New Years is a time to start fresh and make positive changes in your life, so why would you begin 2015 with even more debt caused by celebrating it? Sure, it’s great to have a good time and send off the old year in style, but you don’t have to go on a spending spree to do so. With a few money saving techniques you can say goodbye to 2014 and hello to 2015 without even breaking out the credit card. With these simple to follow tips you’ll start next year off on a positive note without having to sacrifice a good time or add to your already growing holiday debt! So, get ready to count down and ring in the New Year completely stress free!

1. Free Fireworks
A lot of communities like to host their very own New Year’s extravaganza, so make sure to check out what your area has in store. Many places will host a free firework display which will allow people of all ages to spend time together and make sure 2015 arrives in style. Often these events host some amazing local musicians as well as other small activities that will keep your family busy until it’s time to countdown. Before you leave for an event make sure to bundle up or bring extra blankets just in case you get too cold. This will prevent you from having to leave early or buy something to keep you warm while you’re outside. You may also want to pack hot cocoa and coffee in thermoses and pack some snacks so you won’t have to buy overpriced refreshments. This activity should take up most of your night and will allow you to skip buying pricey fireworks without having to miss out on their magic!

2. Leftovers
A lot of people will have enjoyed a huge feast for Christmas which might make buying another large meal way out of the budget. You shouldn’t have to stress about this too much though! Chances are you had a pretty good amount of leftovers from your holiday meal that no one is going to want to eat after a few days. Rather than putting all of the leftovers in the refrigerator after the big feast, try to turn some of them into appetizers or small finger foods. This is especially easy with meats, but you can also do it with fruit or vegetable dishes too. Another good thing to serve is the leftover pies and other sweets that aren’t going to be eaten as fast as you imagined. Simply cut each one into smaller pieces and you’re set for a tasty and budget friendly menu that will appease a wide assortment of guests. When you have your little treats and appetizers ready to go then pop them in the freezer so they don’t go bad between the two holidays. By the time New Year’s comes around your family will be ready for round 2 of the holiday meal which will cut down on leftovers all together!

3. Bring Your Own Drinks
One of the most expensive items for any party is drinks and most New Year’s parties require a whole lot of them. If you plan on hosting a party this holiday, don’t be embarrassed to include a Bring Your Own Drink tab on the invite. This will save you hundreds of dollars without actually sacrificing the quality of your party. If you can get everyone to sign up for specific drinks, or require everyone to bring at least one with them, then you should have enough to go around. This will allow you to spend a bit more on food, decor or entertainment without having to sweat a huge bill at the end of the night. You don’t have to limit drinks to alcohol either. Soda, punch and even water should be welcome on the list as people will require something else to drink throughout the night.

4. Decorations
Many people who host New Year’s parties want to go out and spend more money on decorations for this holiday. There’s absolutely no need to do so though. You can easily leave up your Christmas items which will set the mood for the occasion perfectly. If you don’t like to leave up the Christmas decor then put away the tree and other holiday specific items and then bring in the lighting from outside. The fun white lights will add to the ambiance of the room and will prevent you from having to buy even more decor! Tinsel is another great item to add to the mix as it will give a special shine to your home and is incredibly cheap to buy if you don’t already have some leftover from Christmas. Of course, you can still add some New Year specific items to the mix. Try creating a banner using cheap rolled paper, glitter and paint. You can also use print outs to spread the holiday joy throughout the home. Another idea is to leave around cocktail glasses as decoration which will set a fun mood for your guests. Fill them with decorative rocks or tinsel to make them look even more festive! There’s plenty more ideas online, so if you’re at a loss start browsing today!

5. Shop Bulk
When it comes to feeding a whole lot of people, nothing will save your budget quite like bulk buying. Try to head to your local wholesale store and see if there are any items on clearance from the holidays. You may also try to plan your budget around the bulk items that you can get at a good price. Many of these stores will offer great prices on finger foods and snacks that will keep guests satisfied throughout the night. You may also want to look at alcohol in bulk stores too. You’ll save a lot of money if you can manage to shop for boxed wine rather than the small bottles. These wines will last quite some time so guests won’t be disappointed by the lack of party supplies. You might also want to consider larger bottles of spirits. These won’t go as fast, so if you have any leftover you can span the contents throughout the year, which will save you even more money.

6. Clearance
Luckily, New Year’s follows one of the biggest holidays of the year, Christmas. Thus, you should be able to follow the Christmas clearance trail to everything you need for the holiday. You may want to start in the food section! Stock up on appetizers, desserts, sparkling cider and even wine for a special treat for your guests. It doesn’t matter if the food tends to be holiday specific because you can always redecorate or add some New Year’s decor to the dish to make it seem more festive. Another great item to buy during this time is lighting which can be used as decor for the party. White lights are the perfect mood setter and will ensure you get to enjoy a small burst of holiday fun before the decor goes back into storage. Another great item to buy is holiday poppers! They’re perfect to ring in the New Year and will be in the Christmas clearance bin too. There’s also a lot of other assorted props, so make sure to look around to see what you can find for your celebration!

7. Entertainment
If you’re having a party and are worried about keeping everyone entertained then you may want to relax as there is a wide selection of things to do which don’t cost a thing. Most parties thrive on music, but you won’t have to spend a bundle on CDs or downloads to make your guests happy. There’s lot of internet radios that don’t cost a thing and many will even have New Year playlists ready to go which saves you plenty of time. If you’re going to have guests for a few hours then come up with a trivia game based on the past year. You can easily find facts online for this as there will be an assortment of articles looking back on the past year published throughout the week. You can also create a charades game based on the past year. If your party is on the more intimate side of the spectrum then have everyone chat with a nice glass of wine. You can each take turns talking about your past year’s highlights. You may also want to talk about next year’s resolutions and predictions. This is a great time to start up support groups and could even lead to hours passing by without anyone realizing it!

8. Visit Relatives/Friends
Sometimes getting away for the holidays is an absolute must, but finding the time and money isn’t exactly on the agenda. If this is the case then you may want to ask a nearby friend or relative if you can stay with them for the night. This is particularly great if you live in a small town or suburb and want to experience New Year’s from a city dwellers perspective. Even if you can only stay for a day or two it should give you a refreshed feeling when you return back home to start on work. It will also give you some time to catch up with someone you may not get to see often. The best thing is, you’ll probably only spend a bit on transportation and other small travel costs so you won’t have to worry about your budget in the slightest. With these savings you might even be able to pay to see something cool in the city which will leave your family’s memories of this New Year’s even better.

9. Late Night Potluck
One of the problems with New Year’s parities is they tend to last hours longer because the party needs to at least last until midnight. If you want to host a party this year, but you’re on a tight budget you may want to ask your guests to join you in a late night potluck opposed to the classic party. This will allow friends and family to visit others before they come to you, so they’ll already feel the buzz of the holiday. With everyone bringing a dish along with them you can easily sit down to a meal at 10 or 11 and wait for midnight to ring you in to a New Year. With everyone showing up to eat dinner so late you won’t have to worry about spending money to entertain everyone, nor will you have to worry about providing them with hours’ worth of drinks. Thus, the party will become even more memorable and fun while saving you a whole lot of money!

10. Keep it Simple
Of course, New Year’s doesn’t have to be all about going out or hosting parties. Rather, you can save even more money by staying at home and having an easy night with your family. Instead of planning a big outing try to create a modest meal for everyone. You may even have the whole family cook together to help the night pass by faster. When you’ve finished your meal make some hot cocoa and play some board games. The kids will love the time as a family! You can also chat about the New Year in front of a fire and talk about future goals. When the time nears then switch on the TV and watch the ball drop. There’s really countless things to do as a family at home, so let the mood guide you!

New Years is a great time to hang out with friends and family and look back on the past year. With these ten easy ideas for your holiday, you should be able to have some fun with those you love without worrying about spending too much money. With a frugal celebration on your side, you’ll feel keen to start the New Year off right.

Whether you’re celebrating Kwanzaa for the first time or your family has enjoyed the occasion for decades, it’s always nice to save a little money on the holiday. With Christmas just wrapping up and New Year’s rapidly on its way, you may find that your budget is so strapped you’ll need a miracle to pull off another holiday. This doesn’t have to be a concern when it comes to your Kwanzaa dining though. With these ten simple tips you’ll be able to create a masterful menu that will have everyone wanting to spend the rest of the holiday around your dinner table. So, pull out your favorite recipes, check out these tips and you’ll be ready to plan the best Kwanzaa menu yet without having to plunge into debt.

