A national retailer sends out monthly discount cards. I wait until I get the 30% off and combine it with a $10 off $30 purchase coupon they put on the newspapers and purchase merchandise on sale. I bought my daughters Fila yoga pants and jacket. The total for both daughters was $52. For friends, I bake cookies/breads with ingredients I keep stocked during the year using sales/coupons. We're doing projects inside our home so I bought $150 Lowe's gift cards at the grocery store and received a $25 off $50 purchase coupon. I combined that with other coupons and purchased $138 of groceries (NOT junk food) for $49. I do online surveys etc. to earn points toward gift cards and I collect the codes from coke products which I use for free movie tickets.
While we shop for the children in our families, my husband and I participate in Secret Santa with the adult members of our family so we are each only buy one larger gift. We all agree on set price to spend. Also, when it comes to the kids, we always include a book (or several) along with a toy and buy those books from used book stores (with coupons!).
I save by stalking online for coupons and by taking advantage of the best credit card rewards and storefront options. I have multiple credit cards for this purpose, although I pay off the credit cards at the end of each month. Also, I try to stick to a gift plan - it becomes all too easy to just grab random gifts for people as you shop. While this is great if you have the extra money, when you're trying to save it's best to stick to a well-thought plan of meaningful but affordable gifts for friends and family. I start developing a list in early November and then can keep an eye out on sales.
I buy things ahead of time throughout the year, that I think people will like, or I have knowledge that they will need it. I buy wrapping paper on sale, but sometimes use funny papers from the Sunday papers instead. It is already premeasured and cut, colorful, and since we receive two papers it is free.
Biggest challenge #1 this year: Stuff is everywhere due to moving everything (to reduce damage and loss) until the roofers could get here after many months to replace our roof after Tropical Storm Lee. Most items are stacked in boxes, stacked several feet high. I think I am buying some duplicates because I have lost track of some purchases. Thankfully, nothing purchased has an expiration date.
Biggest challenge #2 this year: there is so much stuff out there, and I would like to buy it for little kid relatives, but realize they do have parents, grandparents, other aunts and uncles, and already have too much stuff.
Biggest challenge #3: car repairs are busting my budget big time.
I buy fundraiser cookie dough when the kids at school are selling it. It keeps for months in the freezer, I take it out and make cookies for my coworkers for the holidays.
We save money during the holidays by setting the rule that we will not travel nor enter a big box store or mall during the month of December. We save on gas, avoid impulse purchases and then do most of our shopping online, which allows us to be more balanced and deliberate.
I use gift cards I have acquired throughout the year, like to Amazon, to buy gifts. Also, sites like Retail Me Not for coupon codes to online stores. Last year my family decided to buy gifts for pets and children but draw names amongst the adults, so I don't have as many people to shop for anymore.
I checked out of the commercialism years ago and stopped buying gifts. Now my family and friends get together and enjoy a nice meal and good company. Much less stress for all involved!
Will be out there Black Friday. Over the years we have really cut back on gift giving, mostly just the kids and our mom's get gifts. I do my own baking too.
The wife and I decided to limit our spending on each other to $50. It isn't about the gifts but just about spending time together. Now the fun is searching out the best deals to make that $50 go a long way!
I buy gifts through out the year, keeping a list of who to buy for, and who I've gotten things for, and I store everything in a dresser. I try to get deals at thrift stores and on sale items, too. I also try to make some of the gifts I give to others.
I buy any gifts not going to be homemade online. I look through all the black Friday ads and pick out what I need. This year I've already done ALL my gift buying though Kohls which has super great deals. I buy online BEFORE the Thanksgiving rush as I get the same deals WITHOUT standing in line and it's all shipped free!.
The rest of my gifts are homemade cookie trays. I start baking 1 or 2 cookies at a time and freezing them. when I start to make the platters up...i'll have 12-15 assorted cookies on each platter! EVERYONE loves this gift. I buy the flour and butter on sale in freeze it until baking time cutting my cost way down.
I buy holiday presents throughout the year when they're on sale. I also reuse all my holiday decorations. (I did buy some new garlands this year to replace the ratty old ones, but they too were on sale.)
To save during the holidays, I always start early! Then it does not hit my budget all at the same time! I watch for great deals and try to get as much as I can ahead of time so I can enjoy December!
A national retailer sends out monthly discount cards. I wait until I get the 30% off and combine it with a $10 off $30 purchase coupon they put on the newspapers and purchase merchandise on sale. I bought my daughters Fila yoga pants and jacket. The total for both daughters was $52. For friends, I bake cookies/breads with ingredients I keep stocked during the year using sales/coupons. We're doing projects inside our home so I bought $150 Lowe's gift cards at the grocery store and received a $25 off $50 purchase coupon. I combined that with other coupons and purchased $138 of groceries (NOT junk food) for $49. I do online surveys etc. to earn points toward gift cards and I collect the codes from coke products which I use for free movie tickets.
