Holiday Gifts & Ideas Fit Busy Life, Low Budget
Get a Head Start on Holiday Plans, Menus, Gifts, and Decorations
Sep 30, 2009
Holiday celebrations can be joyous and inexpensive. Having family and friends close by and food on the table is a blessing for many Americans who lost a home or job during the recession. Even as news leaks out in September about Black Friday sales, many people will think twice about dashing out before dawn the day after Thanksgiving to get the best gift prices of the season.
Plan a Cheaper, Green, Meaningful Holiday Season
The first step to a debt-free holiday is to make a firm commitment to "pay as you go." Imagine beginning the New Year with no holiday bills to pay. Want to feel really good throughout the entire season? Start at least one green tradition, and do some good for other people. There are plenty of ways to save money during Christmas and other holiday occasions. What's next in the low-budget, no-stress holiday plan?
- Get rid of mail order catalogues as soon as they arrive. The closer the holidays get, the more tempting it is to grab last-minute gifts and pay by credit card.
- Clean the house and reduce stress. Nothing lifts the spirits like a clean home.
- Clean out the kitchen cabinets or pantry. Bring unwanted non-perishable food items (not out of date) to a food bank. Add a few extra items that can be replaced on the next shopping trip.
- Start collecting wrapping paper – Sunday comic pages, glossy magazine pages (can be taped together for bigger size), brown paper bags, pretty pieces of fabric, and even bubble wrap. Decorate as desired!
- Decide on a holiday budget and commit to it.
- Make a list of the people who will receive gifts and their ages. Decide who would be thrilled to receive a baked item or homemade cookies or candy. Find the recipes and make a grocery list.
- Head for the local thrift stores. Some used thrift store items should not be purchased for safety or hygiene reasons, but there are still plenty of items to choose from. Think: dish garden creations, figurines, clothes (some are new), books, tools, decorative glassware, wall art, baskets (can also hold fruit, a potted plant, homemade baked goods, garden items) and more.
- Visit a local dollar store. Bargains here are great if one is a savvy shopper. (Make sure a particular item isn't cheaper someplace else.)
- If the budget allows, cookie tins, candy dishes, and serving plates purchased at the thrift store or dollar store make great containers for homemade treats. If this is too costly, then paper plates will do just fine (or recycle sturdy washable plastic containers from the grocery store).
- Visit yard sales, rummage sales, and school festivals to pick up used items in good condition for sale. Check for bargains on wrapping paper, gift bags, and ribbon at these sales, too.
- Tired of the old holiday decorations? Spruce up the old wreath and tree decorations with a little paint or glitter. Decorate pine cones, make use of Mardi Gras beads, shells, stones, and cotton balls. String popcorn and cranberries (don't use microwave popcorn). Pine branches and greenery on the fireplace mantel and bookcase add a finishing touch and great scent.
- Work out the Christmas or holiday menu and add items needed to the grocery list. Purchase food items for gifts and menu as the holiday draws near.
Green Holiday Gifts
Green gifts can be low-cost, homemade items or things made from Earth-friendly materials. Trips to a favorite place like a park or zoo make thoughtful memorable gifts. Gifts from the kitchen such as pound cake, relishes, home-processed canned foods, and homemade candy make any holiday special.
Helping someone complete a project or restoring a special piece of furniture makes a wonderful gift. Volunteering time or a special skill works, too. The ideas for green gifts are virtually unlimited; all it takes is thought and ingenuity to make the holiday complete.
A lot of consumers don't have the money to spend on pricey gifts; even so, many more people have learned that it doesn't take a big bank account and lavish presents to celebrate the spirit of the season. Families can stay within a budget and start new Earth-friendly money-saving holiday traditions. A little creativity and the right attitude will make the best holiday ever.
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