Another holiday season is behind us. Although it’s tempting to relax and forget about the holidays for a few months, now is the best possible time to start planning if you want to save money in 2017. If sticking to a budget is one of your New Year’s resolutions, take these five tips to heart for wallet-friendly celebrations this year!

1. Sign up for cashback apps
If you’re looking for ways to fatten your wallet this year, one of the best general ideas is to use cashback apps. Websites like TopCashback and others sign you up for cashback deals. The way this works is that if you spend a certain amount at participating retailers, you get a certain percentage off of the total price. For additional sales codes, check social media pages of the brands you regularly shop for as well as discount sites. Sites like promotionalcodes.org.uk give you free delivery vouchers, flash deals, and sales codes. This helps you stock up on birthday gifts and holiday decorations at a discount.

2. Discover the joy of meal planning
Top on the list of New Year’s resolutions for many a blogger is to try out meal planning. This doesn’t have to mean making 7 days’ worth of lunches every Sunday, although that can certainly help you save! In terms of celebrations and entertaining, a bit of planning goes a long way. If you can cut down on your impulse shopping trips, you’re far less likely to overspend for parties. If you’re throwing a birthday party for your kid, make a list and buy the items far enough in advance that you won’t be tempted by last-minute purchases. You can also plan ahead for Christmas. Start clearing out freezer space a few months in advance, and plan ahead with freezer items that can be purchased on sale earlier in the year.

3. Save scraps for DIY costumes and décor
Avoid the last minute rush on funny fancy dress for Halloween and save spare items of clothing throughout the year. You can also save extra craft supplies, scraps of fabric, and last year’s decorations for DIY decorations later in the year. If you have last year’s plus size fancy dress from Funidelia, try repurposing it with the addition of some new decorations for parties of your own. The same goes for gifts. You can enlist the children’s help and make gifts ahead of time, whether it’s homemade snow globes or candles.

4. Put sales in the calendar
The cheapest time of year to buy Christmas decorations is just after Christmas, and the same holds true for any holiday. Stock up on end-of-season clothing for next year’s gifts, or steeply discounted toys for birthday parties throughout the year. Don’t miss the huge sales after Valentine’s Day and Easter if you want to buy all of next year’s chocolate!

5. Buy in bulk
Finally, you can usually save a bundle by buying in bulk. Look for buy three-for-two sales or head to bulk retailers like Costco to get more party decorations, chocolates, or gift items. Just don’t forget to check expiration dates for any food items, and be sure you plan to actually use all of the items purchased.
With a bit of advance planning, you can stock up on all the essentials for an entire year of festivities!