I made a trip to Costco yesterday to buy index cards. (Believe it or not, index cards are the building blocks of this blog.) The store didn’t have any, but it did have four long aisles stocked with Christmas supplies: lights, laughing Santas, and artificial trees. “Are people thinking about the holidays already?”, I wondered. Turns out they are. In the Get Rich Slowly discussion forums, Samantha is asking for frugal Christmas ideas:
We sat down to develop a Christmas budget for the first time ever last night. And I have to say, I was a bit overwhelmed by how much we plan to spend. Currently $425. But at least this year we are PLANNING for it and we have the cash to spend!
Does anyone have any tips for inexpensive ideas for Christmas gifts, traditions, etc. and just general ways to save money around the holidays, i.e. holiday entertaining, hostess gifts for every party we’re invited to, etc.?
Samantha’s question made me realize the holidays aren’t actually that far away. Besides, this year, in this economy, it makes sense to begin planning early, especially if you want to try some do-it-yourself projects.
We’ve discussed this subject before at Get Rich Slowly in articles like “Five fantastic frugal tips for Christmas”, “The amazing frugal Christmas savings spectacular”, and “The four things children really want for Christmas”. Some of my favorite money-saving tips for the holidays include:
- Consider giving experiences. In the forums, Brad suggested giving music lessons, bike tune-ups, wine advice, or other gifts of time, knowledge, and experience. If you have friends with children, give them a night (or afternoon) of free babysitting so that they can have a special getaway without the cost of a sitter.
- Also in the forums, Pulmano1 noted that if you’re holding your family gathering after Christmas (as we are this year), you can find heavily discounted gift ideas in post-holiday sales.
- Do a group project, like assembling a family history. Amberlynn’s family writes a chapter of their family history each year, covering topics like favorite holidays, the house they grew up in, and how people met their spouses. The gift costs nothing but time, and carries more value than commercial gifts.
- Remember that children don’t receive lasting value from toys and candy. What kids actually want are a relaxed and loving time with family, realistic expectations about gifts, an evenly paced holiday season, and reliable family traditions.
- Give homemade gifts. In the past, we’ve given jams and jellies and pickled vegetables. A good friend once gave us a hand-assembled collection of gourmet salts, complete with written description of each. Rather than a gift card, I’d much rather receive a plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies.
It’s not just gifts you can make by hand — it’s also fun to create do-it-yourself cards and decorations. When I was a penniless college student, I made my cards by hand every year. These were more meaningful to me, as a giver, and I think they were treasured by the recipients, too. It’s easy to make your own cards. (Trent at The Simple Dollar has some tips for doing so.)
My cousin Nick and I recently reminisced about family traditions for decorating the house and tree. “There weren’t so many lights when we were kids,” Nick said. “We made most of our own decorations.” I can remember doing some of this, too. Older children might enjoy stringing a popcorn garland, and constructing a paper chain is so easy a 5-year-old can do it!
Most of all, remember that the holidays are time for gathering with family and friends. Giving is secondary. Spending money doesn’t even make the list.
What about you? Have you started thinking about the holidays? What are your some of your favorite ways to keep costs down while enjoying the spirit of the season?
This article is about DIY, Frugality, Hints and Tips, Planning, Shopping
SEARCH FOR RECENT ARTICLES
In my family, we have a somewhat different approach to wrapping gifts. My mother, over the years, has made a ton of cloth gift bags out of Christmas-patterned fabric that she buys on sale in January. We use these bags instead of wrapping paper, and over the years they have been gradually distributed to friends and more distant family. They’re very easy to make, and although it may be a bigger investment up-front, it saves us from buying wrapping paper every year, and cuts out a huge amount of waste.
loading....
I wanted to add that I agree with #83 about buying consumables. I certainly prefer to receive consumables — I don’t want more stuff that I will have to find a place for, dust, and eventually (maybe) take to Goodwill.
I love to give wine, bake homemade cookies, send smoked salmon (I live in the NW), good coffee, soap, candles, make homemade caramels, that kind of thing. I also like finding unique ornaments to send — they can get used year after year.
loading....
