While the holidays are a time of joy and celebration, they’re also a time for stress, particularly financial stress. In their efforts to celebrate the holidays and provide their families with a positive experience, many people are willing to take on debt that they often can’t afford. Rather than look for inexpensive ways to celebrate the holidays, they will spend money they don’t have on a credit card and then spend months or even years trying to pay it off. With a little creativity and a little budgeting, you can have a joyful holiday season without spending a lot of money.
Gift-giving
The first thing you should do when it comes to gift-giving is to turn off the TV. The holiday season is when retailers are pressing hardest on consumers to spend money. They promote the idea that if you can’t give your children a fancy video game system or your husband that expensive power drill then the holidays simply won’t be complete. When it comes to gift-giving, you have to rethink your entire attitude. This applies not only to family and friends but to coworkers, teachers, caregivers, and anyone else you may be expected to buy a gift for. Gift-giving is about the thought, not the amount of money spent. Rather than rushing out to buy gifts for everyone on your list, consider some inexpensive but still meaningful alternatives. If you have particular skill or hobby, such as quilting or candle-making, consider making special gifts for everyone on your list. Write your closest friends and family members a letter telling them how much you appreciate them. Make your own candy and baked treats and hand them out as gifts. It may sound corny but most people will appreciate a gift that comes from the heart, rather than a store. Or, instead of buying gifts for everyone, have a name exchange instead.
Celebrations
Many people enjoy throwing parties this time of year and catering a party with food and alcohol for numerous guests can become quite costly. If you want to have a get-together but are working on a budget, consider having a BYOB or potluck-style party or dinner. Give your party a theme, such or just do appetizers only or wine and cheese. The point is to bring people together and having everyone contribute to the experience will save you money while still creating a fun atmosphere.
Holiday Activities
There are lots of ways to have some holiday fun for little or no money. Check your local newspaper or with your local chamber of commerce to see what types of holiday events are planned. There are always tree lightings, parades, holiday festivals, religious events, plays, etc. going on at this type of year, and most of them are free or very inexpensive. Other cheap ways to have fun include driving or walking around your neighborhood looking at decorations and lights, setting up a firepit in the backyard and roasting marshmallows, or for kids, making homemade decorations.
Greeting Cards
Sending out cards can be expensive, especially as postage prices continue to rise. Instead of sending out cards through the mail, you can send cards via email. Or, if you have a blog or website, you can post a video clip of yourself and your family sending out your holiday greetings. Have your kids make cards for family members and hand deliver them. Get creative and look for ways to wish your friends and family a happy holiday season.
Enjoying the holidays doesn’t mean you have to go broke. There are plenty of ways for you and your family to enjoy the season that don’t require lots of cash. All it takes is a little creativity to make the holidays fun for everyone.
About R.L. Lake R.L. Lake is a freelance writer and virtual assistant living in the southeast. In addition to writing for Factoidz, she is a full-time writer for Demand Media.