1. Farmer’s Market
When it comes to Kwanzaa recipes you know you’re going to spend a whole lot of time in the produce aisle, which could be a tad expensive if you’re shopping at a regular grocery store. Instead of shopping here first, try to head to your local farmer’s market to see what kind of deals you can get there. Yes, it may be winter but there’s a good chance you’ll find just about everything you’re looking for at the market. In fact, you may also be able to grab some of the meats you were hoping to find! The best thing is, the prices at a Farmer’s Market are much better than shopping at a typical grocery store, which also means you can buy a lot more for a lot less. When you shop at a Farmer’s Market you’re also giving back to your community which will help other families afford their own celebrations. Of course, if you’ve found yourself with more produce than you originally meant to buy then you can always use it as your Kwanzaa decor!

2. Shop Early
If you really want to avoid spending a whole lot then you’ll need to start shopping for your celebration in advance. This may not help you this year, but next year you’ll be ready to take on the meal without forcing your budget to break a sweat. Throughout the year, you can buy many meats and vegetables on sale at different times. Unfortunately, a lot of the meals you may want to have during Kwanzaa will probably feature ingredients that went out of season months ago. The solution is to do shopping for the meal around the year. When you see a great price on seafood go ahead and stock up. You can freeze the items, so when it comes time to prepare the meal you’ll be ready. You can also do the same for vegetables or other meats you may want to use in your feast! With most of the ingredients already in the freezer you may not even have to step foot in a store.

3. Make Substitutions
Sometimes we get too caught up in what a recipe says. Although it is always nice to stick with tradition and have a meal we know we’re comfortable with, sometimes it just isn’t financially plausible. This doesn’t mean you have to leave out your favorite dishes though. In fact, not having one component of the recipe could open you up to trying a little something new. For instance, if a recipe calls for shrimp then you could always swap out the ingredient for chicken or fish. You might have to alter the spices a bit, but you’ll save some money and may even introduce your family to something they’ll fall in love with. Each dish is different so you may have to do a little research to figure out which items can be substituted without messing up the meal. This should only take a brief amount of research on the internet though, so don’t stress too much.

4. Sales
Kwanzaa just so happens to begin the day after Christmas this year, which is a big bonus for anyone that’s willing to wait and do some last minute shopping. Typically, most stores will hold huge sales the day after Christmas which means if you’re willing to brave the crowds you can get a lot of the components of your meal for 50% to 80% off! Some stores will even offer larger discounts on holiday specific items like Pecan Pie. This is a pretty good advantage considering this is a great Kwanzaa dessert. Of course, you don’t always have to wait until after Christmas to do your shopping. There should be plenty of sales going on throughout the holidays which can help you get most of the items you need at a lower price. Make sure to pay attention to sales ads so you know when and where you need to do your Kwanzaa shopping.

5. Cook in Bulk
There’s 7 days of Kwanzaa which means you could end up cooking a large meal every single night for a week. This can be pricey and time consuming, not to mention exhausting. A lot of people tend to not want to cook every night especially if they have to work or are entertaining a household for the day. Rather than make meals every single night, try to plan out bulk meals. Look through your recipes and find dishes that are filling and can last for several days. Usually, if you pick soups or stews you will be able to feed the family on a small budget without having to think twice about cooking every night. If you choose a few different menu items, make several loaves of bread and provide fresh fruit then your menu should please even the most finicky of Kwanzaa guests. Luckily, there’s lots of Kwanzaa soups and stews to choose from so look online for something that suits your family’s tastes as well as your cooking skills!

6. Bulk Shopping
A lot of Kwanzaa recipes require an abundance of ingredients. You may also find yourself using the same ingredients in many of the dishes you choose. One way to help save money here is to shop in a bulk store rather than buying large amounts of an item at your typical grocery store. A lot of bulk stores, like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Warehouse, have an abundance of items that will fit into your Kwanzaa recipes nicely. From meats to fruits you will be able to purchase everything you need without having to pay the outrageous price. Typically buying items in bulk from a wholesale store means you can calculate a few freebies when you compare it to costs from a regular grocery or department store. Also, when it comes to fruit and Kwanzaa, the more you have the better so it’s best to stock up!

7. Use Leftovers
When it comes to finding the food you need for your Kwanzaa meal, you may not have to look any further than the leftovers you have from your Christmas celebration. Leftover meat can be transformed into casseroles, appetizers or other meal components that will help prevent it from spoiling in your refrigerator as well as helping you save lots of money. Pecan pie and other fruit dishes are also fairly common to have during Christmas, but they’re also part of the Kwanzaa celebration too. You may even find a lot of your side dishes can be transformed into something else to make your holiday meal even better. So, before you go out to buy more food, take a look at the abundance you already have and go from there. You may be surprised as to how much you use to create a feast for an entirely different celebration!

8. Free Recipes
A lot of people who haven’t celebrated Kwanzaa yet or are still fairly new to the holiday may find themselves looking into purchasing special books on Kwanzaa recipes, meal plans and customs. This can be one of the biggest wastes of money for the holiday season. Rather than going to a book store on a tight budget, take to the internet or your favorite cooking app to see what kind of delicious meals you can come up with. There’s thousands of recipes online as well as some free Kwanzaa ebooks, so you shouldn’t have to spend a penny on the planning of your meal! The best thing about looking at recipes online is you can actually take the same dish from several different websites and compare ingredients. This will help you figure out which one your family will probably like the best as well as which one will save you the most money. With this power in your hands you’ll be set for a few holiday meals your family will crave all year.

9. Potluck
As with any holiday, anyone that wants to host an event should consider making the celebration a potluck. This is one of the best ways to keep your tight budget away from the holiday which will help you feel the spirit of the occasion even more. Potlucks allow guests to show up with their favorite dish, which means you can get away with cooking one or two dishes and calling it a day. With the money you saved on the meal being shared with guests, you can concentrate on other aspects of the holiday or put it back for a rainy day. Potlucks are also a great learning experience for those you share them with. You’re not only getting to try someone else’s take on a dish, but you’re also getting to see some dishes you’ve never had before. If you’re new to celebrating Kwanzaa then this learning experience can help you decide what dishes you should learn to cook. It can also help you figure out who can teach you how to make some of the traditional meals if you’re not quite certain where to start.

10. Groupon
It’s only human to want to go to celebrate a special occasion by going out to eat. This is especially true if you’ve been working on the perfect holiday meal for Christmas and just need a break from your kitchen. There’s a lot of restaurants around the world that provide African cuisine, so try to log on to your favorite social media deal site and see if you can find something to help make your holiday great. A lot of the time you may find a restaurant you didn’t know existed which could even become a household favorite. Going out to eat on the holiday can be a great learning experience, especially if you’re not too familiar with the customs or food that should be served. Trying different African dishes out in a restaurant can teach you more than you think which makes it money worth spending. Of course, if you can get your friends and family in on a good deal then you’ll save a whole lot more than you think, which could actually take a big dent off of the price tag of your Kwanzaa celebration.

Holidays can be stressful and if you’re trying to support a budget for several occasions in a row then it may seem almost impossible. With these ten simple tips you shouldn’t have to compromise your Kwanzaa celebration due to money. The tips should guide you to cheaper meals that will have your entire family and inner circle raving over your amazing celebration. So take a deep breath and prepare yourself to conquer another holiday while having the time of your life with those you care about the most!

In just a few short days the kids will be home for school for a few weeks. Although the holidays may take up some of this time, there’s a good chance your children may be climbing the walls before they’re sent back to school. This time of year is especially hard to plan activities due to the money that’s already been spent on the holidays, but luckily there are a few ways to keep your kids busy without having to shell out even more money! With these ten winter break ideas your kids will be busy having fun without wanting or needing you to buy them anything to pass the time. So, don’t cut your holiday budget short just to find the money to keep your kids entertained!

1. Holiday Crafts
If you celebrate the holidays then you’re in luck because holiday crafts are one of the best ways to keep your kids occupied during the long winter break. From making their own decorations to coloring print outs, the options are endless when it comes to crafts. Before the kids are let out of school make sure your crafting supplies are ready to go. You may also want to browse around to find a few ideas to plan throughout the days. With a little preparation you should be able to plan enough craft time to take up a few hours of each day which means less time the kids will complain about being bored. You may want to start out with making homemade holiday cards, so you can mail them out as a family. Creating DIY gifts for friends and family is also a fun way to make the holidays even more meaningful while also taking up quite a bit of time. When you run out of crafting ideas then take a trip to a pottery shop. Usually you can create cheap decorations here which will be ready when it’s time to decorate. Of course, if you don’t want to pay extra then make homemade playdough and bake the decorations in the oven!

