I asked my readers on Frugal Sally to give me some of their favorite ways to cut the cost of the holidays. They came up with some pretty clever tips. I hope you all enjoy them and that they help you save some money this holiday season and all the ones to come.
If you're doing home made anything take the brown paper bags from the grocery store cut, turn over and using finger paint. There are ideas online using hand prints to make reindeer, elves and even a handprint for a silly hat. Use them to make wrapping paper!! Kids LOVE it and are proud!! Grandparents love it too!! Just an idea.
~Katie Marie
My best Hanukkah tip is to stock up at the after Hanukkah sales for the next year. Bed Bath and Beyond have great deals after the holiday
~Zimmyandtheangryinch Zimmerman
Home made gifts rock. Frame a photo using Dollar Store frames and mat it if it doesn't come with one. It looks better.
Bake, make gift baskets geared to the recipients loves. Knit a scarf. Buy a favorite wine and put it with a couple wine glasses.
~Cindy Purvis
I wrap my presents in newspaper and string. It's not only extremely cheap it's my way of 'going green' for the holiday season. I even have found articles or headlines that may relate to certain people and saved them and used them intentionally on that individual's present! The only problem is your hands get dirty while wrapping!
Before the newspaper I did the reusable cloth shopping bags in place of gift bags or wrapping paper. This way people could 'pay it forward' by using the bags in place of plastic or paper bags at stores. I have done that for many, many years for every occasion. Most of the time they are the same price or even cheaper than gift Bags! That's how I went green gift giving style for many years and still do for birthdays and such.
~Anne Giacovelli
I buy clearance ribbon, material, craft items after the holidays, and make gifts through the year for the next one. Plus, I've always had a limit on what I spend for my own kids. They know the limit and if they want something more expensive, they will lose some of the specified amount for their birthday.
~Pam Skinner
Homemade gifts and family gift exchanges, regifting and STOP obsessing over finding the perfect gifts for everyone.
I try to give homemade -mostly canned goods, but also have a $5 limit for others! Yes, $5! People don’t want a bunch of crap that they don't need or want! Spend time together...eat a potluck meal together and celebrate. Time is the most precious gift that one can give.
~DiAne Schimpf
Don't just go buy a whole bunch of stuff that your friends and family will be donating or tossing within the next year. If you can't meet a need in their life, it will just be junk. Ask them what they've been wanting. I'm not talking about the kids who want everything, I'm talking adults who you're wasting money for token gifts on and stuff like that.
~Rhonda King Rosser Murray
Gardening and canning puts food on the table and makes lovely gift baskets. And things that freeze or keep well, you can buy in bulk at Thanksgiving or for both holidays.
~Susan Heatter-Charpentier
I get pretty printer paper and put recipes that people ask me for on it, and frame it so they can hang it in their kitchen.
~Tina Robetor Howe
One of the things I like to save is TIME and whatever I can make or prepare ahead of time and freeze. I do this...sometimes way in advance.
Buy a turkey the day after Thanksgiving and the ham the day after Christmas. They will keep in the freezer until next year. Ribs after the 4th, same deal.
~Diane Massey
Browse the internet for all things special and interesting that happened on someone's birthday and print it up. Bind it into a special little packet, or laminate it or frame it - easy/cheap to do - but personalized and special. Include photos if you can.
~Debra Higginbotham
I always buy extra cheap products after Thanksgiving and use it for Christmas, an example is pie crusts and rolls.
Also doing a potluck style Thanksgiving helps cut down on pressure and money.
~Jenny Stiles
Plan ahead - make easy meals that freeze well (like chili, spaghetti sauce, casseroles) NOW and put them in the freezer for those busy December nights when you have to rush from one activity to another so you don't blow a lot of money eating out in December. And make yourself a list of what you've stashed in the freezer so you won't forget when you are frazzled!
And the obvious - large families can draw names instead of buying for everyone. Groups of friends can enjoy a potluck and fellowship instead of gift giving.
~Paula Hunter Freeman
I make things thru out the year so it doesnt catch up with me at the holidays and spoil the season, I include a tag that says handmade with love for you...