Saw this idea recently on Parent Hacks: chop up left-over Halloween chocolate to use in place of chocolate chips in cookie dough. If you’re already baking early for the holidays, you could save a few dollars on chocolate and save a few calories from random candy-snacking.
loading....
I love all these idea! I wrote a post at http://current.pic.tv/ about Frugal holidays tips! the whole idea of a simpler Christmas, with emphasis on family and tradition and skimp on stuff is big for me! I really like the idea of just goving books! As an avid reader, I might incorporate that with my son.
Something my family (of 5) did when I was small was we had the 12 days of Christmas. “Santa” came Christmas morning and we had stockings and each recieved one nice item. Then each day of Christmas a family member gave small gifts (like a new shirt or book) to everyone. Then the next 5 days we gave recycled gifts. This was the BEST part of Christmas to me! On our day we would give our family something of ours or a coupon for time, to help with a project or maybe to make them a special treat! The last two days my Mom planned something like we gave the gift of volunteering or she would buy the family a board game. It was such a great tradition. Our Christmas’ were not filled with “stuff” but I never felt like I didn’t get alot!
loading....
Although I have no idea what I am going to do for Christmas this year, after reading over the posts I did come up with something that I will do in the future. I just moved into my first real apartment (not counting college dorms and college apartments) where I could legitimately have a Christmas tree, but I have very few ornaments to decorate with. So in anticipation of the nieces and nephews I will have (my brother just got married), I think I am going to buy an ornament each year for them and then keep it in a box for them when they get their own place. I know I will end up getting them other presents as well, but at least I will be contributing something meaningful to the mix.
loading....
My favorite frugal toy for a boy is to use white plastic sprinkler pipes and fittings to make an “outdoor tinker toy” set…it’s LIKE a tinker toy set in that you put things together, and every time is a different way.
The sprinkler pipe fittings are $0.10 each at Home Depot, and you can get a 10 foot length of pipe for a few dollars. The only real expense is to buy a pipe cutter (about $10) if you don’t already have one.
My son LOVES to create things with his outdoor pipe set.
loading....
Two years and counting on my campaign to switch to a name exchange. Still no luck. Planning to try again anyway.
Thoughts on a low cost Christmas
1. Crafts are great on saving money and also great on taking a lot of time. (Time that is sometimes unappreciated)
2. Team up with someone and put both names on, especially if you go crafty.
3. If you are crafty and make nice things for yourself, people will wonder why all they got was this lousy (washcloth, hat, armwarmer, pajama pants, etc.) Or maybe I just feel guilty, that’s possible too.
4. It’s hard to come up with things that aren’t too expensive and don’t take too much time year after year for the same people. (However much I love them.)
5. I have 70,000 things I could make that would be awesome for him, or her, or so and so, but not if I also have to make or buy something for everyone else too.
6. Don’t even think of trying to give everyone cool handmade stuff all at once ever again. It’s October and you’re still not finished with presents from LAST Christmas.
loading....
For far-away relatives, my husband and I send something consumable and homemade (last year it was batches of gingerbread cookies and homemade vanilla extract) in the mail along with a holiday card.
This year, we’re getting his parents an ornament with the plane my husband flies on it and his sister is getting a T-shirt from the squadron too… inexpensive, but they will love them.
My family does secret santa, so there is only one gift to buy on that side, and we do a $40 spending limit.
The nieces and nephew will all get books… I teach preschool at home and earn “bonus points” by selling Scholastic books. Those points can be redeemed for free books, which is great. I have enough points to last a whiiiile.
I totally agree with you about giving experiences too. What I always remember as my “best birthday present” was when my oldest sister took me on a date to see a movie (it had horses in it and I loved horses). The present I got to open was the candy we were going to sneak into the movie theatre, which she had bought at the dollar store.
It was a really fun date and 15+ years later it’s still my most memorable birthday present.
loading....
My family is huge. When I say huge, I mean HUGE. In our family, the general rule is if you’re still in school, you get Christmas presents. We usually get gifts for immediate family, but outside the immediate family it’s not required. If you’re not in school anymore, you have the option of participating in the secret santa exchange (we use online wish lists to let our secret santas know what we want). We set a minimum amount so that no one is stuck with one cheap gift. We also do a white elephant gift. That one has a maximum of $10 i think. This year it’s going to be all gift cards so it should be interesting
loading....
