If there is one thing the Great Recession taught us, it is the importance of saving for a rainy day. Too many of us were caught flat footed by the economic downturn – unable to pay for necessities like food and shelter after a job loss.
The good news is that many people are now making up for lost time – putting money aside and adopting more frugal habits. You can extend that frugal nature to the holiday season – while still enjoying a very merry Christmas with your loved ones.
Enjoying a frugal Christmas does not have to mean going without presents or forgoing your favorite holiday dishes. With a little bit of foresight and some planning, you can make your frugal Christmas the most memorable ever.
Just use these simple money saving ideas to have a frugal – and merry – Christmas this year.
- Host a potluck dinner – you do not have to do all the cooking to enjoy a great holiday meal. Invite your friends and family members to bring their favorite dishes to share.
- Create a one-of-a-kind gift with a family cookbook – ask those potluck guests to bring along their favorite recipes, then compile those recipes into a unique family cookbook. You can use a photo editor – and your imagination – to dress up those recipe cards and give them a new life under the Christmas tree.
- Send electronic Christmas cards this year – getting a card in the mail is nice, but all those stamps can get expensive. Save some money by sending heartfelt electronic wishes instead. Those e-card greetings do not have to be impersonal – you can personalize your holiday greetings any way you want.
- Host a family lottery – instead of buying a gift for everyone o your list, hold a gift exchange lottery instead. Drawing names makes it easier to focus your gift giving – and control your holiday spending.
- Give heartfelt homemade gifts – sometimes the most appreciated gifts are also the simplest and least expensive. A present from the heart will be remembered long after that electronic gadget or gizmo has been discarded. Homemade gifts – from canned jams and jellies to fresh baked cookies – are sure to be a hit this holiday season.