Spending Less Money This Christmas
Thrifty living is not cheap living. It is living with the money you make. Christmas time is often a time we tend to splurge, take out the credit cards, and spend more than we can pay. This leads to year-long pain and bills. Be free of this stress and use some common sense ideas to cut your holiday spending (and enjoy the holiday more).
Here\'s some tips to help:
- Make a list. Include names and spending limits. If you come from a large family, suggest drawing names or buying a family gift.
- Shop online. You can easily comparison shop and often find incentives like free shipping. That is a double savings -- save money and time.
- Give homemade gifts. People love to receive homemade breads, cookies, jellies, and crafts. Put them in dollar store baskets for a creative and useful packaging.
- Buy board games or card games for the entire family.
- Use your holiday budget. If you have been budgeting and saving all year, you can avoid the credit card purchases! \r
Here\'s some thrifty ideas for decorations:
- Involve the whole family and make old-fashioned paper chains or popcorn strings. You might even get a bonus of some quality family time.
- Recycle old Christmas cards into ornaments using some scissors, a hole punch, some yarn, and imagination.
- Gather some pine cones and spray paint silver or gold. Finish with a sealer and use as ornaments or decorations in a clear bowl. \r
For gifts and decorations, shop after Christmas sales and sales during the year. Just be sure the bargains are items you will really use! Also, if you are not faint of heart and can shop the day after Thanksgiving, you can get some super deals, especially in the early hours.
Just remember, it really is the thought that counts and your friends and family might enjoy your time as much as a gift...
Janet B Pearson is the editor of http://www.thrifty411.com
She is married and a mother of 2 with a grand-daughter, and a new grandson! She recently completed an ebook \"Thrifty Living: Be Thrifty, Make A Budget, and Save Money!\"
Her website, http://www.thrifty411.com, offers thrifty living tips, money saving ideas, and help on how to create a personal budget.
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