2. Bake
Nothing says home quite like an afternoon of baking in the winter time. This year bring the kids into the kitchen and have them help out. You can make cookies for Santa Claus or baked goods for your holiday feast. You may even consider baking items as gifts for friends and family. One of the best things to make for the holidays is bread, which takes a lot of work so it’ll keep kids busy for longer. Make sure to give each child a job based on their age. Kneading dough is great for all ages though and will make kids feel like baking is a lot of fun which will encourage them to want to develop more skills. Another great thing to make while you’re baking is a ginger bread house. You can easily look up a recipe online and then pull out your decorating kits. Kids will love creating a candied home which will serve as a lovely decoration too! The best thing is, while you’re baking you won’t have to run the heater as the oven will do all the work. Thus, you’ll save even more money by just having fun with the kids.

3. Snow Fun
Snow is a great part of winter break and can be one of your best ways to avoid spending money during the season. Send the kids out to play in the snow for a few hours, but make sure they’re bundle up and have supervision. Urge kids to build a snowman or snow angel to pass some time. You may also want to start a snowball fight or help the kids create an igloo. Gathering up pool toys or sleds you already own and enjoy sledding on nearby hills can bring hours of joy for the whole family. When snack time rolls around have the kids collect untouched now then bring it inside and make snow cones or snow ice cream. You can find a recipe online if you’re not sure where to start. Of course, not everyone gets snow but this doesn’t mean you have to skip out on the fun. Instead, have the kids cut our paper to make a snow man. You can also use paper plates and markers! When you have all the pieces ready to go pin it to the wall. Pillows can also take the place of snow for an epic snowball fight, but make sure you’ve moved breakables before the fun begins. You can also make shaved ice snow cones to finish off the fun.

4. Dance
By the time you’re into the first couple of days of winter break it will probably be very obvious that the kids have quite a bit of excess energy going on. One way to remedy this problem is to break out the music and dance it away. Dancing is a fun way to get kids to exercise without actually forcing them to go out and run laps. You have a lot of options when it comes to dancing too, so it can speak to kids with different interests. One way is to put on a dance channel on the TV or look up video tutorials. Kids can learn just about any form of dance this way and they may even be able to work out a routine to perform for family and friends during the holidays. Another way to inspire kids to dance is to break out dance videogames. There’s an assortment of these games that speak to very young children as well as teens. You can also just break out some music and have the whole family dance together. If the kids are arguing a lot during break then have them do a dance off to solve the problem. It may sound cheesy but kids will forget about the argument, burn some energy and will be occupied so they won’t find another reason to fight right away!

5. Playdates
Kids are used to seeing their friends almost every day at school, so they’ll probably start missing them after a couple of days of not being able to see them. Rather than let this happen try to get together with their friend’s parents to see if you can schedule a playdate or two. Simply getting the kids together for a few hours will help ease boredom and will make winter break fly by even faster. You don’t have to go all out to entertain the kids either. Usually playing out in the snow as well as with toys or videogames will satisfy most children that haven’t been able to see their friends in a few days. However, if you want to be the cool parent on the block then try to plan a slumber party. You can gather the kids for crafts, holiday stories and even prepare cheap and easy foods to make the night a success. With all of the fun had your children won’t feel bored for a second. You never know, other parents may decide to do the same thing which will give you a chance to catch up on all of the wrapping you’ve been putting off!

6. Be Charitable
It’s always a good idea to be charitable, but this season is one of the best times to give your time to a good cause. Teaching kids to give to charities is a good gift to give during this season, so when you’re all feeling bored over winter break try to find a charity you can volunteer your time to. With teenagers, a soup kitchen is always a great place to start. You may also want to look into charities like Habitat for Humanity. It is a bit harder to find things for younger children to do; however, one really great gift you can give to your community is visiting an elderly home. This will bring smiles to lots of faces and will teach children how it feels to help others. There’s lots of charities around so ask your community center about volunteering or look online. If you don’t want to go to a location, or you have very young children then you can start at home. Try donating used clothes, furniture and toys that you no longer have a use for. You can also have children volunteer their leaf raking or snow shoveling skills to the neighbors!

7. Holiday Light Viewing
One great tradition to have is to enjoy looking at the neighborhood’s holiday light displays together. If you want to maximize your savings then simply walk around a block or two and check out whatever one has to show. If you’re feeling adventurous then hop in the car and drive around for a while. With a little holiday music you’ll be on your way to a good time. You could also look online or in the local newspaper to find out which neighborhoods are participating in holiday competitions. These homes are usually a sight to see and will help you make amazing memories with your family. Some communities will also provide open light shows for free or a low cost, so make sure to look around so you won’t miss out on the beautiful displays!

8. Homework
Your kids might not be crazy about the idea, but having them sit down and do some homework on the break will benefit everyone. Generally, kids begin to lose information when they’re not in school for periods of time, so don’t send your kids back to school out of practice. You can pull questions from their textbooks, old homework or online to give you ideas on math or reading assignments. You could also get a jump start on bigger assignments, like the upcoming science fair. With a few of the projects out of the way it’ll make transitioning back into school a little easier on everyone.

9. Explore
You don’t have to be cooped up inside all winter break just because you’re on a tight budget. Instead, get out on the town and do some exploring. Look online to see if there’s a free museum day coming up and take the kids. You could also spend a day at the library as most will have crafts for the kids as well as story time. If you don’t have any free events in your area then walk around town and check out independent stores. You never know what you may find there which could give you ideas for last minute shopping or shopping after the holidays. You’d also be doing your local community a big favor by shopping at an independent store. Finally, get outside and be active. If the weather isn’t too bad then check out a new hiking trail, go bird watching or play a sport in the park.

10. Prepare for New Year’s
Getting ready to start a new year can be work. Have the kids sit down and think about improvements they’d like to make and then share them with the family. This will help start a support group early on and can even help everyone make plans to get their resolutions started on the right foot. You can also use this time to plan out vacations for the upcoming year as well as activities and sports that need to be penciled into schedules. Finally, you can really start the New Year off right by giving the house a scrub down from top to bottom!

Winter break should be a nice relaxing time for the entire family. However, with school out of the way it may seem boring for the kids. With these ten ideas you should be able to plan some seasonal magic which will make the entire family happy during this brief period away from the typical schedule. So, have some fun and enjoy spending this lovely time of year with your little ones without worrying about money, boredom or arguing!

Picking out and decorating a Christmas tree can be one of the best aspects of the holiday season. Kids and adults alike love partaking in this crafty holiday tradition each and every year. The only problem is a lot of the time coming up with money for a holiday tree can be too far out of reach. From picking out the perfect tree to adding decorations and lighting, the holiday tree can be one of the priciest aspects of the season if you’re not careful. There are a good number of ways you can avoid spending a lot of money on your tree this year though. With these ten tips you’ll find you and your family having a fantastic time as you trim the tree without worrying about the money that went into it.

1. Don’t Shop Too Early
In recent years, a lot of people want to set up for Christmas as soon as Thanksgiving is over. Some will even set up for the next holiday on Thanksgiving night. While this is good fun for the family, it’s not so great for the tree you pick. Yes, it’s tempting to head over to a tree display the moment you see them out. With all of the best trees flying off the market it’s hard to just walk away. However, doing this will end up saving you a lot of money. The longer your real tree sits in your home the drier it’s going to get before the holiday even arrives. Thus, in order to make the holiday festive you may end up going to get another tree or settling for a fake one which will only double your tree expenditures for the year. Waiting will ensure a fresher tree, but it’ll also allow you to get a better deal as trees won’t be in as high of demand. You may even get a deal on decorations and lighting closer to the holiday, so hold out for the better prices if you can.

2. Follow Care Instructions
One of the key factors to keeping a tree looking great is following instructions. When you buy your tree you should also get a receipt telling you how to set it up, water it and feed it. Some tree salesmen will even provide you with a special food for your tree. Keeping up with the tree will help preserve it through the holidays. This means you can enjoy the rich green colors without having to step on pine needles all day long. The most important thing is keeping up with the water. A dried out tree isn’t just not pretty to look at, but it can be a huge fire hazard, which is expensive and dangerous. It’s also important to know what kind of tree you’re getting. Ask your salesmen before you take it home. With this knowledge you can look up special techniques to help keep your tree thriving for much longer.

3. Go Eco-Friendly
If you’re feeling the spirit of giving taking over your holiday then you may want to give back to planet Earth and your wallet. One easy way to do this is to buy an artificial holiday tree. There’s a lot of different brands, styles and materials of trees on the market now so choose what suits your family best. With a fake tree you only pay once for something you will use year after year. This may not save you money this year, but as time passes you’ll be grateful you won’t have to go tree shopping each year. You also won’t have to waste a real tree each year which is better for the environment. Another thing you can do is invest in solar or battery operated lights. These lights will help take money away from the power bill while allowing you to enjoy good quality festive lighting on your tree. You can also make decorations out of your recyclables so you won’t have to waste the products. There’s lots of tutorials and ideas online, so take a look and enjoy saving the environment.

