Money Saving Ideas for the Holidays

Source: http://www.womansday.com/life/saving-money/money-saving-ideas-for-the-holidays-76895

The holiday season usually means spending more than your monthly expenses on gifts, specialty food, crafts, decorations and last-minute items. Unfortunately, these expenditures can pare down your savings in a flash, or encourage overspending on your credit card.
Most people want to spend more on their friends and family during the holidays, but you don’t have to overextend your finances to celebrate. Here are some simple and effective money saving ideas for the holiday season.

Comparison shop for deals online
If you have a specific item you need to purchase, hop online to do a price comparison. Web sites such as shop.com help you narrow down the best price from hundreds of retailers, and you might be able to take advantage of free shipping offers and online coupons, too. You can also sign up for a deal alert through sites such as dealalerter.com. This service will send you a notification any time the price of your coveted item drops. Such services are great for high-end and premium holiday gifts.

List and prioritize holiday-related expenses
The simple act of making a list of things you want and need to buy can help you wisely spend your hard-earned dollars. Spend some time brainstorming everything you want to buy, and then prioritize your list so that it’s easier to visualize what really needs to be purchased. If you can include estimated prices for each item, even better. This activity can give you a more realistic view of how much money you need to set aside for your holiday spending.

Buy crafts and supplies in the off-season
Make sure you hit the local craft store after each holiday season to pick up dozens of bargains and discounted items. You can find flower picks, ribbon, beads, note cards and hundreds of other craft items at a discount immediately after a holiday, or during the last few days leading up to one. This is a great time to stock up and save, so plan your craft and decorating supply roundup accordingly.

Make your own gift wrap and decorative gift boxes
If you’re the crafty type, consider making your own holiday gift wrap so you don’t have to pay for pricey gift wrap at the store. You can paint and decorate basic parcel wrap, or even decorate old gift boxes with some attractive designs and embellishments. Other money saving ideas for giving gifts include decorating plain Chinese takeout boxes, or making homemade gift baskets. These can all be fun holiday projects that can save you a few dollars for the season.

Give food as gifts
Food is one of the most inexpensive gifts you can give, and homemade treats are always well-received. Buy your ingredients in bulk and get busy cooking or baking up some tasty treats to share with friends and family. For presentation, all you need are some decorative cellophane bags, small food cartons or holiday tins dressed up with ribbon and wax paper. Add a small handwritten note card and you can give a wonderful homemade gift to everyone on your gift list.

Celebrating the season doesn’t have to make a dent in your savings or max out your credit cards. Simply use any of these money saving ideas to enjoy the holidays on any budget.