Christmas is Expensive
We try really hard to make Christmas special every year. This year is no exception. The only problem is most don't have a lot of extra money laying around. some don't even have a job this year. I took some time and came up with twenty ways you can save a little money this year while still have a fantastic and memerable Holiday Season.
You can read more of my Christmas Tips at: http://roberttgasperson.com/articleblog/christmas-tips-and-ideas/
Buy a Smaller Christmas Tree.
I have found that most people buy trees that are just too large for their home. When you go to the Tree Farm, Take a look around. When you think you have the perfect size tree for your home, change gears and look at a tree that is one step smaller. It should save you $15-20.
Create a Separate Savings Account
Create a separate savings account at your bank in October or early November. Transfer money to it every week. You will earn interest on the amount you deposit. It will also get the money out of your regular account and help you save for Christmas presents.
Invest in a timer for your Christmas lights
Most people turn on their Christmas lights then forget to turn them off. This means they burn all night. If you have a timer that turns them on at 7 and off at 10pm, you will only have your lights on for three hours a day and will save money in the long run.
Invest in a space heater
Turn off the Central Heating when everyone is in the living room. (If you turn off the heat, the teenagers who are in their rooms will start to get cold and move to the living room.) The space heater will keep everyone warm till bed time. Then turn on the central heat when it is time to go to bed.
Use Newspaper to Wrap all Your Presents
Wrapping paper is so expensive. You can usually get it cheap after Christmas. Buy it then and save it for next year.
Take Advantage of the Free Turkey Offers
Take advantage of the free turkey offers at your local supermarket. Most supermarkets give away turkeys or hams when you collect points. Usually you collect these points by spending $35+ seven or eight times over the course of 8 weeks.
Take a Year Off from Buying New Decorations
We usually add something new every year to our decorations. That costs money. If you can hold off buying anything new this year, you will have more money to spend on your family. If you can wait till the week of Christmas or the week after Christmas, you will find, most of the decorations will be on sale. If you have to buy them, buy them on sale.
Make your Christmas Dinner a Pot-Luck
You be in charge of cooking the Meat dish. Ask all of your guests to bring a covered dish. Make sure you know who is bringing what. You will want to know what might be missing. It would be bad to have Ham and a bunch of cookies for Christmas Dinner.
Wear Jackets or Pile Together Under Blankets
When your family is hanging out together, wear jackets or give everyone a blanket to get under instead of turning up the heat.
Find Reasons to Use the Stove
Cook a lot this season. Don't get take out. The more you cook at home, the less you will spend on food. Plus when you use the stove, you can leave the door cracked after the food has been cooked and let the heat into the house. This will let you tower the temp on your thermostat.
Stay home for Christmas
I know some of your family will not like this idea, but traveling long distances to be with extended family can be expensive. Spend time with them on Skype or call them on the phone and use your intercom option on your phone to make sure they are still part of your Christmas Day.
Budget Yourself on Christmas Gifts
Limit what your going to buy for each person before you start your shopping. If you can plan what your are going to spend on everyone, you can figure out how you are going to make the money for the season.
Get Started Early
Start buying Christmas Presents before the Christmas season. Know what your family enjoys. Buy them the little stuff throughout the year. You will find the best deals during the Christmas season, but sometimes you can find clearance at the end of summer or the first of spring that will be better than any other time throughout the year. Buy it when you can get it really cheap.
Pay with Cash instead of Charging it on Credit
If you can spend the cash on it, you won't have the finance charges later on down the road. If you charge it and let it roll over, you can get yourself into debt that can take months, even years to pay off. If that is the case, you will end up paying 2-4 times the original amount for the items.
Stay Healthy
Get plenty of exercise. Eat good food. Christmas is a great time to eat a lot of junk. Be mindful of what you are eating. You can gain from a few pounds to a few dozen pounds during the holiday season. If you are not careful, you could find yourself with an immune system that is more interested in fighting your obesity than it is in fighting disease. With the cold weather, that is not a good thing. The less you have to go to the Doctor or spend money on over the counter medicines, the better.
