Solo for the Holidays? Here’s How to Treat Yourself Without Overspending

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Gearing up to spend a big winter holiday all by your lonesome? Keep reading for your guide to a happy holiday that’s both frugal and all about you. 

For the last several years, I’ve spent Christmas on my own. This is due to a few different factors, and it used to bother me, but now I lean in and embrace the peace and quiet I get on a holiday that is extremely busy and stressful for a lot of people.

It’s a time of year that is also very expensive, so if you’re struggling with the thought of spending Christmas alone, take some comfort in the fact that going it solo means you control how much money you spend. I’ve been pretty happy with my frugal holidays the last few years, and it’s fabulous to go into the new year without extra debt. Here are a few of my favorite ways to treat myself without leaving a big hole in my checking account.

Channel your inner Julia Child

Since preparing food for yourself at home is basically always going to be cheaper than eating at a restaurant or getting takeout, you’re going to come out ahead financially if you decide to play cooking show host from the comfort of your very own kitchen.

Cooking is one of my favorite activities, and while I usually save my fancy skills for when I cook for people I love, a solo holiday is a great time to remind myself that I’m important, too. Plus, one of my favorite credit cards is a grocery card that pays an outstanding cash back percentage at the supermarket, so I use it to buy ingredients for whatever meal I’m in the mood for.

Get a free trial of a new streaming service

A solo holiday is an excellent excuse to try out a new streaming service. You’re allowed to watch whatever movie or show you want if you’re on your own — no judgment! Not all streaming services offer a free trial, so here are a few that do:

YouTube Premium: OK, maybe this one isn’t a streaming service in the traditional sense, but it’s absolutely my favorite place to watch streaming video and listen to music without ads. You can get a one-month free trial for YouTube Premium, too.Hulu: You can get a free one-month trial for Hulu’s No Ads plan. (Personally, I’ll never bother with a streaming service that has ads — if I wanted to watch commercials, I’d still have cable.)Amazon Prime Video: If you want to try out fast free shipping with no minimum purchase required along with a streaming video service (among other Amazon perks), you can get a free month of Amazon Prime.

If you decide not to keep the streaming service after your trial is up, make sure you cancel the membership to avoid being charged. I usually put an alert in my calendar a few days beforehand to remind me to cancel.

Treat your pets for less money

While I spend Christmas without the company of other humans, I am lucky enough to spend the holiday with my three favorite furry beings. Cats don’t know it’s Christmas, but that doesn’t mean I can’t buy them gifts. I tend to buy a lot of my pet supplies online, and frequently lean on Amazon or Chewy for cat food, toys, and beyond.

Chewy runs a lot of specials and coupon deals — as I write this, Chewy has a special early Black Friday deal, and you can earn a $30 Chewy gift card for spending $100. I took advantage of this deal to restock on cat food and buy gifts, and that $30 gift card will pay for a bag of cat food the next time I need one.

According to the CDC, the benefits of having pets include lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels — and being less lonely. So if you’re spending your holiday with non-human companions, don’t forget to thank them for all they do for you.

Buy yourself a reasonable gift

Finally, don’t forget to get yourself a nice present! This doesn’t mean you should spend too much on it, though. Let’s say you’re shopping for a new iPad. In your search, it pays to make these moves:

Explore different retailers: You’re not likely to find a new iPad for cheap on Apple’s website, but you could buy a refurbished one there (like new, but cheaper!). Other good places to look include Amazon and Best Buy.Use the right payment method: A good rewards credit card can be your friend in this situation. But another option to consider is a card offering 0% interest on your purchase if you’d like a little time to pay it off.Purchase at the right time: If you’re hoping to have a package to open on the holiday, make sure you order it (or go buy it in person) ahead of time. It would be really disappointing to be without your shiny new iPad to enjoy while you’re on your own.

Going solo for a holiday can be great — you can spend the day however you wish. My own Christmas plans this year will likely also include a brisk walk outdoors and getting some work done — freelancing means I don’t get paid holidays off. Consider using my tips to ensure you have a fantastic day, too.

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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, and Best Buy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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