~Kathy Atkins
Presents are for children. I do not "do" Christmas gifts for adults. I give my time instead.
~Cindy Bockman
I get all my wrapping paper, tags, and bows after Christmas on clearance and save them for the next year. I also get anything that will keep for that long too, like certain kids stocking stuffers.
~Jessica Krueger Palmer
Choose to make a charitable donation instead of giving gifts. If you already set spending limits on your Christmas budget, making a donation instead of shopping can help you to stay within those limits. There's much less temptation to overspend if you're not in the stores. If the whole family makes this choice, it can add up to a sizeable - and well appreciated - contribution. There's an added benefit too: If you donate to a registered charity, you'll receive a receipt you can submit for a tax deduction.
~Beth Anne
My side, we buy just for the kids. On hubby's side we do a gift limit. I also make stuff to give as gifts for my single nieces, nephews. Blankets, mixes, and other stuff. I try to include a tin of cookies and candy. I also shop all year for stuff. I am in the process of finishing quilts, scarves and earmuffs.
~Arizona Schooler
Buy Stemmed glasses (& plates) at a thrift store, Turn the Glass upside down glue the plate to the round "bottom" of the glass and you have a fancy cake plate-love taking those to use at group gatherings (50cents is cheaper than any dish you can leave/loose at a church social).
~Diane Massey
I keep a running list of Christmas gifts. All year I buy things when I see them. My shopping for this year was 90% complete in June.
I also make things for gifts and decorations.
~Cha'kwaina Mary Ellen Elmore
Give useful gifts. Home made laundry detergent in inexpensive container with a tablespoon scoop from thrift stores. Magazine subscriptions many times are inexpensive and how fun and educational for the little ones to get highlights or National Geographic and thus gift keeps on giving.
~Denise Bowser
#1 My friends and I don't give gifts to each other! We decided years ago that our "gift" is to treat each other to coffee occasionally during the year.
#2 Groups I'm involved in that used to have gift exchanges . . . I've convinced them to have everyone just give $5 and we donate the money to an organization that feeds people in need during the holidays. If they don't do this, I don't participate in the exchange.
#3 I don't accept holiday or birthday gifts!!! If someone INSISTS, I ask that they donate what they would spend on my gift to a charity of my choice. We also do this as gifts for others. For instance we donated safe birthing kits in our doctor's name - his passion was medical missions in Africa.
#4 Our extended family draws names and only buys ONE gift and there's a $50 limit.
#5 We don't allow our sons to buy us gifts and what we give them is practical (a car payment or 6 months of car insurance for example).
~Square Foot Gardening 4 U
The best savings for any holiday for me is early planning.
~Ginger Ray Hendricks
Christmas: I make my own Package tags with white paper, a whole puncher, marker. I would draw a snowman, mistletoe or sometimes just use white paper.
~Marie Siepak Wilson
Homemade gifts save tons of money! We give away homemade canned goods and freshly baked bread as Christmas gifts.
~Tiffany Norton Burrell
Make as much as I can form the kitchen.
~Gail Coulter
I always go shopping early on the 26th for wrapping paper, ribbons, decorations and such for next year.
~Georgette Clark
Dollar Store sales. shop the summer sales. If the kids break it you don't care.
~Carol Scott
I buy products thru out the year and make gift baskets. Also use coupons to help in the savings.
~Brenda Dean McMillin
I make all my own decorations.
~Jennifer Cloud
Some of these tips will save me money this year too! Didn’t I tell you that my readers were clever?
♥
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PREVIOUS "FRUGAL SALLY" ARTICLES IN MACARONI KID : NEPHILLY-EMC
What Makes Me This Way -- May 11, 2012
Frugal Lessons Every Parent Should Teach Their Children -- May 18, 2012
What Would YOU Do For A Million Dollars? -- June 01, 2012
"Make It So" -- July 08, 2012
Lessons My Grandmother Taught Me -- October 05, 2012
My Resolutions -- December 30, 2012
Retailers Spend Billions to Outsmart You -- February 23, 2013
It's Human Nature to Pick the Easy Way -- June 21, 2013
Cutting the Cost of Raising a Child -- September 20, 2013
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