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Enjoy Christmas on a Tight Budget
Sometimes holidays can get expensive! Here's how to participate in the festivities this season while saving a few extra bucks.
Gift a thoughtful, heartfelt letter or handmade card instead of a random object. Take a step further, and safeguard it in a personalized frame.
Bring your own eggnog and thermos of hot cocoa to tour neighborhood Christmas lights
Shop at consignment stores or even find various objects/toys on https://www.craigslist.com & https://www.ebay.com on discount
Focus your activities on experiences & family values rather than presents & treats
Send your holiday card/photo via email instead of regular snail mail. This will help you save on printing & postage
Make meals & treats at home, as opposed to pre-bought or dining in a restaurant
Craft your own ornaments instead of purchasing them
Plan a scavenger hunt for the kids to find smaller, inexpensive gifting items (i.e. gum, stickers, markers, etc.)
Make donations in your family's name instead of giving gifts
Don't forget, this is a massive sale season! Take advantage of different store discounts for gifts
Decorate your tree with household items - string things like popcorn & berries on a thread and drape them like garland
Bake your Christmas gifts!
Sell your older/used toys or clothes to a consignment shop in exchange for cash to purchase new ones
Take your family Christmas caroling, spreading joy to others
Consider charitable activities, like taking Christmas treats to the elderly in a nursing home
Pack Christmas stockings with fruit to help fill space
Offer a holiday journal or diary to your children in which they learn to record reasons for which they are grateful
Craft your own decorations at home! Some ideas to get you started: https://goo.gl/mmFN4n
Re-gifting - it's not as terrible as you think! And it's really quite common. Save yourself some bucks, and repurpose the treat basket or bottle of wine
How about a family holiday photo in PJ's? Don't purchase expensive clothing for this annual photo - try a casual one this year!
Save on your winter electric bill by NOT using lights on your Christmas tree, but rather decorating with other shiny objects like lame tinsel and silky ribbons
This creates a private checklist in your account.