I’m not going to bore you with the single cheapest ingredient that the grocery store can give you for today’s big meal. But the fact remains: Thanksgiving is upon us and that means the 4am shopping marathon is about to start. But before making the commitment to buy wants instead of saving for the needs, consider a new, less costly approach. Celebrate a December Christmas without a January in the red.
Tips for holiday presents:
- If the kids are young enough, consider buying used gifts. They will love the surprise on Christmas Day just the same and get just as much enjoyment. Finding cheaper, online versions of popular toys is easier than ever with sites like eBay.
- Buy one present per person. The happiness received from each additional present beyond the first declines a lot!
- Be creative with the time not spent shopping ’til you drop. Bake some sweets, go for a hike, enjoy some books from the public library, or plan a family movie night with a rental or flick that you already own.
- Limit or skip the gifts to non-family members altogether. Instead, have a potluck party and let everyone bring a dish to be shared.
Above all else, use the tight times as a learning experience for children. Carry an attitude of thankfulness for what one does have. Use a modest December to focus on something that truly matters: time with family and friends. And smirk on New Year’s Day as you remember having left the plastic in the wallet.
Raj Patel writes for DebtGoal.com, a do-it-yourself system for getting out of debt and lowering your interest costs. DebtGoal.com incorporates all of the techniques discussed in this post and can help users understand and get visibility to and manage their debt finances.
Tags: budget Christmas, budget holiday, cheap presents, Christmas, debt-free, frugality, holiday shopping, holidays, Thanksgiving