4. DIY Decorations
Decorations for the tree can be one of the priciest things you can buy during the holiday season. From themed pieces to bulbs with simple holiday tidings on them, there’s a lot to choose from and it can certainly be hard to say no. This is especially true when your kids see ornaments with their favorite characters. Rather than spend a small fortune on items that go on the tree you can easily get together with the family and make your own. One great way to start out with your decorations is to use playdough. You can use cookie cutters or shape the pieces by hand. When you’re finished cut a hole in the top of the ornament for a ribbon and then put them in the oven. Once they’ve cooled you can add string and place them on the tree. Another fun idea is to take cheap bulbs and customize them. You can easily make a snowman by dipping the kids’ hands in white paint and having them hold a bulb. You can also buy clear bulbs and fill them with pictures and tinsel for a cute memorial ornament. Paper snowflakes, strung up popcorn and other simple crafts also make a great look for your tree and won’t cost you much at all! If you can’t think of any ideas make sure to look online, there’ll be more than you can imagine to choose from.

5. Barter
When it comes to shopping for a holiday tree bartering can be one of the best ways to cut a pretty amazing deal. Sure, this might not work in your average department store and you probably can’t do this for a fake tree, but if you’re going to a tree lot them put on your best skills and try your hand. A lot of stores will be happy for the change of pace, so you may end up walking off the lot with a great tree at an even better price. As soon as the holiday gets closer you may want to step up your negotiation skills to land a good tree at a price you won’t have to think twice about spending. You may even find this adds a new twist of fun to your holiday that you haven’t had since shopping for a tree with your parents or grandparents.

6. Thrift Stores
When it comes to finding holiday décor for a price that isn’t worth crying over, you should always try your local thrift stores. You might think it’ll be hard to find Christmas items during the season, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, some people decide to go through their holiday items during the season which means they also tend to donate items they’re not going to use then too. So, if you’re looking for an artificial tree or decorations then the thrift store might be your best bet. Generally, you’ll be able to find modern and vintage items here, so keep an eye out because you never know when you’re going to find something worth quite a bit of money. If you do decide to shop for an item like tree lights you might want to try them out before you buy them as spending money on an item that doesn’t work won’t do your budget any favors.

7. Stock Up After Christmas
Although it’s not exactly helpful for this Christmas you can easily stock up on the best products as soon as Christmas is over. On Boxing Day you may want to bundle up in your most comfortable coat and brave the weather and the crowds to get the Christmas tree décor you’ve had your eye on all season. Typically, when the holiday is over everything in the Christmas aisle goes on sale for at least 50% off. This means you snag that beautiful artificial tree you fell in love with that was just beyond your price range a few days prior. It’ll also give you a wide choice of ornaments, garland and lighting for the tree. You may even find the tree topper you’ve been looking to buy for some time. Once you’ve stocked up on the savings leave your purchases in their original packaging and wait for next year. When it’s time to decorate the tree again it will be like a mini Christmas for everyone.

8. Improvise
When it comes to small apartments or dorm rooms, a Christmas tree might not be the wisest choice. It can also be bad if you’re on too tight of a budget. Rather than spending money on a tree that won’t work in your space or isn’t cost efficient you can easily improvise. There’s a lot of ways to do this too, so find what works for your space and go with it. One great way to start is adding a few decorative items to a small house plant. Another great idea is to take to the walls. You can use photos, post it notes, garland, Christmas cards, tissue paper or construction paper to form the shape of a tree. You can even add lights to this to add more of the holiday feel. If you don’t have wall space then you might consider building a small tree. One way to do this is to open up books and stack them on top of one another. Start with larger books on the bottom and work your way up. You can also build a tree using recyclables. Painted green egg crates as well as cereal boxes are some of the more common items to use. There’s lots of other ideas online though so find something to works just for you!

9. Use What You Have
It’s really tempting to go out and buy more decorations every single year. Our interests change as do fashions which makes it a little difficult to stick with the same decorations year after year. However, if you’re on a tight budget this is one of the best things to do. Try to pick decorations that don’t suit a certain theme as you’ll end up getting tired of them before you get your money’s worth. Rather, stick with simple designs that can be altered each year. This will ensure you won’t grow as weary of your Christmas tree goods which will save a lot of money. Most of the time we just want to add something new to the tree, so if you’re feeling sick of your holiday décor then try to add one special new piece a year, rather than keeping all of the decorations you already have in storage.

10. Cut Your Own Tree
A lot of families love to have a real tree and wouldn’t settle for anything less. This is okay if you know just how to save the most money on your holiday experience. Cutting down your own tree is actually a great way to save money, if you know where to shop. A lot of lots will charge a flat fee for your family to go out and pick a tree that will suit the home. With you doing all the work you end up spending less, while also getting to pick a tree that is going to be worth the money. If you choose to use a tree from your own property this could save even more; however, make sure you have the correct permits to do so before you cut down anything. Often you won’t need anything, but some counties to require the proper paperwork.

Shopping for a Christmas tree and decorations should be a lot of fun so don’t let budgets ruin your holiday cheer. With these ten trips you’ll be well on your way to singing carols and enjoying the tradition of hanging up your favorite ornaments and admiring the result of your hard work!

Decorating for the holidays can be a whole lot of fun for the entire family. Whether you’re working on the interior, exterior or both, holiday decorating is a tradition for most homes that like to celebrate the holidays. However, decorating doesn’t always come with a cheap price tag. Some decorations can cost a small fortune which definitely takes away from the holiday budget. You don’t have to stress over spending a lot of money on your decorations though. With these decorating tips you should be able to find a happy balance that allows you to show off your holiday spirit without stretching your budget too far. So, put on your coat, head outside and let the world know just how much you and your family love decorating for this season’s biggest holidays!

1. Hand-Me-Downs
If you’re just starting out then hand-me-downs are probably the easiest way to find decorations without having to spend your entire holiday budget on them. Chances are, someone you know has a lot of decorations they don’t use or are just willing to giveaway. A lot of people tend to buy holiday decorations every year, which means they’ve accumulated quite a few over time. So, don’t be afraid to ask around when you know someone is planning to get rid of some of their decorations. You may be asked to pay a small fee, but a lot of people are just happy to get them out of their storage area. A lot of people begin with their family though, particularly their parents. A lot of the time parents will offer their children decorations they grew up with, which will make the tradition even better. If you already have decorations but are getting tired of them then you may want to see if someone you know wants to swap with you. This will help you freshen up your collection without spending a penny!

2. Make Your Own
The best thing about the holidays is it’s the season to channel your inner DIY guru. Rather than going out and buying a lot of decorations you can spend a fraction of the price and make your own. This works for interior and exterior decorations too, so you can make your entire house look amazing with your fine expertise. One of the easiest things to do is turn your holiday cards into a special display. This will let the love from your friends and family shine. You can also make crafts with items you already have, such as, candy canes, wrapping paper, bows and ribbons. This will really cut down on the cost of crafting supplies while making sure the holiday vibe is apparent in the home. If you’re not sure what to make then look online for ideas. You can spend hours doing this if you’re not careful as there are so many ideas for holiday decorations. You could also watch a show or podcast, which are on frequently during this time of the year. Of course, your imagination may prove to be the best thing to channel when it comes to creating your decor!

3. Price Match
One of the biggest downers during the holidays is falling in love with a decoration and its price then finding out it’s totally sold out. You don’t have to despair on this for long though as many stores now offer price matching. This will allow you to take a sales ad, from a print ad or from the internet, and show it to a store to get the same exact price for the item that was sold out elsewhere. Of course, if you don’t like going from place to place shopping then price match will be your new best friend as you shop for decorations this year. If you find something you like simply do a quick search online to find the best deal. Then, when you check out you can do a price match for the item rather than paying more for it or wasting gas to go to the store with the cheapest price. Make sure the store you’re in does price matching though. Usually a sales clerk or customer service official will let you know, or you can look online before you even go shopping!

4. Go Natural
Instead of spending a lot of money on decor, try to give your home a more natural look for the holidays. One great way to do this is to use pine cones. Usually you can find lots of these outside, so have the kids do a scavenger hunt and bring in their favorites. Of course, you can also buy them cheaply in stores if you don’t have the right kind of trees in your area. With pinecones you can easily make a holiday wreath as well as centerpieces or scented pinecones to make the home smell great while guests are in town. Seasonal fruits also make great decorations for the mantle, or can be turned into a wreath. You may also want to consider bringing in a few thin branches from outside. With a little white glitter, fake snow and some pinecones you’ll have a piece that makes your mantle look outstanding. If you tend to live in an area with lots of snow then a snowman can be the perfect form of decor for outside. Of course, adding a Happy Holidays sign in front of it will make it seem even more festive. However, one of the easiest and most fun ways to use nature as your decor is to decorate an outdoor tree just as you would your Christmas tree! This is perfect for families and will give kids something to look forward to each year.

