Deals and Steals for Christmas! Frugal Bargains Galore!
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Frugal Living Tips: Christmas without Going Broke or in Debt
Christmas is coming and with the coming Christmas holiday shopping season, a lot of parents will make the decision to once again go into debt to get their children lots of expensive Christmas gifts. Instead of going broke or deeper in debt, why not have a frugal Christmas?
A frugal Christmas doesn’t mean buying cheap toys that won’t last a week. It simply means having a holiday on your budget, within your means, with your spending dependent on your income and budget.
The problem that many parents face is that their children have seen so much advertising for toys and games, that they want anything and everything. And frankly, as parents, many of us at one time or another think our kids need and deserve loads of expensive gifts – so much so that we will go into debt to get them what they want, even when we can’t afford it and they don’t need it anyway.
Make this the year that you break the cycle of going into debt and going broke, just to buy Christmas gifts that will probably just be shoved to the back of the closet in less than a month anyway.
The idea here is to have a nice Christmas and save money while doing it. Remember what Christmas is all about – it’s the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The wise men brought gifts to Jesus, our Lord and Savior. It’s not about going in the hole financially just to buy Christmas gifts and then not be able to pay our bills.
Here are some frugal Christmas tips. Depending on your family’s finances, you can trim these ideas back or expand on them.
1. Draw names. Stop buying a gift or gifts for everyone in the family, all your friends, neighbors, and the pets to boot. Get everyone together that normally buys in this manner and put their names in a bag or bowl and have everyone (not the pets) draw one name out. That’s who they buy for, period. This works for families with lots of children also.
2. Tell the kids something to this effect: This year, instead of buying lots of Christmas gifts, we’re going to do something for someone that needs our help. This could mean making meals and taking them to someone, visiting with people who have no one for Christmas, donating their toys to kids who are less fortunate, etc.
3. Shop the sales and bargains. If you can’t find it on sale or clearance, leave it. This can be online or in the actual store.
4. Make it yourself. Homemade gifts are so much more thoughtful and caring than most store bought gifts, simply because love, care, and thought went into creating the item. Get the family together and tell them that this year you’re making gifts for each other. Use what you have (or can afford) and make something with the gift recipient in mind.
5. Have a story telling or singing. Make a new tradition of the family going out (or staying in) singing Christmas songs. Let the children create and put on a Christmas play or puppet show.
There are so many frugal ways to celebrate Christmas, without going into debt or going broke! Sadly, so many parents believe that if they don’t spend money on their kids, that they are depriving their kids. Actually, it’s quite the opposite! They are teaching their kids that Christmas is about one thing – money. It shouldn’t be that way!
There’s nothing wrong in buying Christmas gifts – to some extent. But when parents end up in debt, year after year, just to buy gifts, there is something wrong. When we go broke to get our kids loads of gifts, yes there is something wrong.
This year, make a difference! Have a frugal Christmas, and feel the difference that it makes when your kids are seeing more of what Christmas is really all about.
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8 Ways to Make a Christmas Budget and Stick to It
By Jon Vincent
Every year, we Americans try to stick to a reasonable Christmas budget. But every year, millions of consumers overspend, racking up credit card debt and draining bank accounts in the name of spreading Christmas cheer. According to statistics, over 50% of Americans admit they spend more than they can afford on Christmas gifts, and nearly 40% use credit cards to cover the cost of the holidays.
Setting a Christmas budget is important if you want to avoid going into the red. Here are nine tips on making a Christmas budget and sticking to it:
1. Determine how much you can realistically spend. It’s tempting to dream big and want to surprise people with extravagant gifts. However, you’ll cause yourself a great deal of financial stress instead of enjoying the holidays.
2. Put money aside each month of the year. Christmas always falls on December 25th, so it shouldn’t be a surprise expense! Start preparing for the holidays as early as you can. Even if you can’t spare much, putting an extra $10 into a savings account each month will add up by December.
3. Do your Christmas shopping throughout the year. If you see an item on sale in July that you think your mom will love, buy it. Check out Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales for huge savings on electronics, apparel, jewelry and more. Not only will you save money, but you won’t have to spend as much time in the busy malls come December.
4. Make a list of everyone you’re buying for. This includes family members, friends, your child’s teacher, your mailman…Next, determine how much you plan to spend on each person. If the total is more than your budget, lower the amounts. Don’t be afraid to cross off names of people you don’t absolutely have to buy for; send a nice card instead.
5. Get creative. Rather than shelling out cash on store-bought gifts for everyone on your list, give a neighbor homemade cookies or offer to babysit for a friend who’s a new mom. People will appreciate a thoughtful gesture much more than a pair of socks or a Christmas-themed mug.
6. Use cash instead of credit cards. Credit cards allow you to swipe and spend without a second thought. By handing over your hard-earned cash, you’ll understand the value of a dollar. Leave your credit cards at home when you head to the mall, and if you’re using a credit card to shop online, write down each amount and pay everything off before the New Year.
7. Know what you’re buying. Wandering the crowded malls is exhausting, and you’re more likely to be tempted by an expensive item if you have no clue what you’re looking for. Brainstorm before you hit the stores and write down a number of gift ideas for each person on your list.
8. Don’t forget the extras. Make sure you budget for extras such as wrapping paper, charitable gifts, and hostess gifts for holiday parties.
During the Christmas holiday season, one thing that’s immensely easy to do is to overspend. Of course, breaking the budget can lead to stress, anxiety, debt and no money left for anything else. That’s no way to spend your holidays! Here’s how to not overspend this Christmas.
#1 Set your priorities – What is the single most important thing to you this holiday season? Is it to see family you haven’t seen in a while? Is it to take time off from work and enjoy your family? Is it to travel to a new location and sightsee? Is it to see the smiles on your kids’ faces when they open their gifts?
What is the single most important thing you want to accomplish this holiday season?
#2 Create a plan around your priority – If, for example, your goal this holiday is to spend time with your family, then create a plan to make that happen. Perhaps you’ll spend a weekend at an indoor water park during the holiday break. Maybe you’ll take long days and visit local museums. Maybe you’ll go Christmas caroling and decorate a tree. Write down the things that will help you achieve your goal.
#3 Budget – The next step, once you’ve created a plan to achieve your goal, is to budget for it. This means outlining what you have to spend on your holiday goal and how much it’s realistically going to cost. Don’t forget to budget a little bit for your other holiday priorities and expectations.
For example, maybe you’ve decided that in order to achieve your goal of a family vacation, you’re not going to get each other any gifts. You may still be obligated to get gifts for your child’s teachers or classroom secret Santa gifts. Make sure to include those items in your budget.
#4 Tracking – The next step to stay on budget, regardless of your holiday priorities and goals, is to track your expenses. For example, if you’re buying tickets for that family vacation, track how much it’s costing you. When you’re on vacation, make sure to track how much you’re spending. That way, you can be sure you’re sticking to your budget.
#5 Contingencies – A good budget always includes a little wiggle room. Call it the miscellaneous or emergency fund. When you make room for the unexpected, it’s not a stressful event when it happens.
Before you dive into the holiday season, take some time to prioritize and identify your goals. What does Christmas mean to you? Do your goals, plans and budget reflect that? If not, make adjustments. Christmas doesn’t have to be about giving gifts to everyone you know. It can be, but it can also be about family, vacations, or some well-deserved rest. You get to decide how you want to spend it and how much it costs you.
