I make lists! I usually will make one list with the people that I intend to purchase gifts for and then another with exactly where I can get it and how much. I also use that list to reference the price of the item and where I can purchase it, but I always try to find it for less than my target price.
I use coupon sites to make the smartest purchases when items are on sale and have store and manufacturer coupons. I also shop for the holidays all year long, especially right after each holiday, when so much is available on clearance.
I set aside money in our budget as Christmas money throughout the year. We buy small gifts for our siblings and spend more on our parents and the children throughout the family. It seems to work and everyone enjoys the season.
I cash in rewards that I have earned all year long to defray costs. Also, I budget for holiday expenditures yearly so I am not suddenly surprised by unexpected bills.
I've started buying a case of steeply discounted red wine (seems more suited to winter) whenever I see it so that I can just grab and go during the holiday season. It works as a stand alone gift for parties, and instantly classes up a small trinket for someone.
For decorating - I decorate for autumn (not Halloween or Thanksgiving) so we have one set of decorations that last over the two months but still make me feel festive for the beginning of holidays. For Christmas we focus on a budget and try to shop sales based on a list.
I try to set expectations and limits on gift spending, especially with friends. Also, we'll often play "secret Santa" so eat person only has to buy one gift and is capped in the amount he/she can spend.
I find that my biggest budget buster during the holidays are impulse buys, so I make a list of each person that I intend to buy a gift for the holidays, and then I stick to my list. I have also found that food and entertaining costs are higher during the holidays, so I try to stick closer to my budget with careful planning of my menus so that I am less tempted to buy extra foods that are not on my menu. By planning our holiday menu several weeks in advance, I am able to make the best use of coupons and discounts as well as any specials or markdowns that I find at the store.
I have a gift list and dresser that I organize all my gifts in and keep track of what I have for what person. I buy good deals and clearance items throughout the year and almost have nothing to buy when Christmas rolls around.
Holidays are not extravagant in our home. Most people will think we very frugal but we do not think anyone is deprived!! Even a meal is just my husband and I as all children are overseas.
Make several lists. There should be one for each category like food, decorations , clothes/accessories , gifts, etc. Then put money aside for those things.
I bet they run everyone's bank account on an algorithm to hold certain transactions just to put people in jeopardy, or atlest most people that is that live check to check.
I have switched to giving practical or necessary gifts to immediate family members and have had to stop giving gifts outside the family due to economic reasons. I like to give pottery I make which is one way to save money and be frugal.
I don't. :) My family is not large so it's a time to show them I love them. For friends and co-workers, I keep it simple with homemade treats from the heart.
Thanks a LOT for your knowledge and for sharing it online! I did NOT know this, although when you mentioned the car insurance and a claim while driving a vehicle for business, that IS something that I recall discussing with a lawyer that worked for a car insurance company! So again, thanks for your knowledge!!!
I am so lucky that my family prefers to keep it simple and focus on spending time with each other. So I focus on experiences and don't stress material things. We all are way more concerned with enjoying our time together and doing fun things like going on hikes or baking cookies together, decorating, etc. And yes, I feel totally prepared!
I shop early. It's easier to find good gifts if I'm watching a while before I'll need things. I also like making some of my gifts, since I'm a reasonably good knitter. (You have to actually enjoy the process of knitting, not just the end product in order for this to work frugally.)
Because my husband's family has gotten larger over the years we usually don't exchange gifts among all the adults. We do gifts for pets and children and draw one adult name to buy for. We agree on a limit for that one gift too. There's usually a simple dinner at the in-laws' house, and we each bring one item of food or drink to share. They don't live too far, so there isn't really travel cost involved. It ends up being pretty frugal.
We buy for kids only. Once they finish college they start to buy gifts for the younger ones. We set a price limit too. This way no one gets overwhelmed with shopping and spending.
I make lists! I usually will make one list with the people that I intend to purchase gifts for and then another with exactly where I can get it and how much. I also use that list to reference the price of the item and where I can purchase it, but I always try to find it for less than my target price.