5. Use What You Have
A lot of the time we have plenty of holiday decor to go around, but often just want to keep up with fashions or the children’s interests. This can be a waste of money and hurts your holiday budget substantially. Instead of going out and buying new stuff you should stick to what you already have. Sure, sometimes you can get sick of the same look over and over, but it’s not a reason to go out and buy an entirely new set of decorations. Instead, try to give the stuff you have a little makeover. You can repaint a lot of your decor to give it new life. Also, adding glitter and other unique things to a piece can transform it entirely. So, get crafty with the items you already have instead of replacing them. After all, you’ve already made lots of memories with the decor you have, so why let it go to waste in your storage area?

6. Skip the Electric Stuff
Sure, we all want to light up the neighbor and have the best decorations, but when you’re on a budget this isn’t always an option. Even if you already own a wide selection of lights, inflatables and other decor that requires electricity these items can really blow your power bill through the roof. Rather than using these try to keep it light when it comes to exterior designs. Signs, wreaths and figures that don’t light up are always a safe bet. You don’t have to have electrical pieces to make your home stand out. In fact these items are beloved in the day, which is when most people will see your house anyway! If you absolutely don’t want to skip out on your bright exhibit then look for solar powered items to help cut down on the bill. These items can be found at a fair price and won’t cost you anything once you walk out of the store with them!

7. Hold Onto the Packaging
When the holidays are over and it’s time to pack up the decor you’ll be glad you saved the original packaging. However, your joy will only magnify when you pull out your holiday ornaments next year and don’t have to spend hours untangling them! Keeping the original packaging can be amazing for preserving your items so you can use them year after year. This alone will save you a whole lot of money during the holidays, which will make your budget flourish. When it comes to stringed lighting, which easily can short out if not stored properly, the original box will help keep the lights working years longer! You also won’t have to see the kids upset that their favorite ornament didn’t make it through the off season due to insecure storage. Saving the packaging also prevents you from having to buy holiday packaging boxes which can be pretty expensive!

8. Shop Thrift/Dollar Stores
If you love adding a new decor item to your collection every year then you may want to shop at thrift stores. These stores will sell you a second hand item that could make your collection even more amazing. Better yet, a lot of thrift stores will also have vintage items that can transform your holiday experience. Dollar stores are also a great option, especially when it comes to interior decorations. You can often get window cling ons at a great price as well as small figurines or wall art! With the prices so low you can afford to go all out on your decor without feeling guilty!

9. Use Coupons
Of course, when it comes to holiday shopping for decorations, nothing will help you out quite like shopping with a coupon. Luckily, there’s a lot of coupons for these items that can be found on the internet as well as sales ads. You may also have some luck finding decor items when there’s a store wide sale, or an open sales code for online purchases. These are usually very easy to find when it comes to crafting stores so you may want to try your luck here first. You may also want to subscribe to your favorite stores email lists in order to receive special member codes that can help you save a whole lot more on your purchases without forcing you to wait for a coupon or sales ad to be released!

10. Clearance
The clearance bin is probably one of the best places to start your holiday decor shopping. A lot of the items that make the bin tend to be from the previous holiday which means they’re not entirely out of fashion or may be from a movie or cartoon that your child still loves. Some of the items that make it into the bin are slightly damaged, but with a little TLC you can have an even better masterpiece at a price you won’t want to cry over. Of course, when it comes to clearance shopping, one of the best things you can do is wait until the holiday is over. This won’t help you for this holiday season; however, the day after the holiday has passed you can easily pick up everything you had your eye on for a mere fraction of the price. If you wait a few weeks the prices may get lower and lower, especially if you’re shopping online. You can wait and shop in the months of August through October to check out some of the clearance holiday buys as they will still be a low price and you’ll have them in time for the holiday season!

Decorating for the holidays should be an entirely merry experience, so don’t let finances change your mind about this bonding experience. With these ten simple steps to back you up during your holiday shopping and decorating you should be able to have lots of fun with your home without sending your budget into the red zone. So, stop stressing about the money aspect of the holidays and enjoy spending the time decorating with the family thanks to your frugal budgeting skills!

Hanukkah is a great time to get together with friends and family and celebrate a defining moment in Jewish history. However, with eight days of celebrating it may seem like a huge stressor for those that are on a budget. With eight days of feasting, games and gifts, the sheer thought of paying for it all may give you the blues. You don’t have to have a pre-holiday melt down though, especially when your finances are concerned. With these ten tips you’ll be able to make your celebration of light even more fun for all your guests without having to put in a small fortune to do so. So, dust off the menorah and call all your family as this holiday will be one of your best yet!

1. DIY Candles
Every Hanukkah you probably search around the home to find candles for your menorah. If there’s none to be found then you brave leaving the home to shop during the busiest time of the year. Although candles tend to not be too expensive, you can really avoid a shopping crisis as well as spending money on the limited in store stock by creating your own candles. This is a great craft for the whole family and will make the kids feel like they’re an even bigger part of the celebration. With a simple DIY candle kit you can go all out with colors, designs and can even make your candles with special waxes if you so choose. The best thing is, when you’re all finished you can wrap up your extra candles to give out as gifts! You can also allow the kids to have their own special menorah without spending any extra money!

2. Only Give to Children
Hanukkah isn’t meant to be about the exchange of presents, so don’t feel obligated to pass out gifts to everyone in your inner circle. Rather, try to just arrange gifts for the children. The adults that attend your celebration will understand as the commercial aspect of Hanukkah didn’t come along until much later. However, it is nice to ensure the kids feel special on this holiday. This doesn’t mean you have to spend a small fortune on the gifts, nor does it mean each of the eight gifts you buy needs to be extraordinary. Instead, put a little thought into it and give the kids something with a deeper meaning. In some circles, giving gifts during Hanukkah may not even be welcomed. If this is the case then provide for your own children before or after your celebration.

3. Modest Gifting
It’s very tempting to go on a spending frenzy in the month of December. With sales in abundance during the giving season it’s totally easy to get swept away in the trend and spend a ton of money on your Hanukkah gifts. The best thing you can do is try to avoid sales you know are going to be too much for you to handle. This will help you make your Hanukkah giving a little more modest. Instead of giving out materialistic items try to keep it simple. Packages of seeds and ecofriendly gifts, like a re-usable water bottle, are a great way to give your children a gift that gives back as well as providing the planet with a gift. You may also want to shop around for items that aren’t as expensive. For instance, school supplies, socks or other items your kids absolutely need are easy gifts that most children need. You could also make DIY gifts to keep your budget even lower. If you don’t want to spread a materialistic message to your kids then consider making a donation to a charity in their name!

4. Chocolate Gelt
Gelt is a big part of the holiday. In fact, gelt was introduced because it gave people the money they needed to buy candles for the holidays, rather than having to go without or forcing someone to borrow. In this day and age candles are fairly cheap and most people have several lying around the house. So, rather than giving out actual money for gelt, you might want to swap to chocolate gelt. You can buy religious inspired gelt at a number of religious stores or you can order it online for fairly cheap. The gelt usually has a variety of symbols on it and comes in a gold foil. When you peel back the gold it reveals delicious chocolate that proves to be an amazing dessert for the special day. You can also use the gelt during games to make it go even further without forcing anyone to use actual money during the eight days of celebration.

5. Potluck Meal
Planning eight days of food for a group of people isn’t just time consuming but can cost you a small fortune. Hosting the party on your own may prove to be one of the most stressful things you’ve ever done, so don’t put that burden on yourself. Rather, when you send out invitations add that the celebration is going to be a potluck. Your guests can RSVP with the dish that they’re making for the event. When everyone shows up to the celebration with food you can feel relieved to be the host. Allowing your celebration to be a potluck can also become a learning experience. Many people know how to cool the traditional recipes very well and others know recipes you may have never had the experience of trying. This will give your family the tradition you’re looking for without forcing you to buy pre-made dishes. If you’re lucky some of your family and friends may show you how to make some of the dishes your family favored, which will make future Hanukkah celebrations easier for you!

6. Make Your Own Decor
Finding Hanukkah decor may actually prove to be time consuming as you have to know just where to go to get what you’re looking for. Thus, this could also mean it isn’t going to be priced fairly either. Rather than spending some of your holiday budget on Hanukkah decorations you might want to just make your own. This is actually a great crafting time for kids and can even be done on the first day of the celebration. Of course, you could also spread out the different crafts to last throughout the eight days which will allow you to decorate little by little. If you have a lot of fun with this then you could make it a holiday tradition which will allow you to add new decorations each year. To begin your crafting you could easily make a Hanukkah table cover with rolled paper or an old sheet. Kids can draw dreidels, menorahs and anything holiday related. They can also write special messages that they’ll be able to look back on over the years. You can also print out pages for the kids to color which will look great hung up around the home. Banners are another cheap and easy craft for the holidays as well as stringing gelt together to form a garland! There’s lots of ideas to create, but if you’re feeling lost look online to see what others have done!

