give throughout the year but Christmas is my time to go overboard and pour my heart and soul into thoughtful gifts for my family. Sadly, my paycheck quickly gives me a swift kick to the rear and reminds me that I am no millionaire. Womp womp.

Luckily, giving gifts doesn't necessarily mean you have to give your soul just to be able to afford things for your family and friends. I'm here to give you some quick tips to help us save some serious money this holiday season.

Browse before you buy.

You're in the store, surrounded by all the other holiday shoppers. You've found the perfect gift, for the perfect person. What do you do? Well in the heat of the moment you run to the registers, filled with joy that you can now cross that person off of your list of people to shop for.

Let me tell you what you did wrong. You just fell victim to an impulse buy. Not your typical impulse buy where you get that shirt because it's so cute and you "can't live without it." This buy is entirely different. Because you're already so overwhelmed and the holidays chaos surrounding you is making your head spin, you grab what you want without even thinking of potentially getting a better deal.

Well, thanks to stores like A mazon and eBay you can price match right from your phone. So while you're in the midst of your "Oh crap should I buy this or not!?" moment, pull out your smart phone and do a quick price match. You can often save yourself dozens of dollars just by ordering the same product online.

These sites are the ones that I use most often but there really are so many. You can even type the product in mind right into Google and do a quick search that way. The internet is a very convenient thing, take advantage of it! Especially in times like these.

Coupon. Coupon. Coupon.

Just because you're buying something as a gift, does not mean you need to pay full price for it. Why would you pay full price if you have that coupon hidden in your email or your weekly newspaper? You'd be a ding dong NOT to!

Worried someone is going to think you're cheap? Well, surprise! No one knows you used a coupon. You don't need to tell anybody. Heck, I brag about the good deals I get when I use coupons! They're made to save you money regardless of who you're spending money on. Don't be scared!

Weekly ads are your friends.

Most of the stores have been sending out their holiday ads for weeks now. They boast about the great deals they're having on pretty much all of their merch. Now's the time for you to stock up! Get all of the gifts that you can while things are on sale.

Have a gift idea in mind? Check the holiday ads or the store's website. Maybe they're having a great sale on the item. If they're not, check back in another week and see what they have this time around.

Obviously this tip will only get you so far. You can't be shopping on Christmas Eve when things are picked over, expecting to get a great deal. Well, I guess you can. I just wouldn't trust putting your shopping off THAT last minute!

Amazon Prime is a lifesaver.

Where would I be without my Amazon Prime? I tend to do most of my holiday shopping online, so this is a huge lifesaver for me.

Amazon Prime gives you great deals on great products, all while having FREE SHIPPING! Oh yeah, I said it. Most products on Amazon team up with the Prime benefits and offer free 2-day shipping. No minimum!

I signed up for Prime a few months ago and it already has saved me a large chunk of money in shipping. I'm forever grateful to the genius that came up with this.

As someone who purchases things from Amazon year round, this has really been worth it for me. I have already saved more money by having free shipping than I pay for my annual subscription.

A year subscription to Amazon Prime costs $99. If you would like to take advantage of the FREE 2-day shipping by signing up for Amazon Prime you can sign up for a free 30 day trial by clicking here.

Shop well known shopping "holidays".

Obviously black Friday is over, but cyber Monday is here! Take serious advantage of these deals from the comfort of your own home. No makeup? No shoes? No problem. Cyber Monday is meant for people like us!

Other shopping holidays will pop up between now and Christmas. Some stores even have their own special events. So make sure you're signed up for the newsletters of your favorite stores so you get their deals and specials!

A lot of stores have deals leading up to Christmas day even, so make sure you're on top of your game!

Make a gift.

Are you a master crafter? Maybe you suck at crafts but are a master when it comes to Pinterest.

Making a unique and thoughtful gift doesn't have to be difficult. Thanks to Pinterest and all of the helpful crafty blogs out there you can have the perfect gift made in a very small amount of time.

Some of my favorite gifts to make include:

Scrapbooks containing awesome old pics of family and friends.
"Care packages" containing homemade candles and sugar scrubs.
Baked goods, you can never go wrong with baked goods.

You don't have to be Martha Stewart to get your craft on. Just check out Pinterest and you'll be a gift making beast! Follow me on Pinterest here to see what I'll be making this season! :)

Thrift a gift.

No, do not get your family some old, worn out, stinky sneakers. Unless they're into that kinda' thing?

Thrifting a gift does not have to be frowned upon. It would be extremely affordable and unique. Maybe you found some old decor at a thrift store. Fix that bad boy up, throw a coat of paint on it and you've just combined the last step with this step!

Sometimes it's easier and more affordable to buy second hand. And that is totally okay. Giving gifts is greatly based around the thought that goes into it. If your gift is from your heart and has the best of intentions, then the receiver will love it regardless of where it's from or how much it costs.

