Group Discussions

What strategies do you use to save money over the holidays?

• 
  I hit the perfume and makeup counters. Often you can buy a makeup or perfume that comes with a wonderful "free gift" like a makeup case filled with travel sizes or a cool tote bag. I wrap up that free gift and give it as a present. Two for the price of one!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by on 6th December 2007
• 
  I make a lot of food gifts for my family members and friends. My family, especially -- most of them either have everything they need or can easily buy everything they need, so they really appreciate a basket of homemade jams, candies, chutneys, and the like.
  
  
  
  I also try to save money by keeping an eye out for sales throughout the year for things that "won't go bad" or out of style. Videogames for our 9 year old, books for everyone, horse-related anything for our 11 year old, pretty accessories for our 14 year old, toys and puzzles for the preschooler and the baby. My husband is more difficult to buy for, so I pretty much need all year to plan for him anyway!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Lylah M. Alphonse on 6th December 2007
• 
  We make a lot of gifts for family and friends. I include cute notecards with instructions on how to use the products. This year I'm doing different kinds of nuts - spicy, candied, etc. and chocolate covered pretzels b/c those were really fun for the then 2 yo to help decorate. I poured the chocolate into a tall sippy cup and she was able to dip the sticks in and lay them on the drying rack then toss sprinkles on them. Then she got confined to the high chair and given the almost empty cup. Girl had chocolate in herb ears for 3 days!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Mandy Nelson - Dandysound on 6th December 2007
• 
  ooh i also like to do food. or at least talk about it! one thing my family did this year was agree to only buy for the kids and not the adults (thank goodness!) so that helps! then hitting sales, of course! i also try to make some sort of food every year... this year i am tryign a couple of things that ARE NOT cookies because cookies are just far too time consuming and, really, i have enough to do!
  
  
  
  mandy - i got a mental picture, so cute! you have to take pictures of these things and share!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Kate on 6th December 2007
• 
  oh, Kate, I have tons of pics of that moment! All you had to do is ask (tee hee).

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Mandy Nelson - Dandysound on 6th December 2007
• 
  I make my gift baskets. I go to flea markets and thirft stores to purchase them I decorate them and fill them with and I fill them goodies me and my mother make. I buy a Christmas wine at a specialty store and get a napkin from TJ Maxx or some place on clearance. I go to antique stores and look for odd wine glasses. I go to the dollar store and get nice heavy Christmas Coffee mugs and add hot chocolate and marshmellows in a zip loc baggie. I make a cookie receipe and put all the dry goods in a bag, give the directions and a cookie cutter and a spatula and sprinkles in a baggie.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Kim Begnaud on 7th December 2007
• 
  One of the other things I do for my son's teachers is to make "movie night" baskets...with a holiday movie, movie candy, popcorn and popcorn bags. they love it.

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by on 10th December 2007
• 
  Some really great ideas here!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by Lylah M. Alphonse on 10th December 2007
• 
  Wow these are some awesome gift ideas!!! One thing that we are doing to help our money stretch this year is having a specific Christmas budget. We aren't allowing ourselves to go even a penny over. That has really helped make us shop for bargains. I'm definitely going to be using some of these tips!

  Flag as inappropriate Posted by mamajama on 13th December 2007