7. Games
Entertainment is one of the most important aspects of the celebration. Sure, the singing, stories and eating are a lot of fun, but you need something else to pass the time. Games are especially important if you have younger children that aren’t quite ready to sit still and listen to the true meaning of the holiday. Dreidel, of course, is one of the most common games to play during Hanukkah. From young children to adults, this pass time will keep everyone busy. However, you may want to cut back on spending by having kids craft their own dreidel before the games begin. You can easily get a print out for this or you can wing it to impress all your young party guests. Of course, a dreidel that is passed down from generation to generation is also a great item to use during your celebration and won’t cost you anything. Instead of using real money during the games you may also want to use the candy gelt. This is a crowd pleaser for the little ones anyway. You may also want to begin transforming common household games into Hanukkah inspired games. For instance, you can play Pictionary using only Jewish words. The ideas are endless, but if you want to plan ahead of time you can easily get some ideas from online.

8. Songs
Singing and having fun with those you love is an important part of holidays. Generally, songs are passed down from generation to generation, but there’s always room for something new or updated to keep the holiday fresh. Rather than spending a lot of money on CDs or sheet music you can easily take to the internet to find everything you need. If you enjoy playing and singing the music yourself then there’s an abundance of free or low cost sheet music that can be found online. This will give you a chance to download everything you need and practice a bit before the holiday arrives. Of course, not every gathering wants to sing traditional songs. If you’re hosting a group that would rather play games, or you’re just having a quick dinner after work then you may want to check online for some background music. There’s an abundance of holiday inspired playlists on many online radios that will make your meal an even bigger treat.

9. Cards
Not everyone chooses to send out cards, but they’re always a welcome treat to those that receive them. If you plan on sending cards you might want to skip out on purchasing them. This can cost a fortune, especially if you order custom cards. Instead, you may want to gather up the kids and have the entire family make custom made cards. This will add a personal touch without costing you too much money. Of course, if you want to save even more money you can find an abundance of free e-cards online. These will brighten everyone on your mailing lists day and will save you plenty of time and money.

10. Shop Sales
When it comes to holidays nothing is going to save your budget quite like a good sale. Luckily, there’s plenty of be found in December so you’ll be in luck with just about anything you may want to shop for. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a good deal on food or you can need a cheap gift for someone on your guest list, as sales will eliminate some of the burden of the holiday. Before you go out you may want to do a little pre-shopping online. This will help you get a pretty good idea of where you need to shop. You might also look into stores that do price matching in order to save even more money. Shopping during the holidays can be frustrating because it’s the busy season so you might want to download an app in order to be fast about your shopping decisions. Many shopping apps will direct you to the best stores and some will even allow you to reserve items you absolutely need so it’s guaranteed to be there when you finally get to the store.

Hanukkah is a great holiday for bringing friends and family together, but sometimes finances don’t allow us to always see the brighter side of the holiday. With these ten money saving tips you should be able to enjoy the holiday for its true meaning rather than stressing out about how much you need to spend to make it great. With the budget out of the way you’ll be able to make this year’s 8 days of celebration even more memorable for the entire family.

Although the majority of your holiday budget may go on gifts and holiday food, there’s still a large portion that is blown on items to wrap your gifts. Even though you may not think you’re spending a whole lot of money on gift wrap, after you tally up the purchases you could be shocked at how much of the budget was spend on these items. Rather than going out and buying pricey wrapping accessories, you may find these tips can get your items wrapped up without costing you more than a couple scents a present. With these savings you can use the money to enjoy the holidays even more, or you may even be able to put the money back in order to enjoy a better vacation or larger purchase later on in the year!

1. Buy in Bulk
One of the best things about wrapping gifts is you get to be creative about how the gift looks when you present it to the person you care about. Thus, shopping for different wrapping papers may have become an expensive trend of yours. Rather than buying individual rolls of wrapping paper you may want to buy a bulk package. Most stores carry these and they tend to carry from three to six rolls per package. You can often get these packages for a price that you may pay for one or two rolls of paper, which will definitely help out with your budget. Of course, wrapping isn’t all about the paper. When you buy ribbons and bows you may find they total to a lot of money too. So, try to find larger packages that can carry over until next holiday season. You could also look for packages that come with paper, ribbons, bows and tags at one low price.

2. DIY Wrapping Paper
Of course, you don’t have to settle for spending money on wrapping paper at all. There’s actually a lot of ways you can wrap gifts at home without actually spending a penny on the classic holiday gift wrap. For instance, most homes have old magazines or newspapers laying around the home. Simply use these just as you would regular wrapping paper and you’ll be on your way to a great looking present. You may have to glue some of the magazine pages together, but this won’t take long at all and will create a pretty cool effect on your gifts. If you’re providing a gift for children then pull out the comic section of the newspaper or you can even use cheap comics that no one plans to read around the house. You may want to make sure the comic isn’t rare or worth anything before you do this though! Old maps are also a great option for wrapping paper. If you have an atlas or even an outdated road map then you’re ready to go. You could even add a picture of Santa and his reindeers to make it more holiday inspired. Butcher paper or wrapping paper that isn’t holiday inspired works too. Simply flip the paper over and you’ll be working with a blank canvas. You can draw cute designs here to make the paper even more amazing!

3. Swap to Bags
A lot of people have paper bags in storage from grocery shopping. These are perfect to use for the holiday season. Simply place the item in the bag, close it up and use your craft supplies to add the finishing touches. These bags are easy to draw on and with a little glitter and ribbon they’ll be the most unique holiday present under the tree. You can even allow the kids to decorate gifts they give our so the recipient will feel even more special. If you’re not feeling creative then you can usually buy gift bags at any dollar store or department store for a very low price. These bags look great on their own and won’t require you to add anything special if you’re not feeling creative. However, if you are feeling like artistic these are fun to draw on and add a burst of color to your gift. If you have more than one gift for someone then you may want to find a bag big enough to fit all the gifts in one, which will help cut down on wrapping costs substantially.

4. Print Out Tags
Adding tags to cards helps you determine which gift goes to who, but these items, especially the really creative tags, can be pretty expensive when you pick them up from the store. Rather than throwing away money on these items you can simply log onto the internet and print some out. You’d be amazed as to how many websites are dedicated to providing people with adorable gift tags. The best thing is, they’re totally free in most cases. If you can’t find any tags that you absolutely like then you can always print off tags that you create yourself. These can made in any photo or word program so you won’t need to spend any money on this! If you’re not totally satisfied with the print outs then try to add some glitter highlights to them in order to make them more festive.

5. Recycled Goods
You may not have considered shuffling through your recyclable for materials for wrapping, however, these goods are some of the best items to use! For instance, most households probably have some old shoe boxes just collecting dust around the home. These are perfect for items that don’t already come in a box and will make wrapping more difficult items a whole lot easier. You can also use boxes from parcels you’ve recently received in the mail. This cuts down on how much you need to put in your recycling bin and also prevents you from having to purchase boxes to wrap. Another great option is to use oatmeal containers on items that might be a bit odd to wrap. This will help eliminate you from wasting wrapping paper and will ensure no one will be able to guess what you got them! Baby food and mason jars are also a great wrapping material, especially if you’re wrapping multiple items or if you’re trying to disguise an item. Finally, you can use shredded paper to help keep fragile items safe, or to act as a filler in boxes that hold smaller items.

6. Re-Use Supplies
When it comes to saving money on your holiday wrapping one of the best tricks to use is recycling. A lot of the time we’re left with ample paper on the roll that can get thrown out or damaged during the off season. Instead of letting it go to waste, put it away with your holiday supplies and use it the next year. If you wrap it in plastic, then there’s a good chance it won’t get ruined in the off season. If you’re mostly wrapping for an older crowd during the holidays then you may want to have them save wrapping paper from their gifts. Usually, if you open carefully you won’t have to throw the paper away. You can also do this with bags that you use. These are a bit easier to save and can actually last quite a long time. Finally, you can also cut ribbons and bows off of presents and use them again next year. With all of the reusable supplies in storage you shouldn’t have to do a whole lot of shopping when the season rolls around next year.

7. Free Gift Wrapping
When you do your holiday shopping you may run into stores that will offer free wrapping when you spend a certain amount of money in their store. This can be a great way to avoid buying too many wrapping supplies and will even save you some time in the process. Before you go shopping make sure you look into the store’s special deals. This will ensure you know how much you should spend in the store to receive the holiday special. If you can, do your shopping at locations that do this as you won’t have to spend time and money wrapping or worrying about the family seeing their gifts before you get a chance to wrap them. Of course, if the items aren’t reasonably priced then you might want to skip out on this and find another location that offers free gift wrapping.