Your holiday ideas are fabulous! I love the idea of giving time, knowledge, even a free night of babysitting rather than the typical expensive gift. I think that if more people made their own decorations, set budgets, or came up with creative alternatives the holidays would be a lot less stressful! Think of how much fun you can have with your kids making gifts, wrapping, decorations, etc. I love that you discuss taking the focus off toys and candy and providing a fun, relaxing family tradition. That is after all what the holidays are supposed to be about..right?
We’re also discussing some smart tips and tricks that can help you get through the holiday season, check us out at http://current.pic.tv
loading....
Re: #101 “My mother, over the years, has made a ton of cloth gift bags out of Christmas-patterned fabric that she buys on sale in January. We use these bags instead of wrapping paper.”
I do this too! Of course it is more expensive than wrapping paper, at least at first, but as time goes by they are still in good condition and can be used year after year. Honestly I was motivated more by environmental concerns than by frugality. I hate to see all that wrapping paper manufactured, used once, and then thrown away. Sure it may be recycled, but better to eliminate the need for it in the first place.
I do the same thing for birthdays, and I let the recipient know that they can either use the bag for something (gym clothes, lunch, whatever they like) or pass it on as “wrapping” for a gift for someone else. Recently I have been using this pattern for a lined drawstring bag. I change the measurements each time so I have an assortment of different sizes. Sometimes I line with a contrasting fabric.
loading....
How did I miss this post the first time around? I agree with most of the posters, Christmas should be about family and/or friends and experiences. Not spending your way into the poorhouse. For my 2 neices and 1 cousin they usually get about $25 each to a bookstore so they can choose what book or other item they want! My 2 best friends who need essentials get a box sent to them and they appreciate that more than crap they don’t want or need!
loading....
I seem to have lost my Christmas budget for this year. Oops. That’s what I get for writing it on paper and not putting it on the computer like I have for the last several years. However, I know I’m going to be spending $20 or less on people not in my immediate family, and for my brother, $30, and my mom, maybe $50. I also started ordering gifts in October so I could spread out the costs, though I am going to have to dip into savings a bit – which is what they’re there for.
loading....
YEARS ago, when my children were young(now 35-40), I was a single mom. I asked the Children what was most important, so THEY could choose the Traditions to Make-or-Keep.
They decided to Make Chocolate candy for friends and family. It was a BIG Time investment! I did not care about the money–we were making memories! I would have thrown it to strangers for the memories it made!
I also made ceramic tree ornaments and Nativity Sets for Them so that they could have them when they had their own homes! Instead of plain ole wrapping paper, we used colorful comic paper to wrap the gifts in! Now, people know that if they get a comic paper gift, they are in the inside circle!
For Great Grandmother, I would clean her oven as needed and do her storm windows spring and fall, and cultivate her flowerbeds, etc. For someone OVER a certain age, or a Logical Individual, Labor gifts are more valuable than gifts that need to be dusted! My son asked me what I wanted for Mothers Day — I was only 41 or so. I asked him to dig some flowerbeds. He said, MOM, I have a job! I can BUY a gift, like a lawn-chair for you! I said, I’d Rather have the labor done. I won’t be able to use the chair as much as I’ll look at the flowerbeds! So, he dug.
As one individual mentioned, it would be great to have a certain member of our family understand the concept that the world does not revolve around the dollar bill — every family has one ‘of those’! And, we have to realize they have a ‘special needs’ type of view of the world and handle them with kyd gloves! Or a 10ft pole! which is my choice-ha-ha!
Another thing I implemented years ago is a gift box–gift closet–what-ever. I pick STUFF up all year when I see them on Sale. Then, when a birthday, Hanukkah. bar-mitzbah, graduation, wedding or even when Christmas happens, I have a gift ready for Any individual for Any need!