While we shop for the children in our families, my husband and I participate in Secret Santa with the adult members of our family so we are each only buy one larger gift. We all agree on set price to spend. Also, when it comes to the kids, we always include a book (or several) along with a toy and buy those books from used book stores (with coupons!).
I save by stalking online for coupons and by taking advantage of the best credit card rewards and storefront options. I have multiple credit cards for this purpose, although I pay off the credit cards at the end of each month. Also, I try to stick to a gift plan - it becomes all too easy to just grab random gifts for people as you shop. While this is great if you have the extra money, when you're trying to save it's best to stick to a well-thought plan of meaningful but affordable gifts for friends and family. I start developing a list in early November and then can keep an eye out on sales.
What is TRU?
Thanks,
Nancy
I buy things ahead of time throughout the year, that I think people will like, or I have knowledge that they will need it. I buy wrapping paper on sale, but sometimes use funny papers from the Sunday papers instead. It is already premeasured and cut, colorful, and since we receive two papers it is free.
Biggest challenge #1 this year: Stuff is everywhere due to moving everything (to reduce damage and loss) until the roofers could get here after many months to replace our roof after Tropical Storm Lee. Most items are stacked in boxes, stacked several feet high. I think I am buying some duplicates because I have lost track of some purchases. Thankfully, nothing purchased has an expiration date.
Biggest challenge #2 this year: there is so much stuff out there, and I would like to buy it for little kid relatives, but realize they do have parents, grandparents, other aunts and uncles, and already have too much stuff.
Biggest challenge #3: car repairs are busting my budget big time.
I buy fundraiser cookie dough when the kids at school are selling it. It keeps for months in the freezer, I take it out and make cookies for my coworkers for the holidays.
Yikes sorry about that. The Cuisine Art Griddle link is now working and it's still on sale. Thanks for the heads up.
I bought a fake tree due to allergies. Now I keep that 50 bucks or more I would have spent on a fresh tree eachyear
i make a list of what i'm going to get for gifts and i try to stick to the list.
We save money during the holidays by setting the rule that we will not travel nor enter a big box store or mall during the month of December. We save on gas, avoid impulse purchases and then do most of our shopping online, which allows us to be more balanced and deliberate.
I use gift cards I have acquired throughout the year, like to Amazon, to buy gifts. Also, sites like Retail Me Not for coupon codes to online stores. Last year my family decided to buy gifts for pets and children but draw names amongst the adults, so I don't have as many people to shop for anymore.
I look for deals online and search for coupon codes
I checked out of the commercialism years ago and stopped buying gifts. Now my family and friends get together and enjoy a nice meal and good company. Much less stress for all involved!
I stick to a budget and try to remember what's important to me, which is time spent with friends and family.
I buy joint gifts with others, hit the major sales, and always buy Christmas "stuff" the day after Christmas and save for the following year.
I buy gift baskets at church fundraisers. Those usually feature silent auctions, and the money goes to a good cause.
Plus I'm done by November 1.
It helps that the only folks I have to shop for are my parents.
Will be out there Black Friday. Over the years we have really cut back on gift giving, mostly just the kids and our mom's get gifts. I do my own baking too.
The wife and I decided to limit our spending on each other to $50. It isn't about the gifts but just about spending time together. Now the fun is searching out the best deals to make that $50 go a long way!
We spend more time together but purchase less gifts overall. We either limit the amount we can spend on each other or forgo gifts all together.
I buy gifts through out the year, keeping a list of who to buy for, and who I've gotten things for, and I store everything in a dresser. I try to get deals at thrift stores and on sale items, too. I also try to make some of the gifts I give to others.
I buy any gifts not going to be homemade online. I look through all the black Friday ads and pick out what I need. This year I've already done ALL my gift buying though Kohls which has super great deals. I buy online BEFORE the Thanksgiving rush as I get the same deals WITHOUT standing in line and it's all shipped free!.
The rest of my gifts are homemade cookie trays. I start baking 1 or 2 cookies at a time and freezing them. when I start to make the platters up...i'll have 12-15 assorted cookies on each platter! EVERYONE loves this gift. I buy the flour and butter on sale in freeze it until baking time cutting my cost way down.
I buy holiday presents throughout the year when they're on sale. I also reuse all my holiday decorations. (I did buy some new garlands this year to replace the ratty old ones, but they too were on sale.)
Wrote about this at:
http://donnafreedman.com/2013/11/26/whats-new-at-mtn-plus-a-few-ways-to-...
I stopped buying gifts for those who I don't regularly see or have a meaningful relationship with.
To save during the holidays, I always start early! Then it does not hit my budget all at the same time! I watch for great deals and try to get as much as I can ahead of time so I can enjoy December!