What did we learn?

Giving gifts for the holidays does not have to break the bank. You can still budget and have an affordable holiday season without skipping meals trying to afford it.

Be aware of the price tag and know your options. The first pick isn't always the best pick. The first price isn't always the best price for your wallet. Know your budget but don't be afraid to go all out for your family.

Give from your heart. Give with good intentions.

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For a large majority of people, your 20's are the years to not be concerned with how you spend your money. Most of us are still living at home, finishing up college and deciding what our dream job is.

How do I know? Because I'm there with ya. Well...sort of! While a lot of people my age are out partying and blowing their money, I've become a money hoarder. But I most definitely have not always been this way. I had to learn how to prioritize my money and make the most out of every dollar.

While how your money is spent may not seem like a major concern for those of you who are my age, it's time to realize that it is. Saving money now isn't only good practice for the future, it's a great way to prepare for yourself for your adult life.

So today I'm going to share a couple of tips to help you save some money in your 20's!

Lay off of the fast food.

It's hard. Trust me, I know. McDonald's was my best friend while I was in school. It's quick, easy and cheap. Sadly, that last adjective isn't completely true. Fast food is not as inexpensive as you may think it is. If you're buying it consistently, you're actually spending more money than you would cooking meals at home.

Home cooked meals are better for your wallet and depending on what you cook, better for your health! You don't have to be great at cooking to make delicious meals at home. Luckily, sites like Pinterest have made it possible for pretty much anyone to become a master chef!

Spend a Sunday morning pre cooking your meals for the week. You'll save yourself time throughout the week and save money by passing up that drive thru. (I know it's tempting, hang in there!)

Stash some of your paycheck.

This one came easy to me. Every pay day take some of your check and put it into a savings account. If you're living at home still and don't have many bills, I highly recommend you put a large chunk of your paycheck into savings. You will be shocked by how quick your savings account jumps if you start to do this.

Once you have taken the money out of your main account, pretend like it's gone. Don't think of your savings account as something you can deduct from. Just look at it as an account that can only be added too. Once the money is in it, it's stuck in there. Out of sight, out of mind!

Shop at thrift/consignment stores or garage sales.

I love thrift stores. I can't even tell you the last time I have been to a mall! You can find some of the most incredible things at these stores. I have gone home with name brand jeans that didn't even look worn for a fraction of the retail price.

Stores like these take a little getting used to. Since these aren't regular retail stores, they won't have each article of clothing in 5 other colors and sizes. Each piece is unique and one of a kind. You may have to do some digging to find a gem, but that's half of the fun!

Live at home for a while.

This one is a struggle for me. When I hit a certain age, I wanted to move out and start my own life as soon as I could. Because that's what you're supposed to do right? Wrong. It is better to live at home, save money and gain as much experience as you can while you still live there.

Ask your parents or grandparents questions. Lots of them. Find out just how much work it takes to run a household. Learn everything you can from them because one day you're going to be living on your own and you're going to have to figure it out for yourself!

Living at home also gives you another advantage to putting money away. Most people who live at home don't have to pay rent or if they do it's relatively low! Take advantage of this. Sometimes it's good to wait a while to leave the nest.

A deal doesn't mean you need it.

We've all done it. We see something in the stores that is such an awesome deal, how the heck could we pass it up? A deal is great, but do you really need whatever is on sale? Or do you just want it because of how inexpensive it is now.

Learning when to pass things up, even if the deal is great, is an important life lesson. Save your money, don't be fooled by that clearance sticker. Keep your eyes on what you need and off of what is unnecessary.

If you need it, get it. If you want it because the price is appealing, pass!

Recap!

Lay off the fast food. Make yourself some home cooked meals for the week. Allow fast food to be your "job well done" treat at the end of the week!
Stash your check. Pretend like a chunk of your check magically disappeared into a savings account that is untouchable. Don't pull money out unless you absolutely need it. Tip 1 does not count as a "need to pull out money" event!
Shop thrifted or preowned. Second hand doesn't have to be a negative thing anymore. Head to the thrift stores and find yourself some new clothes or home decor for a fraction of the price!
Live at home (for a while.) Don't take advantage of your parents for ever, but use this as a time to save, save save. Also use this time to get expert advice on running a home from those who know best!
Don't buy it just because it's on sale. You don't need it. You'll be glad you passed it up in the long run! Sales and clearance are sneaky, outsmart them!

Turn your 20's into a time of preparing for your future. Your future can be whatever you want it to be, but it always helps when you have more money stashed away! Even just implementing one of these tips is a step in the right direction.

Want a part 2 to this list? Let me know in the comments below!

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How to Save Money on Gifts for the Holidays