When one Young daughter asked to purchase something she saw in a store, I answered not now; it is not ON sale. She replied, but I can see a price tag! I explained to her that it was FOR sale, but not ON sale. I would purchase it when it went ON sale. She now Home Schools her Youngest daughter and is the church secretary. (She gets most of the clothing for her and her youngest daughter from church members! We need to do that instead of ‘being proud’! Why is it ok to pass clothing down to brothers, and not to friends in church or on the block you live on?)
We purchased Most of the clothing I did not sew at a consignment store. My oldest daughter did not like talking about going there. I said, well, instead of saying it was a ‘thrift store’; let’s call it a ‘specialty store’! Once we changed the way we talked about it, her attitude towards it changed! Kyds! gotta love ‘em!
Each August, before school, we would go through everyone’s closet. We would check to see what fit, what needed a mate and what needed to be donated. And, of the things that were left, those that needed a mate were put on a list with the ‘stuff’ that was Missing to be Set up for school. Then, THAT is what we shopped for. We matched colors and made the outfits from the existing ‘leftovers’!
Christmas meant they received New items such as new undies, socks, jammies (when I didn’t have time to sew them) and pillows.
Gift Money went for items such as clothing that you ‘wanted’ but did not ‘need’ ….that dress, that great shirt, a new tool box or hair accessory; something Special!
Visitors QUICKLY learned that the paper napkins in our house were shared — torn in half — two people would use ONE napkin, double strength! It was a standing joke! Not a put down! Just like teaching manners! (If you don’t put the napkin on your lap before you take your first bite, you have to leave the table and count to ten in the other room! Of course, if we were at a restaurant, All of our friends Always tried to catch ME to see where I would GO there! And the children would just laugh! ) Teach with laughter!
That holds true whether teaching manners or Money or Time Management. Such as Getting ready to go away for the weekend starts on Monday! When to Do the laundry; run the vacuum; change beds; get homework done; pack clothes; and after school on Fri throw suitcases and Everything Else into the car as soon as I got home from work and off we would fly for the weekend to a friend’s house! Because their dad was away for the weekend! Then, THE Children would know how to schedule ANY project! Walk before you RUN!
When each of the children were about the 4th grade, I asked the teacher if I could come to the arithmetic/math class for 1-day. They always said yes. I brought MY OWN checkbook in for them to balance. We started out with an amount big enough for a GOOD Party in a rather small country school! But, after subtracting ALL of the outstanding checks, and adding the one small outstanding deposit, we only had $1.98 or so for a balance. That was my way to show ALL the students that the MATH lessons they Already had Learned were going to be useful for Them when they grew up and were Parents. They could go home and help their parents Each Month when the check statement came in.
I think we need to include our children in reducing ALL the expenses. Instead of yelling at them to turn off the lights. Have them find ways to reduce the expenses!! They have fab minds! Have them use them! Then they are included and will do it until the day they die — or marry someone that will not let them do it because they are ‘special’ and need to be handled with kyd gloves! ha-ha!!
As for using savings for Christmas, I thought THAT money was for a broken household item like the stove or refrigerator. If you rent, doesn’t your computer need to be replaced occasionally? Unless, of course, you have the old ‘Christmas Savings Plan’ that a lot of banks no longer use! I thought Savings was for repairs of house, car and medical emergencies. Or for when you are laid off and the unemployment benefits run out!
I live in a state with LOW unemployment — LOW because many people are unemployed and their benefits have run out! So, they brag about the low numbers! Rather than accepting the fact that people can not Get a decent job. The wage average here is lower than what I earned BEFORE I went to college –I have a college education and have problems finding a job at all! Whether it be my field, or a previous field I worked in!
Statistics can be manipulated to give false impressions–such as the Cancer statistics. If you get cancer, have the treatment, and live through them, they say you survived cancer. If you THEN get pneumonia and die, they say you died of pneumonia, not cancer. Even if it is just two weeks after the cancer treatments! That is true, and not Just of one individual I know. So, I know it happens A LOT!! But, just an example of truth not being ‘the whole truth’. PLEASE be careful on Tues. Nov 4-08 When ‘someone’ promises a big present, where is the ‘payment’ to come from?
I talked too long…but, I’ve been doing these things for a few days! ha-ha! cheers!
loading....