8. Shop Discount Stores
If you’re looking for cheap wrapping paper then one of the best places to shop is discount stores. These stores tend to have a pretty good selection of products for a dollar or less. This can be great for your budget, especially if you don’t need a lot of supplies for this season. Of course, you should always check out the quality of the supplies as they may not be worth the money. You should always check out the amount of product you’re getting for the money too as sometimes stores will try to only give you a little bit for the price. If this is the case then try to find a better deal as you won’t be getting your money’s worth despite the low price. However, if you’re in a rush or need some last minute supplies then these cheap items may help you avoid lines as well as expensive prices.

9. Shop After the Holidays
One of the best things you can do when it comes to shopping for wrapping paper is look after the holidays. Most of the supplies will go straight to the clearance bin which means you’ll be able to get them for a fraction of the price. The best thing is, they’ll still be in their original packaging so it’ll be much easier for you to store them without them getting damaged. This will prevent you from having to pay for the expensive paper next year and will ensure you’ll be ready to handle all of your holiday wrapping needs as soon as you finish up with your shopping excursions.

10. Skip Accessories
Many of us tend to go a little over board when wrapping paper is concerned. Although shopping is fun, adding those special touches to your gifts make the holiday season what it is. That being said, all of those little accessories we add to the gifts cost money, which isn’t exactly a good thing when you’re on a budget. Rather than spending money for ribbons, bows and the rest of the special touches you can skip them all together and the gift will still look good. Try just using wrapping paper one year and see how you feel about the look. If you’re okay with the package being a little plain then there is no reason to go all out on supplies that you don’t really need. If you’re not okay with it then consider making accessories out of scrapped wrapping paper. This will add a cute touch that doesn’t cost any extra.

Wrapping gifts can be a whole lot of fun, but it doesn’t have to mean you need to spend a lot of money on this aspect of the holidays. Rather than going overboard on wrapping supplies you should put the money back for other holiday items. After all, when you give the gift, the paper is going to come flying off in a matter of seconds! So, don’t sweat it if your present doesn’t look like it belongs in a magazine spread!

The holidays are a time when it’s hard not to buy your children all the gifts you believe they deserve. Of course, thinking like this can get you into a lot of trouble with your bank account. There are ways to make your child’s dreams come true without spending a small fortune though. With a few simple techniques your kids can enjoy their special visit from Ole Saint Nick without forcing you to spend hours in long lines only to pay for toys that are incredibly over-priced. Sometimes, not being able to get what you want can be disappointing, but when you look at holiday giving from a new perspective you may find you have a lot more fun shopping with these tips than you ever did when you were simply following the crowd! So, let the holiday spirit fill you and enjoy watching your kids unwrap their less expensive gifts this holiday season!

1. Shop Clearance
Most of the time when it comes to shopping for kids we tend to hit the toy aisle without thinking of any alternatives. A lot of the time this leads to over spending on items that the kids are going to be bored with after a couple months of use. Instead of shopping in this section try to hit up the clearance bin before you make your final decisions. Usually, these bins are filled with toys that will still make your child’s face light up. Better yet, they’re a fraction of the price of those items that still remain on the shelf. You don’t have to feel like you’re settling when you shop this way either. Generally, a lot of popular toys make it to the bin because other movies or TV shows are released and stores want to move items that aren’t as fresh out of stock. You don’t have to simply stick to local or chain stores when it comes to clearance bin shopping either. Try looking online for items that your child will love, this is especially great if kids like a certain brands of toy as it’ll make it much easier to find something your child will adore.

2. Skip the “IT” toy
Every year a toy hits the market that every household seems to need. These toys are usually highly advertised and tend to be a bit on the expensive side of things. Although your child may follow suit and beg and plead for this item, it isn’t a necessity for it to be under the tree. In fact, when your children unwrap the presents you chose based on their personality and interests, you may find they’ll forget all about the “IT” gift that Santa Claus didn’t leave behind. When it comes to gifts like this it may take a whole lot of money to even reserve the item, so don’t stress over trends at all. Even if your child is a bit disappointed it’s pretty much a guarantee that he or she will have forgotten about the item a month or two after the holiday anyway. If not, it’ll always be cheaper to purchase at a later date!

3. Go Generic
When it comes to shopping for toys, we often don’t think about generic brands. There are, in fact, many toy companies that make items similar to the big brands but sell them at a much lower price. If you’re looking to save big this holiday season then purchasing an off brand item or two can help you keep under budget. Generally, you can find these generic brands with building blocks, dolls and toy cars. Sometimes, even electronic toys will have an off brand to choose from. If you’re not certain what you should be looking for then do a little research online or talk to a sales associate in the area. However, just like shopping for groceries, the off brand toys are usually found on the lower shelves where you may not look right away.

4. Discount Rewards
If you do a lot of shopping then chances are you have some discount cards in your wallet or purse. These are amazing when the holiday season rolls around, especially if you’ve saved up your points during the year. Discount reward cards can be acquired from a number of stores, so don’t be afraid to think out of the box when it comes to shopping this season. For instance, if you have an awards card with lots of points on it from a store like JC Penny or Sears, which mostly caters to clothes, you can easily find the small section of toys which usually has some pretty good choices. Of course, stores that cater to toys are going to be your best bet so make sure you tally up your rewards and use them as a major discount for your holiday purchases. You may also want to plan shopping around the amount of points you have as it might be worth wild to use the greater discount points on items that are more expensive opposed to cheaper purchases you’ll need to make.

5. Shop Early
Many people don’t begin their holiday shopping until after Thanksgiving when all of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals begin to pop up. This can be a great time to shop, but don’t be afraid go out to buy gifts before this. Typically, toys are at their cheapest in November before the sales begin so look around and see what you can find before the rush begins. This can really help out if you’re shopping for popular toys that may not stay in stock during the holiday rush. You can also shop even earlier, especially if you have a good idea of what you want to purchase for the holidays anyway. Stocking stuffers and other items can be purchased throughout the year which will limit the burden and money spending when you need to buy more expensive items. You may also want to pick out items and put them on layaway well before the holiday season begins. This is especially important when you see a pricey item that is on sale!

6. Buy Used
When it comes to the big ticket items you don’t have to spend a fortune on brand new toys. In fact, some of the items are just as good when they’re used. This is especially true for items like bikes or trampolines. Generally, these purchases can cost you hundreds of dollars, but if you find a good buy online or at a yard sale you should jump on it. Kids won’t care that these items are used and they’ll get worn down or replaced after time anyway. This doesn’t mean you should pick up the first item you see at a low price though. Make sure you investigate to make sure it’s safe and doesn’t look like it’s in terrible shape. It’s okay to replace some nuts and bolts in items and adding a new chain, brakes or tires to a bike won’t set you back too much, but if the item doesn’t look safe then move on to your next choice!

7. DIY!
Not everything has to be bought in a store to make your children happy. In fact, there’s a lot of items you can make yourself that will give them hours of fun. One great gift for younger children is homemade play dough. There’s lot of recipes online for this and you can even spice it up by adding special colors, scents or creating a cute packaging for storage. You may also want to consider making your own building blocks which can be created to suit your child’s personality. If your kids are into LEGOS then buy a bulk box and then split them up into sets. You can put a picture of what the set can build on the front to entice your child’s imagination. Crafts sets are also great for kids that love art. These can be as simple as paints and paintbrushes in a personalized box, or special strings for friendship bracelets. If you’re feeling really ambitious then you may want to build a dollhouse, or playhouse outside! Just make sure it’s easy to assemble on the night before the big day!

8. Sell Old Toys
Although your kids might not be crazy about the idea, you can use the holidays as an excuse to move out some of the old toys that have been collecting dust in their toy boxes. Once you’ve gone through the old toys, auction them off online or start a yard sale. The money you earn from the old toys can be used to buy new ones for the kids. Plus, you’ll have a lot more space in the home without the old stuff cluttering up their rooms. If the kids aren’t on board with the idea then try to go through the items and get rid of the stuff that isn’t age appropriate anymore. There’s a lot of toys you may be keeping in your attic that aren’t getting any use. Remember, if you sell the toys at a low price you’ll not only be helping your kids get new stuff, but you might help a family in need afford some gifts for their children.

9. Skip Electronics
A lot of kids today tend to ask for expensive electronic devices during the holiday. This can be a huge burden on your budget and you may not be able to afford anything else if you do choose to purchase them. Instead of buying the electronics, you may want to consider skipping them this year. Most children get to spend a lot of time with electronics at school, so why not encourage their imagination to grow with toys that don’t require charging. For generations kids have played with dolls, cars, blocks and other items that encourage brain stimulation, so why stop with this generation? These toys usually won’t cost you an arm and a leg and will teach your kids to slow down and enjoy play time rather than having their toys meet their need for instant gratification. You’ll be pleased to see them having fun and your budget won’t be blown for the season!

