Looking for budgetting, money saving tips for Christmas...

Jessica - posted on 11/10/2010

There are heaps of things you can do to save money at christmas time. The first being don't buy presents at this time of year! The prices for sale items are always more expensive than other sales throughout the year. The next being set a price that you spend on the kids and stick to it every year. If you buy expensive gifts when you have the money the kids will always expect you to spend that amount. If it's the same every year they will never be disappointed. My mum did this for us and although most other mothers we know disagree with it, I think she had the right idea. Our family used to do a kk for the adults so that you only had to buy one person a gift not every single one of them. Now we don't do that but we are a family that don't really care much for presents as that is not what chirstmas is all about. Being together is enough.

My partners family on the other hand is completely different. We have to and when I say have to I mean we HAVE TO buy them ALL a present. We have finally got them down to a smaller price but they weren't terribly happy about it.

I also find home made gifts great. I have put together little jars of coffee and hot chocolate mixes and then tied pretty christmas ribbons around them with a cute note of how to use them. They are cheap to make. I can't find my recipes for them but I am sure if you google you will find heaps of things like this.

My biggest belief for anything is it's the thought that counts not how much you spend. Some of the best things in life are the cheapest :)

Zarah - posted on 11/09/2010

It's always a great feeling when we give out Christmas gifts but we have to be wise in choosing where to buy gifts. For years, I have allotted my budget by going to a wholesale store here in our country, Philippines. We call it Divisoria here. You can find a lot of stuff and gift ideas for a very low price. I categorize my friends based on their affiliation and I buy the same gift item for each group. Let say in my work, I give them the same gift item but I make sure that I do not repeat the gift item last year. Except for my bosses, they all get the same item. In this way, you can get a bigger discount when you buy more items of the same kind. It's just a matter of patience in looking around and canvassing the best price for you.

Tracy - posted on 11/09/2010

I love coupons...I go to this web-site: www.havingfunsaving.blogspot.com to check out which stores are having sales and the coupons that match! You can usually print the coupons right from the site! There are a ton of other money saving tips on there as well. I check it out a couple times a day :) It really helps me with my budget and it allows me to donate more to our local food bank. There are deals on there where the stacking of couons for toys is listed...Lots of photo deals (great photo books for the grandparents for FREE)...and so on, check it out! And good luck!

Tracy - posted on 11/09/2010

I love coupons...I go to this web-site: www.havingfunsaving.blogspot.com to check out which stores are having sales and the coupons that match! You can usually print the coupons right from the site! There are a ton of other money saving tips on there as well. I check it out a couple times a day :) It really helps me with my budget and it allows me to donate more to our local food bank. CHECK OUT THE FUN AND FREE TAB TAB...there are lot of ways to get fun free stuff!

April - posted on 11/07/2010

Our family only buys for the kids anymore which has helped A LOT with holiday expenses. I also do a lot of online shopping. You can go to sites like www.retailmenot.com or just search on Google for coupon codes. For example if you were shopping on Target's website, you could go to Google and search "Target coupon code" or "Target promotional code" and it will pull up all kinds of sites that have check out codes for free shipping or extra savings like 25% off. I have saved a ton of money doing this. Plus I am not out running the roads to the stores burning fuel and just the hassle of being out. Last year our family did a homemade gifts for the adults. That was fun. We got creative and made something for each family (not each person). This year I am doing photo calendars for them. Oriental Trading has calendars for like $2.95 each and all you do is just insert a 4x6 photo for each month and you can customize what photos you use depending on the person. It's an inexpensive gift but a meaningful one that someone can use. I also get all my recipes together that I am going to use for the holidays and figure out the ingredients that I need. Items that will keep in the pantry like canned goods I will go ahead and pick up at the grocery store here and there so that I am not buying it all at once. I will watch for sales too. My holiday grocery bill used to be $250+ and that is just too much of a chunk out right before the holidays. So when I do go to the store I have all my non-perishable items already purchased so that all I need to do the week before Christmas or Thanksgiving is just pick up perishable items like milk, butter, etc. Good luck and I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday!

Jonna - posted on 11/06/2010

We buy almost all the Christmas gifts used. We will even take the old toys that the kids don't play with much anymore and take them to the local children's store for in-store credit, ad then buy used toys back from that store that are new to our kids. You can find stuff in awesome condition and your kids will not care if it came from walmart or a used children's store. Also, we try not to overdo gift giving (after all it's not really what Chirstmas is about) we limit to 3 gifts per child from us and each child gets to pick out a gift for each of their siblings. We try to make Chirstmas more about family time and traditions and dinner, than gifts. Good Luck!

Tamara - posted on 11/04/2010

First is Christmas dinner does not 'have' to be ham or turkey, it can be a nice sit down meal. and/or if you are having family over or going to someones house set up a potluck type everyone brings something.

Make gifts, a couple ideas that don't really require a crafty hand, Mixes in a jar, Calender (at micheals for a dollar you can get calenders you just put a picture in it), Hot choclate, you can get a big can of mix for a couple dollars then go to the dollar store and get special cups but the hot chocolate in a plastic bag with a label and put it inside the cup.

For buying gifts, set a budget and stick to it. leave plastic at home so you aren't tempted to use it. Shop sales, use a list of what you are wanting to get. Sign up for email lists from stores you frequent, they send special offers and upcoming sales.

Kara - posted on 11/03/2010

I'm not sure who you buy for or how many children you have, etc, but regardless Christmas can be pricey. We're in a situation where we can't afford what we've done in the past, so I spoke with our siblings and parents to let them know our situation. We plan on buying a "family" gift for my brother/wife and their 3 kids (but we'll have alittle something else for the kids because its Christmas!). We will also do a "house" gift my husband's brother/wife. It will cut on the cost if we only get the one gift. For our son we've been periodically getting the odd thing here and there. We also have an awesome second hand children's store that has amazing deals on clothes/toys (Once Upon a Child). You may need to use your imagination and creativity, but it can be done. Just be sure to chat with your family about money saving and I'm sure everyone will be in agreement. Heck, you could always pull names from a hat and that will cut the cost too!