Holiday Season Savings Ideas
If you are stressing over how to begin preparing for all of the upcoming holidays and worrying about just how far the dollar will stretch, here are some ideas to help get you through. First, prepare a realistic budget. Break it down by holiday (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Christmas, etc.) I love the envelope system so try creating an envelope for each holiday with a list of people and the amount you will be spending for each gift this season. This will give you a total dollar amount needed for the perspective holiday.
Begin placing money into the envelopes to meet your goal, keeping track along the way. As the holiday gets closer begin scouring advertisements for money saving ideas both in stores and online. Remember some stores post special coupons online only. If you don’t have a computer, try the local library.
If you have trouble reaching your holiday budget goal then consider getting back to basics. We all remember those lean years when we either received or gave homemade gifts. I know I appreciated these gifts of the heart as much as a store bought item.
Below are some suggestions I have found over the years that I love:
Halloween
Pumpkin Carving – Every year artificial pumpkins go on sale at the local craft stores. You can carve them just like a real pumpkin. I download the stencils for the faces from the computer.
Candy – Of course the best deals are found at the warehouse stores but it is too tempting to overspend just to buy a large bag of candy. Try contacting the store and find out how much the bag actually costs then only take the necessary money to cover the purchase. Several years I only purchased enough candy for the kids I knew and made little gift bags just for them. I delivered those first and if I had any remaining I distributed it then turned the lights off to indicate I was done. Realistically, the younger kids come early and the holiday is really for them anyway.
Thanksgiving
If you are attending or hosting a holiday feast recommend a Potluck. Make it fun by doing a recipe exchange. Have everyone write down the recipe for the item on an index card to bring along. The host gathers all of the cards and creates a recipe book that can be e-mailed to everyone after the event. Make it more special by requesting the origin of the recipe and include those stories with each recipe. If the recipe wasn’t handed down from generation to generation find out where it came from and get creative. We all like reading heartfelt as well as funny stories about searching for the perfect recipe that doesn’t make everyone sick. The more personalized the more special the gift becomes.
Don’t forget the previously used Halloween decorations. Many can be saved and used for Thanksgiving, less the scary witches and ghosts.
Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa (or any other gift exchanging holiday)
Holiday Cards – If you send cards, try reusing old cards from the past holidays. Simply cut them in half and use the back side of the beautiful scene as a post card. If you don’t have time or are intimidated by the paper cutter at the local Kinkos store write a holiday letter, or a list of reasons why the recipient is so special to you on your computer and print them to include with your gifts. I believe everyone will agree the cards and letters that we receive that are personalized always mean more. If all else fails, remember holiday cards go on sale the week before the holiday. Keep your eye on the sales both online and in the newspaper.
If you simply can’t afford any of the above and you have unlimited long distance or minutes try a phone call. Our friends and family would much rather spend time with us even if it is over the phone than receive a card. You can start of by saying you are trying to go green and save trees.
Gifts – The old days of lay-a-way are back. Shop early and pay weekly to avoid a large burden on your wallet all at once.
Consider personal, homemade gifts. Find or print photos from the previous year’s celebrations and create a holiday frame that can be set out as a decoration for future holidays. This gift keeps giving back every year and its fun to see how we’ve changed. I find frames that reflect the person or their decorating theme and add holiday embellishments to make them festive. This same idea can be fun for kids by creating a collage of a special event like prom, graduation, or summer vacation. If you can’t find enough to work with ask the parent of the child. We all enjoy sharing pictures of our kids with friends and family. Create something that can hang on their wall or be placed in their room that will make them smile and think of you.
If the thought of arts and crafts seems overwhelming, how about baking? One year I made gingerbread houses for everyone and placed a special note or gift inside. This again can be used as a decoration that will last for several weeks. Cookies, cakes and pies on a special plate that can be used for future holidays is always great as well. To make them more elaborate, try colorful wrapping with a ribbon. Don’t forget the special, personalized note.
A few other homemade gift ideas that are fun include:
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Gifts in a Jar – Put all of the dry ingredients of your favorite cookie, biscuit, brownie, etc. in a mason jar and use creative paper to include the instructions. Here is a link to a website for more detailed instructions http://www.craftbits.com/gifts-in-a-jar.
Scrapbook – Do you have some old pictures of the recipient(s) that brings back fond memories? Create a small scrapbook and include your thoughts or special words of encouragement. This is a gift that can be enjoyed year round.
Recipe Book – Do you have a lot of family recipes that no one has take the time to document and distribute. Here’s your chance. My aunt did this one year and included pictures of the recipient with each book. This was a wonderful gift and we now have the guarded family recipe to share with our families.
Gift baskets – While this gift can get costly, stay in budget by adding baked goods and small items that reflect the recipient’s personality such as a travel mug for the road warriors, pictures, candles, bath beads, movie passes, etc. The gift baskets can be found at local thrift stores and don’t forget the special note or holiday letter.
Music CD – Gather a list of your recipient’s top ten favorite songs and burn them to a CD. Add a customized picture to the jewel case or CD and include a special note on the inside.
I hope these ideas help or at least get your creative juices flowing. For more great suggestions try searching the web for “Homemade holiday gifts” or simply try Martha Stewart’s website, after all she is the queen of homemade.