How do you save money on the holidays?
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How do you save money on the holidays?
| Wed, 11-01-2006 - 8:58am |
We all have our little tricks for keeping the holidays from capsizing our wallets. Share your best frugally-festive tips for celebrating the holidays on a budget!



I've learned to let the spend-happy relatives of the kids (daddy included) cover the bulk of the holday shopping! lol I've learned to back off on my own buying for the kids because I know they will get PLENTY (too much) for Christmas anyway. And it's taken time, but I've learned to back off GUILT-FREE too... because they will know I still love them even if I'm not buying (most of the time they don't even care WHO each present is from- I keep track only for the thank-you notes).
I've learned to cut back on the Christmas-card list, too. Stopped sending a card to EVERYONE I know... and send one just to the friends & family I actually keep in touch with on a regular basis. The world won't end if I don't send a card to everyone- just like the world won't end if I don't RECEIVE a card from everyone. So I save on the cost of cards and the cost of postage stamps.
I also try to buy little things for gifts all through the year, when I find them on sale- and that saves me the BIG bills right at Christmastime because I'm not buying everything all in one month. And when things go on sale after Christmas (like gift wrap, decorations, etc)- I get what I need to stock up for the next year.
~shrimpy
~shrimpy
"A man who wants something will find a way; a man who doesn't will find an excuse." ~Stephen Dolley Jr.
~<
I make candles, some to keep, some to share. It's a hobby I like to do, and around the holidays it keeps my house smelling great (think cinnamon, cookies, pine, etc) without any calories!
I also am getting in the habit of having the kids make gifts for certain members of the family who own practically everything but are touched by truly heartfelt gifts from them (like grandmas, grandmas LOVE these kinds of gifts), cheap, keeps the kids busy, warms the hearts of the recipients, what more can you ask for?
And then there's the whole string the tree with popcorn thing, which can take a whole afternoon- again, cheap, keeps the kids busy, and is fun. Plus, it's a memory, which is something I'm big on.
Moody-barely over Halloween, not ready to worry about any other holidays yet!
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Great idea for a thread, Corrine. I have enjoyed the tips given already.
One thing I did this year was to share DS's Xmas list with family. This way I am not strapped to buy it all myself and the rest of the family likes knowing exactly what to get - and he gets most of his loot that he wants.
We have scaled back more on the "time" thing this year. I never send Xmas cards. I might put up a New Year photo album online that includes the highlights for us from 2006.
I have scaled down the tree - just bought one online that already has lights and needs no assembly. It sits on a table and only requires a fraction of the ornaments I usually drag out. DS doesn't enjoy decorating and I am so busy - and the puppies would destroy anything big that went up and stood on the floor.
I do look for small memento types of gifts for teachers and more casual acquaintances. Don't feel the need to spend a fortune on that stuff.
I think the time thing is actually more important than the money part. I mean, I want to enjoy this holiday with DS. Not be in a frazzle to send out 100 more cards or bake 20 different styles of cookies or have the house look like Martha was here. And my gift buying is almost done.