A Price Less Christmas
(side note there is a great book out this year called a Priceless Christmas, I love it and recommend and it's free go
here to download the book
I love Christmas, and I love giving gifts, Homemade ones
are my favorite to give. Although I really do love to shop, I really like to
craft and make my own things, and since I know there are alot of you that are wanting to save some money I thought These
posts will come at the right time for some of our readers. There are lots of
ways to save money at Christmas some are super smart and some are just a big
duh stamp to the forehead and some are just to creative to pass up... So here
are some of my tried and true tips to saving money this Christmas Season, grab
your favorite hot chocolate and sip and read!
1. Don't go in debt for Christmas, I know it's easier than
done but the sad thing is, 70% of us will have debt from Christmas after
January... (come on we can do better!)
2. Eat what you have in your pantry for a while, don't buy
groceries in December unless needed- think survivor island if needed (nothing
wrong with pb and J or Frozen pizza's for a couple nights!) The money that you
save when you would be buying on groceries could then go to gifts for
Christmas. This also works well to clean out your freezer since Febuary and
march you can get frozen food at a good discount!
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| super yummy home made cookie mix instruction to make it from C&H sugar.com |
3. Give gifts that are homemade: idea would be to make homemade
baked goods, candy, or a craft. Most
often than not the person you are giving a gift to won't remember what you gave
them, only that you cared enough to give them a gift, if you keep that
perspective in mind It might make it easier to give a homemade gift. some of my
favorite things to give are cookie, brownie or muffin mix's in a mason jar, Hot
Chocolate mix, Peanut butter balls, Banana bread, and cake pops or cake balls. wrapped up in nice container
4. This might sound odd, but I think it works, give them a
coupon for a service you would provide, like baby sitting, a freezer meal, a
skill you can teach- you get the idea. Buy a nice gift card holder or make your
own (super easy, ideas to come) put the coupon in it so they can redeem it when
they see fit.
5. Save money by shopping at good will and second hand stores
and trift stores and garage sales. Yep, most of my one yr old presents are
slightly used, but in awesome shape, and besides do you really want to mess
with all the toy packaging? didn't think so, and kids don't mind, its all ready
to play with no waiting for mom to get the scissors out to get the toy out!
6. Use your reward points, seems easy enough right, I love
discover card, they give you some really good rewards, but also if you shop
online a lot swag bucks is a way to earn rewards. Don't forget to use your
customer loyalty card too, like Hallmark, they give you coupons for shopping. For
example $2 off your next purchase just because you bought x amount last month!
So nice right!
7. Stick to a list, and a budget. Retailers know how to get
the consumer to impulse buy! that is why there are a bunch of (lets say Gimmeks this time of year.) like a cute stuffed
animal for $5- again cute for the co worker that loves said animal but really previous
tip # 5 might just come really well right about now for the said co-worker.
When you stick to a list you are most likely to be a bit more frugal with your
money
8. Our Kiddo's don't always remember all the presents under
the tree, so don't go to over board, what they really want and I am sure what
every parent wants too, is to feel the love and warmth from the holiday season.
You both will remember the memories more so than the presents, so you might
want to save some of the Christmas money and use it for a night out to look at
lights, and go out for a treat. (more on this tip to come!) But you get the
idea, it's not what you get or give that matters, it's the moment and joy from
the experiences that really matter most. oh yeah and A book for your kiddo is a must each year!
9. Food, I seem to be going back and forth on this issue,
but I do think that we eat way to much during December- So be care full how
much you bring to a pot luck. My rule are: is this a family pot luck- make a
dish that your loved ones love and make a new recipe to bring if needed. if
it's as gathering of friends or co-workers, chances are there will be a ton of
food so maybe bring some paper products for the event, and skip the food
(hostess might be so grateful that they don't have to buy an extra package of
plates, cups, plastic ware and so on...
10. If you are lucky to host a gathering, party or whatever
shin dig you do for the Christmas season shop for all decorations and holiday
stuff after Christmas for next year, with just a bit of tweaking you can make
anything a bit more trendy. Don't forget to use online resources for the
invites (evite.com) music (pandora) party games and ideas (Pintrest)
So now that you know some of my tips I would love to see if
you have some that i haven't touched! Please leave a comment I would love feed
back, Oh yeah and have a very merry Debt Free Christmas!
I hope in the next
couple weeks post some neat home made gifts, some that I have made and will
give and some that I would eventually like to give.
