Here are some guidelines for coming up with
inexpensive solutions to holiday mayhem, though it
really applies year round. Some of this info may
seem old and outdated, but it is rooted in classic
frugality! I have gleaned these things from many
years of frugal holidays, as well as reading lots of
great books on frugality, my favorites being the The
Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyzyn and some of
the books about the Great Depression. It is amazing
how resourceful you can be when you have to be or
choose to be , without having to give up your
quality of living.
1. Have a good attitude about
being frugal. Do not look at having a frugal
Christmas, birthday or other holiday as being "poor"
or suffering. This is the most self-defeating and
depressing thing to do to yourself and it is
contagious. If your kids see you bummed out about
having less to spend on Christmas, they will pick up
on it. Remember, they are forming opinions based on
how you react to problems and challenges. Even if
you are not feeling very excited about having to cut
corners, put a smile on your face- that's contagious
too, and does a whole lot more good for everyone.
2. Use what you have- If you are
going to spend less, one way to cut corners is by
using what you already have on hand or is available
to you very cheaply. This does not mean the gifts,
decorations and other items will turn out looking
cheap just because you got them cheaply. Again, it
all goes back to attitude. Inventory what you have,
including your skills, and then brainstorm about how
you can apply them to your needs. Some ideas: look
outside- trimmings from your evergreen shrubs can be
used for garlands, pinecones, twigs, vines and
berries can be used too. How about the grocery
store? Perhaps you can use food items to decorate-
gilded fruits and nuts, paper bags for wrapping
paper and gift tags. Check your closets- old clothes
(in decent condition) can be turned into stockings,
toys, gift bags, ornaments, etc. Check the sewing
room for used fabrics, buttons, paints, etc. Check
the refrigerator- you can make egg shell ornaments,
applesauce ornaments, pomander oranges, cookies as
ornaments or gifts. Check the garage too! There is
no limit to what you may find and use, just keep it
safe!
3. Be creative-Think up new ways
to apply what you have on hand to the holiday.
Sometimes it helps to pick a theme that relates to
where you live or what you have available to you. If
you live in the mountains with lots of evergreens,
you might want to pick a nature theme and decorate
with fresh cut greens from your property and
pinecones you find on walks. But if you live in the
middle of a city, you may want to try something
different. Even if you live in an apartment in a big
city, you have resources! Just let your imagination
go and write everything that comes to mind. You can
edit it down and be practical later, but let your
imagination run wild first.
4. Be a copycat- Stuck for more
ideas? Look at sales flyers, catalogs and magazines
(Country Sampler is a favorite of mine) and save the
pictures you like in an "idea file". Make notes by
the pictures when they spark your interest. Many
times, if you have a picture, you can copy the item.
Even if you are not sure how, but like it, save the
picture. You may find the item cheaper somewhere
else, find a friend who knows how to make one, or
you may find that you are saving the same kinds of
pictures and learn more about your own personal
taste. So learn what you like, and copy it!
5. Stick to your budget- Which of
course, means have a budget to begin with! Set a
certain amount per person and try to not put
anything on credit cards. If you are using credit
cards, enter the amount in your check book as a
withdrawal because you have to pay that money back
(I know I still have problems thinking of plastic as
"real" money). Keeping any kind of records of what
you are spending this holiday (and year round) is
better than not knowing at all. I highly recommend
the computer program Quicken. You can see what you
are spending- SCARY!
6. Establish a "bag of tricks"-
Your bag of tricks may include making big batches of
cookie dough and freezing ahead of time, buying
Christmas presents year round, stocking up after
Christmas, using a hot glue gun, using gift bags
instead of wrapping paper, computerizing your
Christmas list and printing labels and cards out,
anything that saves you time or money. Make sure
your tricks are things you are already comfortable
doing. Perhaps you can make a New Year's resolution
to learn a new skill each year to put in your "bag
of tricks".
7. Focus on the true meaning of
Christmas-This is an old idea but a good one. Do you
remember what Christmas and other holidays are
really about? Is it really about who gets the most
presents or who has the biggest dinner? Does it have
anything to do with whether you have 5 million
Christmas lights up or none at all? Get back to the
basics of the holidays- read the bible. I don't
think the three wise men were worried about whether
the Christmas cards would get to their relatives on
time; Mary did not make a ten course Christmas
dinner and decorate the stable with Department 56
ornaments; and Joseph was not tackling other parents
in Toy R Us so he could bring home this year's "hot"
new toy. Whether you are religious or not, most
holidays have very humble beginnings. It is the
commercialism of the past few decades that has
brainwashed us into thinking holidays are some
complicated and excruciating extravaganza. Keep it
simple!
8. Establish traditions that do
not cost a lot- Instead of spending more money on
your family, spend some time with them. Have you
ever roasted chestnuts on an open fire or strung
popcorn together? Have a cookie party. Make
ornaments for the tree, tell stories to your kids
about your favorite Christmases as a child and ask
them what their favorite Christmases have been so
far. Don't tell your family that "we are doing this
instead of going to a movie or spending money" just
do things with your family. Most of the time, they
will not even notice that what you are doing is
cheap because they are too busy having fun.
9. Reduce the number of gifts you
are giving- and invite your relatives to do the
same. Perhaps you can start a name draw or challenge
each other to come up with lost cost or homemade
gifts. Not everyone will want to cut back on the
store-bought, gift-giving bonanza, but it is worth a
try. Stick to your guns and emphasize the real
meaning of Christmas. It may take a few years to
bring other family members around to your point of
view. The important thing to remember is not to try
to "convert" anyone and to reinforce your
relationships with your loved ones while
de-emphasizing the commercialism. Let them know that
you love them, that is why many of us put ourselves
through the holiday craziness in the first place!
10. Plan ahead- Shop through the
year for gifts, wrapping paper and decorations.
There are some great finds at summer garage sales,
but it is sometimes hard to think about Christmas in
100 degree heat. Craft stores often have fantastic
"Christmas in July" sales, and don't forget end of
winter clearances on clothing and winter accessories
(usually in January and February), canning jellies
and jams in summer (they make great gifts), and
thrift store finds.
11. Make a long range plan when
doing your décor- Who says you have to buy it all at
once? You can pick a theme you will like for several
years and slowly build it up every year. You can
build a collection of ornaments, buying one or two
every year. You can also do this with high quality
fake greenery, buying a few every year and hitting
the after Christmas clearances as well. Outdoor
lights is another area where you can take this
approach, adding something new every year with out
spending a fortune. By having long range plans, you
will be surprised at how much more you find year
round (at yard sales, thrift shops, store sales,
etc) because you have a specific style or type of
item in mind. Hopefully, you will be able to find
what you want at bargain prices too!
12. Keep an Christmas/Holiday
file- for ideas you find throughout the year. You
can do this for any holiday, season, or birthday,
even room décor themes. If you see projects that you
know would be "just perfect" save them in this file
and turn to your files when you need inspiration. I
have files for each season and holiday, as well as
some room décor themes and my children. I find
pictures in magazines, craft instructions, newspaper
articles and flyers, all kinds of stuff, sometimes I
even save solicitations for books in the mail.
People ask me where I come up with ideas- they are
everywhere! Just file them away and turn to them
when you need them!
13. Use the library-It's a great
resource and it's free! (well, we are paying for it
anyhow in taxes, so you might as well use it!) There
are tons of great holiday books to check out.
Contributed by Kim Tilley -
http://frugal-moms.com |