I use coupon sites to make the smartest purchases when items are on sale and have store and manufacturer coupons. I also shop for the holidays all year long, especially right after each holiday, when so much is available on clearance.
I set aside money in our budget as Christmas money throughout the year. We buy small gifts for our siblings and spend more on our parents and the children throughout the family. It seems to work and everyone enjoys the season.
I cash in rewards that I have earned all year long to defray costs. Also, I budget for holiday expenditures yearly so I am not suddenly surprised by unexpected bills.
I've started buying a case of steeply discounted red wine (seems more suited to winter) whenever I see it so that I can just grab and go during the holiday season. It works as a stand alone gift for parties, and instantly classes up a small trinket for someone.
For decorating - I decorate for autumn (not Halloween or Thanksgiving) so we have one set of decorations that last over the two months but still make me feel festive for the beginning of holidays. For Christmas we focus on a budget and try to shop sales based on a list.
I try to set expectations and limits on gift spending, especially with friends. Also, we'll often play "secret Santa" so eat person only has to buy one gift and is capped in the amount he/she can spend.
I find that my biggest budget buster during the holidays are impulse buys, so I make a list of each person that I intend to buy a gift for the holidays, and then I stick to my list. I have also found that food and entertaining costs are higher during the holidays, so I try to stick closer to my budget with careful planning of my menus so that I am less tempted to buy extra foods that are not on my menu. By planning our holiday menu several weeks in advance, I am able to make the best use of coupons and discounts as well as any specials or markdowns that I find at the store.
I use a credit card that has 90 day price matching, so I always get the best price on everything.
I make a list and stick to it! This keeps me from impulse buys or forgetting to buy for someone special.
I have a gift list and dresser that I organize all my gifts in and keep track of what I have for what person. I buy good deals and clearance items throughout the year and almost have nothing to buy when Christmas rolls around.
Holidays are not extravagant in our home. Most people will think we very frugal but we do not think anyone is deprived!! Even a meal is just my husband and I as all children are overseas.
Make several lists. There should be one for each category like food, decorations , clothes/accessories , gifts, etc. Then put money aside for those things.
I bet they run everyone's bank account on an algorithm to hold certain transactions just to put people in jeopardy, or atlest most people that is that live check to check.
I have switched to giving practical or necessary gifts to immediate family members and have had to stop giving gifts outside the family due to economic reasons. I like to give pottery I make which is one way to save money and be frugal.
For me it isn't different than any other time of the year... I just don't spend much.
I don't. :) My family is not large so it's a time to show them I love them. For friends and co-workers, I keep it simple with homemade treats from the heart.
Thanks a LOT for your knowledge and for sharing it online! I did NOT know this, although when you mentioned the car insurance and a claim while driving a vehicle for business, that IS something that I recall discussing with a lawyer that worked for a car insurance company! So again, thanks for your knowledge!!!
I am so lucky that my family prefers to keep it simple and focus on spending time with each other. So I focus on experiences and don't stress material things. We all are way more concerned with enjoying our time together and doing fun things like going on hikes or baking cookies together, decorating, etc. And yes, I feel totally prepared!
I shop during the year and stick to budget. I make gifts as well.
I shop early. It's easier to find good gifts if I'm watching a while before I'll need things. I also like making some of my gifts, since I'm a reasonably good knitter. (You have to actually enjoy the process of knitting, not just the end product in order for this to work frugally.)
Because my husband's family has gotten larger over the years we usually don't exchange gifts among all the adults. We do gifts for pets and children and draw one adult name to buy for. We agree on a limit for that one gift too. There's usually a simple dinner at the in-laws' house, and we each bring one item of food or drink to share. They don't live too far, so there isn't really travel cost involved. It ends up being pretty frugal.
We stay frugal buy setting a budget. I also make some items to give.
We buy for kids only. Once they finish college they start to buy gifts for the younger ones. We set a price limit too. This way no one gets overwhelmed with shopping and spending.
We focus on experiences, not things. For example, we'll host a cooking baking party. It's affordable, festive, and everyone wins!