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We LOVE holiday time! From trees and tinsel to candy and candles. But what we don't love is the price tag that often hits us in January when we get a gigundo credit card bill for all those gifts, party goods, and endless accoutrements. So, here's a few tricks Foxy has learned over the years to reduce our holiday budget.
- Shop 'n' Save Sign up for Ebates and get cash (yes, cash!) back on purchases from hundreds of stores like Nordstrom, Pottery Barn, eToys, and more. It's all free, which is why we're addicted!
- Wrap It Up Make your own inexpensive gift wrap.
Purchase a big roll of brown craft paper and a ball of twine from your
local drugstore or office supply store. Both cost a fraction of what
printed wrap and ribbon cost. Wrap your packages and then get creative
with decorating -- candy canes, a holiday cookie in a plastic bag,
beads, crystals, stickers or rubber stamps (in red or green ink for
Christmas, blue for Hanukah, or gold and silver work for any
occasion). You can even make your own gift tags by printing labels on
your computer (use free clip art to give a holiday feel).
- Ship Smart Shipping can be pricey, so look for free shipping offers on internet and mail-order purchases. And choose a site where you can order for more than one person, since many stores offer free shipping after you've spent a certain amount.
- Create Heirlooms Begin a tradition and delight friends and family with meaningful, cost-conscious gifts. Dig through your stash of family mementoes. A necklace, vintage toy, or piece of china that belonged to Grandma or a great uncle is priceless and much more thoughtful than anything store bought.
- Give A Little Here's a fresh idea -- instead of
scouring the mall for the perfect gift, make a small donation to a
philanthropy your recipient will appreciate. Check out Charity Navigator for info and ratings on different organizations.
- Go Handmade Some of us are, admittedly, a bit less "Martha" than others, but there's always room to unleash your inner artiste. Paint-your-own ceramics places like Color Me Mine are a trusty resource. Use whatever talents you have, from painting or decoupage to knitting or cooking. Or, check out the addictive site, Etsy for hand-crafted goods available at all budgets (often, at prices much less than boutiques).
- Sale Away Search
for promotions at various stores online, so you can take full advantage
of fall sales. In many cases, if you have the right code, you can get
huge savings on online (and sometimes in-store) purchases. Also, hit
your local bookstore and check out their bargain book racks.
- Picture This Photo gifts always bring a smile to anyone's face and are available for different budgets. Check out online sites like Snapfish and Shutterfly for calendars, posters, bound photo books, and many more products you can customize.
- Spread Secrets Instead of buying gifts for each of your friends, throw a "Secret Santa" party so that everyone buys just one gift. Be sure to set a comfortable price point so that everyone gets gifted equally.
- Punch It Up If you're throwing a holiday gathering and want to serve cocktails, whip up a punch instead of serving individual drinks. It's festive and much more affordable. Cheers!
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