5 Fast Ways to Spend Your “Use-It-or-Lose-It” Budget Before 2026
Written by Kyle Anderson on 3 minute read
The Cyber Rush may be over, but your results don’t have to be.
The big Cyber Week frenzy is behind us. Carts have been checked out, budgets have been stretched, and performance teams everywhere are catching their breath.
But for many marketers, another clock is ticking. We’re nearing the end of the year, and you might be in the fortunate position to have budget to use or lose before the calendar flips.
Thankfully, you still have time to turn unspent funds into measurable performance wins and set yourself up for a stronger, more profitable start to 2026.
Here are five fast-action, impact-driven ways to invest those remaining dollars with Awin before they disappear.
1. Treat your future self: go big on gift cards
Late-season gift-card promos are a lifeline for holiday procrastinators, but they’re also one of the most efficient ways to drive post-holiday spending.
Here’s why they’re a standout investment:
A well-placed gift card campaign today becomes incremental revenue tomorrow, giving your 2026 performance a head start before the year’s even begun.
2. Start a Boxing Day tradition (yes, in the U.S.)
Boxing Day has officially crossed the Atlantic. What used to be a “UK-only” retail moment is now gaining momentum in the U.S. as shoppers jump in to redeem gift cards, treat themselves with holiday money and keep the post-Christmas spending surge going.
Adding Boxing Day to your promotional calendar is quick lift with high upside. Think:
- Spotlighting deal-site partnerships
- Boosting cashback optimizations
- Offering limited-time influencer bonus incentives
It’s a turnkey way to extend the Holiday energy straight after the main event.
3. Reserve your 2026 partner placements now
High-value partner placements book up early and prebooking them with remaining budget is one of the smartest “future you” decisions you can make.
Locking in 2026 visibility now:
- Secures priority with in-demand partners
- Converts leftover 2025 budget into guaranteed 2026 impact
- Creates predictable, defensible line items for next year’s planning cycle
It’s not just smart budgeting; it’s strategic foresight.
4. Splurge (wisely) on integration fees
If integration fees have been the hurdle between you and your ideal partner lineup, now’s the moment to remove it.
Using end-of-year budget to cover integration costs lets you:
- Accelerate onboarding with new, high-value partners
- Expand your publisher mix
- Step into 2026 with more revenue channels activated from day one
Think of it as clearing the runway so growth can take off faster next year.
5. Cozy up to new audiences with editorial & influencer boosts
Sometimes the quickest win is simply amplifying what you already have.
Boosting editorial placements and influencer posts gives your brand more reach, more relevancy, and more opportunities to get in front of audiences who haven’t yet discovered you.
It’s a low-lift enhancement that increases the value of your existing plans without the need to reinvent the wheel.
Ready to invest?
Log in to your Awin account or reach out to your Awin account manager to activate any of these quick wins and roll into 2026 with momentum, not leftover budget.