7 creative ways to save money during the Christmas season
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‘Tis the season for giving, but when finances suffer from playing Santa, sometimes merrymakers must seek alternatives to breaking the bank during the holiday season. So to ensure consumers don’t spend 11 months out of the year still paying for Christmas Day, here are a few imaginative ways to remain in the holiday spirit and still keep your savings intact.
Give homemade gifts. Let your imagination run free. Jewelry boxes made from old cigar boxes decorated with painted elbow macaronis, necklaces made from Froot Loops cereal and instruments made from empty coffee cans and oatmeal containers make for great inexpensive presents. Check websites like www.disneyfamily.com under their Arts and Crafts section to let your creative juices flow.
Buy used. Second-hand stores and pawn shops are great places to find children’s books, toys and even clothes. If the merchandise is still in good condition, small children won’t be able to tell the difference. You may also be able to locate gems on-line at sites like eBay or Craigslist for electronics. Great deals on computers, I-Pods and MP3 players still in perfect working condition can be found on the Internet.
Find alternatives to wrapping paper. Use magazine pages and the comic book section of the newspaper. If you have small children, use their artwork and holiday crafts from school. Imagine the joy your little one will feel seeing his/her artwork displayed wrapped around grandma’s gift.
Shop at discount stores for gifts under $5. Target, Wal-Mart, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar have a plethora of gifts under $5 that kids love. Everything from stocking stuffers like die-cast cars, doll sets and toy trucks to balls, play doctor kits and children’s canopies can be found in $5, $10, and $15 increments.
Open Christmas funds with your bank. Throughout the year, have a portion of your check direct deposited into a Christmas account and set it up so you can’t touch the funds until a specific date- December 1 for instance.
Set a budget and stick to it. Realistically calculate how much you can afford to spend. If possible, don’t put your Christmas shopping on your credit. Spend only within your regular budget.
Shop around. Compare prices. Look for bargains and on-sale items. Keep an eye open for clearance racks in department stores. Also, consider shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Most stores slash prices for only a few hours and open as early as 5 a.m., so be prepared to be staked out in front of your favorite department store.-c. wade
