Get Back to Basics this Holiday Season Without Spending an Arm and a Leg: Part I

Do the holidays completely stress you out? Like many Americans right now, the stress of the holiday season combined with the current state of our economy is unbearable at best.  Let’s face it- the holidays bring their own line of financial stresses.  This year, with so many families facing unemployment and financial hardships- the holiday season may seem worse than ever.

But don’t fret- there are plenty of ways to have a low-budget holiday while still making it magical for the kids. Wouldn’t it be nice to take the holiday’s back to their real meaning- time with family and friends?

Get Back to Basics this Holiday Season Without Spending an Arm and a Leg: Part I

Re-set the Expectation on Gifts- I don’t like how the holidays have become an expectation to give an expensive gift to every person in your family, extended family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, the mailman- you name it. Every year people spend a great deal of money simply because they feel pressure to buy gifts for people who are buying them gifts. This year, why not reset the expectation on gift-giving and receiving?  For example, this year my mom and I have decided to bring back Holiday Cookies and Holiday Dishes. For a few of our friends, we purchased pretty, yet inexpensive casserole dishes and are going to fill them with homemade yummy treats such as spinach artichoke dip, cajun crab dip, baked breads or florentine cookies. This saves you some cash- but is still a very thoughtful gift with a homemade touch. (We let everyone know that we are planning on giving homemade gifts this year so to “reset” the expectation they may feel to reciprocate)

Not a chef?  No problem- there are ideas all over the internet that teach you how to make homemade holiday treasures for your loved ones including miniature tabletop christmas trees and Winter Whites in Shell Vases. There are projects for all skill levels.

Make Recycled Gift Tags- Over the year think about the number of pretty birthday, anniversary and special occasion gift cards your household receives.  Instead of throwing these away, letting them collect dust on your mantle or storing them in box somewhere to never be opened again, use the card covers to cut out heart, tree or star shapes and use them as gift tags.  (Avoiding, obviously, the handwritten side of the cover)

Holiday Decorations- The tree, the lights, the candles, the garland, the ornaments and don’t forget the blow up yard figurines that have become so popular over the past few years- you know the routine. Some people take holiday decorations to a whole new extreme. If you are trying to save money this year, however, you can still dress up your home without breaking the bank.

Lights- reuse last years lights and hang on to replacement bulbs. Oftentimes a string of lights will not work simply because one bulb has gone bad. Look for the dark smoky bulbs and replace them working lights to see if you can salvage a previously un-working string. These should last you years!

Tree Decorations- Especially if you have kids, making your own Christmas tree decorations is not only thrifty, but can be really fun. Bring back the popcorn garland and break out some inexpensive craft materials like felt, glue and glitter and let the little ones create their own.  For other ideas just look on internet- there are a ton of ideas for making your own tree skirt, bottle cap ornaments (really cool!), and egg carton menorahs.

Stay Tuned for How to Bring the Holidays Back to Basics Part II…