Relax and Enjoy
People stress themselves out during the holiday season. That is not what it is supposed to be like. Enjoy your season. If you can limit stress, you will be less likely to get sick. You will be happier. You will save money because you won't make as many mistakes stress tends to bring about.
Make Your Decorations
String some popcorn. Decorate some pinecones. Find fun ways to decorate your home that will not cost you much, if any money.
Church Activities in Your community
Look up the FREE church Activities in your community. There are thousands of pageants and other entertainment in churches all over the US. All you have to do is find them. Check your local newspaper. Watch the local TV networks. Most of your large churches will run advertising about their programs. The smaller churches will post signs on the side of the roads to let you know what is happening. These activities are cheaper than going to some of the city or state projects.
Share Movies and Music
Share movies and music with friends and family. Borrow Christmas movies from your friends and family. They will be glad to lend them to you, especially if you have something they want to watch. This will be better than going to a video store. You won't have any late charges. If you have to go to a video store, go to the red box at your local Walmart or Grocery store.
Make Your Own List
No one knows what your traditions are for Christmas better than you do. If you can write down what costs you money every year for the Holidays, you will be able to look at those things and change them for this year. Come up with new and inventive ways to save money on each tradition.
Christmas Saving Blog Posts
- Save Money on Next Christmas by Stocking up Now - Saving Money ...
- It might seem a bit premature to be thinking about Christmas 2010 when Christmas 2009 is only a few days behind us, but now is a great time to save on supplies and gifts for next year.
- Ways to Save Money on Gas,half Water Half Gas – Uncover Tips ...
- Energy-saving group gives tips on how to save energy - and money - over Christmas. [?] Eye-catching MP expenses claims December 10, 2009. Here are some of the more eye-catching expenses claims made by MPs under their second home ...
- How You Can Save Money Christmas Shopping This Year ...
- This year perhaps more than in years past many people will find themselves with a tight Christmas budget. The rising fuel costs and the increased costs of goods.
- Christmas and money - Norwalk News - The Hour - Norwalk's Newspaper
- I wish my employer paid me in silver dollars; it would be easier for me to save money. It's amazing, really, that we handle money as casually as we do. I say "handle," but the fact is, we handle very little of the money we spend. ...
Books About Christmas
Happy holidays (on a budget): Being on a fixed income shouldn't turn you into a Scrooge at Christmas.(MONEY TALK): An article from: Ebony
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 01/03/2010) 
Growing money on trees. (Arkansas' seasonal Christmas tree business): An article from: Arkansas Business
Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 01/03/2010)
Pocket Money Christmas
Amazon Price: (as of 01/03/2010)
POSTAL WORKERS RESCUE MISPLACED CHRISTMAS MONEY.(General News): An article from: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR)
Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 01/03/2010)
Christmas Photos
IMG_2216
Christmas 2009
Christmas 2009
Christmas 2009
Christmas 2009
Christmas 2009
Christmas 2009
Christmas 2009
Christmas 2009
Christmas 2009
Christmas 2009
IMG_2218
Christmas 2009
IMG_2211
Christmas 2009
Christmas 2009
Christmas 2009
IMG_2206
IMG_2231
Christmas 2009
Christmas 2009
IMG_2229
IMG_2227
Christmas 2009
automatically generated by Flickr
by rgasperson
Explore related pages
Fontanini Nativity Sets- Fontanini has crafted this beautiful nativity set, inspired to help build family...
Nativity Christmas Sets- Christmas Nativity scenes exhibit figures representing the infant Jesus, h...
Sell Your Digital Photos : Making money with stuff you already have #1- I am sure I am not the only one who needs a few extra dollars at the moment, so...
The Holiday Season on a Shoestring!- For years, my working class family has had to be frugal, thrifty-- okay, to be p...
Home Alone - The Movie- All you need to know about the Home Alone movie series (A Family Comedy Without...
- Where Can I Find Money on the Ground
- I find if I watch where I am going thoughout my life, I will find money all alon...