10. Holiday Sales
Holiday sales can be one of the best ways to get the items you need at a fabulous price. When the holiday season kicks off there is usually a lot of flash sales that can come in handy when ordering your gifts. You may want to start your mission locally, as this will help avoid shipping prices. Make sure you’re subscribed to your favorite stores mailing list and that you get local sales ads. This will help you make a game plan to get what you need while it’s at a low price. You should also check online for these sales. Many big name stores as well as small stores will actually hold small sales for specific items. Log in to your favorite sites when you can to see if a deal is going to be up your alley. Some stores will even let you know ahead of time what the flash sale will be so you can be prepared to jump on it. Sometimes you have to be fast though as often they will only offer a select amount of items for the low price.

Holiday shopping for your kids’ toys doesn’t have to be bring you down. With these ten tips you should be able to find a collection of items that will help you fill your tree and create smiles on your children’s faces. With a little careful planning and some thinking out of the box you may find your kids will be happier this year than years where you followed the shopping trends!

Tis the season for stretching the budget and finding the perfect gift for those dear to you. Holiday shopping can be a time of joy, but for most of us it means long lines, balancing the check book carefully and trying to maintain some peace while you search for this year’s it gift at a price that won’t leave your bank account depleted. There’s a few ways to avoid getting too stressed out over the holidays though, especially when it comes to the money aspect of the season. With these ten tips you’ll be able to get a little more out of your shopping experience for less money than you’d expect to spend. So, tie your shoes, grab your list and get ready for the best holiday shopping experience yet!

1. Shop Early
A lot of people tend to wait until after Thanksgiving to shop. Although there’s a whole lot of deals during this period it may actually save you money to shop even earlier than this. Sure, no one wants to think about the gift giving holidays this early, but you can really save a lot of money by shopping year round for your items. For instance, if you like to give out holiday décor as gifts to acquaintances and colleagues then buy a lot of clearance items when the holiday is over. You can keep them in a safe place and when the time comes you’ve already knocked out several gifts. A lot of the time we find items throughout the year that seem perfect for someone special to us. So, instead of putting off the item until the holidays go ahead and grab it, especially if it’s a good price. This will be one less thing you’ll need to buy when you’re already over stretching your budget!

2. Look for Rebates
Many of us love to reap the benefits of the big ticket sales around the holiday season. There’s nothing wrong with this, especially if you know you can’t find a better deal any other time of the year. However, you can easily maximize your savings by looking for the sales that also include rebates. Rebates allow you to fill out some information and mail it in to the company that produces or sells the item. When they file your information and see your proof of purchase they send back a check with the amount the rebate was for. This is a lot like a second Christmas, especially if you’re recovering from holiday shopping expenses. Many people don’t fill out rebates though, so make sure you actually take the time to do them. It may be boring but you won’t regret spending the time on it when you get your money back. If you have questions about your rebate you can always call the company or ask the salesmen!

3. Know When to Shop
Shopping for a specific item can be tricky, but if you’re looking to save the most money possible on the item it helps to know when the right time to shop for it is. Different items have different seasons, but luckily the holiday season gives us an abundance of sales items to choose from. For instance, if you’re looking for electronics, toys or kitchen gadgets then you should hit the market in November. These items are usually on sale for a better price and make great gifts for most people in your inner circle. In December you can find items like computers, cookware, golfing supplies, tools and pools. These items are usually on the Santa list which means you’re already ahead of the game. So, instead of shopping for everything at once try to find out when your category is going to be on sale. There’s a lot of websites dedicated to this information, so you won’t have to do a lot of research to find out when you need to buy the specifics!

4. Reward Cards
Most stores, especially chains, will offer rewards cards to their customers. Most of the time these cards are totally free to apply for and don’t really require any effort from the customer. So, why not sign up? A lot of us have many of these cards sitting around in our wallet or purse, so don’t forget to pull them out and use them while you’re holiday shopping. Typically, these cards will keep track of a number of points you earn with every purchase. When you earn a specific amount you get a discount, gift or sample. Other cards will actually take a small percentage off of each purchase so you end up spending less in the long run. Either way, you’ll get a little more for your buck when you use the card, which is never a bad thing. So, don’t forget to swipe your card or sign up for a card when you’re checking out with your holiday loot!

5. Make A list
There’s a pretty good reason why Santa Claus makes a list and checks it twice, so follow the jolly man’s example! A lot of the time when we’re shopping we have a tendency to grab things spontaneously thinking they’re perfect for someone. This leads to over spending in most cases which doesn’t do you any favors when you’re trying to keep on a holiday budget. So, instead of just going wild in a store try to stick to a list. Before you head out, sit down and think of all of the people you need to shop for. Once you have everyone’s name down try to match them with a specific gift. This may take some time, but you’ll be thankful you did it when you see the holiday crowds. When you’re in the store look at the list as if it were a grocery list. This will help you get in and out without forgetting things! It also helps to follow the rule “if it’s not on the list I’m not buying it!”, which can save you a bundle on items you don’t necessarily need.

6. DIY Gifts
Rather than buying everything you give this season, you may want to consider making your own DIY gifts for some, if not all, of the people on your list. There’s an abundance of DIY gifts you can choose from, which will always hold a special place in the heart of the person you decide to share your craftsmanship with. For instance, you can put together a special scrapbook for a close family member, such as a grandparent. These gifts usually bring joy to their holiday and gives them something special to look at throughout the year. If you have someone that loves to cook or bake then create a cute DIY cooking kit. Simply add the ingredients to a decorative jar and you’re ready to wrap and present the gift. You can also make something special by sewing or knitting for someone you love. If the kids want to help you may consider making holiday ornaments for friends and family. Of course, making your own creative holiday cards are also a must for the season. The ideas are endless, but if you’re having trouble thinking of something to make you may want to browse the internet for inspiration.

7. Sales/Clearance
One of the best things you can do during your holiday shopping is find items that are on sale or in the clearance section. Luckily, there’s usually an abundance of sales during the holiday season so your job will be even easier. Of course, when it comes to sales you should always do a bit of research to decide which are going to save you the most amout of money. A lot of sales only take off a small portion of the price and some may simply lower their price to match another store’s. Clearance items are even better because they’re already marked down quite a bit. You may not have as much to choose from here, but if you go to a lot of stores you should be able to find a little something for most people. If you’re lucky you may even find a sale that takes off a percentage of clearance items too, which will save you even more!

8. Research
While you’re shopping you don’t have to purchase the first item you see from your list. Instead, try downloading a few apps and scan the item to see where you can find it for the best possible price. This will help you get the best deal in your area (or online) without having to go from store to store. You may even consider looking up the items you need before you even go out. A lot of the time you’ll be able to mark down the cheapest locations so you can maximize your time and your money. Some websites and apps will even allow you to reserve an item which is perfect for those products that seem to fly off the shelf! After you research your shopping list you’ll feel a little more confident about your holiday shopping abilities and you may even end up finishing your shopping faster than you thought possible!

9. Free Shipping
You may find that a lot of your best deals are found online. This can be great, until you factor in the price for shipping. Luckily, during the holidays a lot of companies will actually give you free shipping if you spend a certain amount of money. So, before you go out and buy everything you need make sure to calculate how much you’ll save if you can get free shipping on a few of the gifts. Sometimes, online stores will actually offer free shipping just because of the season. It may be wise to check out these stores first so you won’t have to spend a ton paying to get your holiday items to you. However, you should make sure the items aren’t overpriced to make up for this discount. Also, if you have a membership with certain stores you may be able to get your shipping upgraded and free which will help out with your expenses even more!

10. Stick with Cash
Holiday shopping can be very tempting, especially when you see items you know you want or, worse yet, you know the kids would love. If you’re caught in a weak moment you may be tempted to toss the item in the cart without regard for your budget. One way to stop this from happening is to leave the debit and credit card at home. Yes, this means actually bringing cash with you. So, before you go out to shop make a list of the items you need, how much they cost and how much you have budgeted for gifts. Then, according to this budget, pull out the cash you need for the items. With only cash as a form of payment you’ll have to actually stick to the budget without allowing yourself to stray. If you pick up anything extra you’ll have to put something back, which will force you to stop and think about what’s going in your cart. With temptation out of the way, going over your budget will be near impossible which means you won’t have to worry about making up for a mistake later on!

The holidays are filled with stressors that can force you to go way overboard when it comes to shopping. There’s a lot of ways you can find some peace with the shopping experience though. With these ten tips you should be able to get in and out of the store without having to go on a ramen diet for the rest of the year. So, bundle up and enjoy this special time of the year without having to sacrifice your budget on the colorful boxes beneath your holiday tree.