My family has the “crap exchange.”
Throughout the year, we all keep these boxes of stuff to give/send to the rest of the family. In goes things like outgrown clothes, soap we didn’t like, chocolate bars we find, books we read and are done with, etc. Anything and everything. We live halfway across the country from each other, so these boxes get quite filled before we see and exchange them.
It used to be just the “box of crap”, but then we realized we ALL do it. Hence the Crap Exchange!
loading....
good thread.
I make all the family christmas cakes. they cost about £2 (maybe $4) per pound of cake, so they’re in proportion to my budget, but everyone appreciates them. my mother makes the brandy butter. (bonus: we don’t have to think up or hunt down a different kind of expensive tat every year.)
friends get joke boxes – mostly gleanings from charity/thrift shops, picked up through the year when I see something particularly ugly or particularly good for a silly theme, and wrapped, because they don’t have to pretend to be expensive, in last year’s paper. or sometimes one can make the jokes almost from scratch: things like knitty’s knitted womb, or my friend’s idea of a “rock concert” – painted stones glued onto a ground with musical notes and dyed cotton bud mikes, that kind of thing. someone else I know comes up with comic verses, and a token gift to illustrate the verse. laughter’s a cheap gift, and a good one.
loading....
oh, I forgot. I can’t afford anything my nieces will remember as special, given they get so much stuff at christmas anyway, so I just don’t buy them presents. instead, I take them to the pantomime early in December, and they love it. I know they’ll remember that all their lives. & so will I – the expression on the face of a tot rapt by her first theatrical experience is pure poetry.
the home-made gift bags idea works a treat, though I use second-hand fabrics – curtains, bedlinens, scarves – rather than new fabric. little girls and old ladies alike love the wrappings as well as the contents, and for everyone else, it dresses up a cheap gift beautifully.
if you have a little more to spend, and want to encourage giving habits, I’ve discovered pre-teens like charity vouchers (http://www.cafonline.org/default.aspx?page=7022) much more than you’d think, because they get to feel responsible by choosing which charity they give to. charity voucher, colouring book, pencils, home-made gift bag – £15 max. it’s just a shame there are no £5 vouchers.
plus for those people who are insulted by home-made and second-hand, home-grown (but in a bought pot, and nowadays one can get quite posh ones quite cheaply) sometimes works. for the rest, one just has to pick up suitable Stuff when one sees it cheapish, be that in January or July. as someone said, it’s the thought that counts – but the thought has to be “I know you, and appreciate you”.
loading....
Every year at this time of year, I get excited about what the “homemade” Christmas gift will be this year. It is such a treat for me to come up with the perfect gift.
This year I am making scented candles to fill teacups that I bought at garage sales this summer.
Paper mache’ boxes have been covered with newsprint and buttons attached to the lids, to keep the secret formula bath salts that will fill the boxes.
A secret formula Meat Rub will be packaged and given to my BBQ friends.
Treasure boxes will be made from reused tin boxes by covering them with fabric or paper.
Family recipes will be printed out and complied, and given with a recipe book that was found at a Habitat For Humanity Resale Shop.
I could go on and on…………………..
So many ideas, so little time.
I can hardly wait.
Happy Christmas
loading....
I sometimes make my own Nuts and Bolts (seasoned cheerios, shreddies, pretzels, cheez-its, optional nuts, chex, etc.), bag it in ziplocs, and distribute to friends at Christmas. I don’t think we even bother wrapping it or adding a bow. It is always a big hit, and disappears fast.
loading....
One of my all time favorite Christmas presents as a child was a cardboard refrigerator box that my parents turned into a playhouse for the three of us kids. My dad got the box for free from Sears, cut windows and a door. My mom sewed fabric curtains. They moved our small kiddie furniture inside. My dad may have been out of work, but my brother and sister and I thought we must have been really rich to have our very own play house. We spent all day coloring plants around the outside and playing with each other and with my parents. It was a really beautiful day together. My parents had stayed up all night decorating it. They even wrapped it and put a big bow on top. When my brothers and sisters came downstairs and saw that enormous gift we thought we were the luckiest kids ever. And we were. Merry Christmas everyone!
loading....
My mother taught us the German way of celebrating Christmas, which gave us wonderful memories, even during the lean years after my folks went bankrupt. I just blogged it, but in short, we opened windows of an advent calendar we recycled every year, made our own advent wreath to sing around every Sunday, put out our shoes for St. Nick on December 6, wrapped our gifts in newspaper, and had a whole program on Christmas Eve that helped us forget that there were no storebought gifts under the tree!
loading....
I know it’s been a while since the last post but I’ve got a few good ideas from all the previous posts. I’m trying to get some ideas for Christmas 2009, hoping to have a DIY Christmas. My partner and I are struggling like many and have a pretty tight budget this year. We’re budgeting for about $20-30 each on our family members (14 in total, including both our siblings, parents and 2 nieces) but I’m hoping to make/put together as much as possible. I’m pretty creative, love cooking scrapbooking etc. I have lots of ideas including photo albums, hand-made soaps, calendars etc. For those who won’t appreciate totally home-made gifts I’m going to do hampers/gift boxes filled with a mixture of home made and store bought items that they like. Ie. for my brother in law, he loves cars so I’m going to get a box/bag and package it up with some car cleaning products etc. For our nieces, I’m hoping to make them an apron and give them some vege/flower seeds, a pretty pot, some garden gloves etc, because they like gardening. The same could be done with cooking, an apron, childproof recipe book, cupcake papers etc. For a few close friends I’m hoping to do some baking, cookies, truffles, gingerbread houses/cookies and personalise them by writing each recipients name in icing. Last year for my grandparents we put together a variety hamper. My grandfather is diabetic so we included some diabetic friendly chocolates, some home made dried fruit, nuts, some fresh fruit and a few knick knacks (mugs, grandparents quote book etc). They loved it. I’m intending to do something similar this year.
My partner and I usually spend $100-200 on each other but we usually get each other things that we need or want ie. clothes, household items etc. The last 2 christmases we have put that money together and got something we both really wanted though and given each other something small. Last year we brought a really good digital camera cos we both love photography.
Many others have commented about donating to charity. I’ve never really done this, not because I don’t want to but I’m a bit wary about donating to charities and the donations not getting to those who really need it. This year though I’m going to go through my wardrobe and donate all the no longer worn clothes to the needy and encourage my partner to do the same. If we can afford to, I’ll donate some money or food as well, and perhaps volunteer in a soup kitchen or something.
I’m sick of the commercialism of Christmas like many others. It’s all about making profits for most people these years and no one remembers the real meaning of Christmas. Some have suggested that they don’t like to give/recieve gifts. I’m 22 and I love giving and recieving gifts, especially when there’s been time and effort put into it. I don’t expect a lot of money to be spend on me but it’s nice to know that people care about me. For me, giving gifts is one of my main ways of showing how I feel about others.
loading....
How about giving a gift of service?
The idea comes from times when my kids have given me (for Mother’s Day) hand-written cards or “certificates” promising me such services as “breakfast in bed”, “5 times unloading the dishwasher without being asked to”. And then there’s the really sweet certificates that ensure we will spend time together doing things such as “10 minutes of snuggle time” or “play 2 games w/me”. These are heartfelt and unique gifts that not only remind me that my kids want to spend quality time with me, but also strengthen the family bond we all enjoy. And isn’t that the true meaning of Christmas?
If it’s a spouse, you could promise “I’ll make you the meal of your choice” or “one free back rub” or some other sweet & personalized act of kindness s/he would appreciate.
Maybe you have a marketable skill… you could give someone a gift certificate such as “one free computer service call” or “free tire rotation” or “free babysitting for X hours” or “free hemming of X # of pants/skirts”.
Time is precious. Rather than wasting it running around buying useless gifts (who really needs or wants a “chia pet”?), if we offer a gift of our time and/or talent to those we care about, I think that gift will truly be appreciated!
Happy Holidays! Peace.
loading....
I love your stationery idea, but am not sure how you make envelopes out of magazines. Could you please explain and possibly show me a picture?
Thank you,
Karen
loading....