Comments on: Eleven Tactics for a Cheaper Christmas

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:37:33 +0000

My family cannot seem to make “no gifts” stick, either. Every year my dad tells everyone not to buy anything for each other, and every year, everyone ignores that and buys gifts anyway. My grandmother and aunt say they like buying things for “the kids”…problem is, “the kids” are my brother and myself, aged 28 and 32, respectively. :P One thing I do is start buying gifts in October, so that my purchases are spread out over 4 or 5 paychecks. I do try to buy some gifts from independent, locally-owned stores in my city…but I would be lying if I said I didn’t use Amazon for a lot of gifts. It’s hard to beat the prices and selection. And it doesn’t involve visiting a mall.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:45:26 +0000

Well, all I can say is WOW… there are some GREAT ideas here. I tended to think that I was the only one who thought of more inexpensive ways to save for Christmas, but apparently, there is a flock of savers here !! ;)

For the last couple of years I have used catalogues to order presents. One or two of those, along with a list ( with $$ amount for each person ) and I am through shopping without even having to go outside. Saves me time and energy and I can mark things and come back to them later.

By: Mike Dunham

Mike Dunham — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:41:51 +0000

@Kelly: In our family, it grew kind of organically. A couple of the ladies made a BUNCH of bags one year, which inspired most of the rest of the family to make a few the next year, and so on. We’ve expanded it beyond the family in several cases – we gave a gift to a friend in one of the bags, and her family (probably 40 folks) now uses them.

As mentioned, if you hunt around you can get deals on the fabric. The rest is just time in front of a sewing machine. You’re right, it’s a big upfront cost (relatively speaking), but it repays you for years down the road that you don’t have to spend a dime on additional wrapping stuff. Plus there are the intangible benefits – you’re being green, the gift is more special because it’s wrapped in something handmade, a year or two later you might get the same bag back and have more fond memories, etc.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:19:50 +0000

Christmas Cookies… HUNDREDS of them. Everyone gets cookies from me, the only gifts I buy are for my parents, bf and brother. Everyone else gets cookies! But everyone waits all year for those cookies and they love them.

I wish I could convince my bf’s sister-in-law that I don’t need a gift, she’s very sweet and has good intentions but I always end up with something I don’t need or want. I’d be happy with a card and a small box of chocolates or something consumable. The bf’s family can get very go big or go home about Christmas…

We run the yours, mine and ours financial system in our house, so he buys the gifts for his side of the family and I buy the gifts for mine (we both pick them out, but that’s how the dollars break down and even his side get the cookies!). It works because we have roughly the same amount of family on both sides, and then if he wants to go overboard, I don’t have to break my budget.

We also re-use gifts bags. Next to nothing gets wrapped, it’s all gifts bags and everyone on both sides keep them and re-use them so the system works well for us.

By: Karen Taylor

Karen Taylor — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:50:09 +0000

I have had a Christmas account for several years and boy has that saved me. I get it the beginning of November but if I see something earlier I get it with cash. I make homemade items for co-workers, etc. And like Trent, have a list with names and dollar amounts so I don’t go over my dollar limit plus put ideas on it during the year. Helps to make things less stressful.

By: Matt @ MyFinancialRecovery.net

Matt @ MyFinancialRecovery.net — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:38:41 +0000

I really think the last tip is the best – I know that I should set aside a bit throughout the year but never seem to get it down.

I am also worried this year about having to pick up gifts for two children (10 and 4). They seem to believe that more gifts is better rather than appreciate one nice gift.

By: Battra92

Battra92 — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:46:29 +0000

Well, my birthday came and went in the last week and I tried the whole frugal approach but people really took this in another extreme. ^_^;;

For Christmas this year I’ve been shopping around at used bookstores (as well as Amazon Used & New) as well as cashing in some points I had from Pepsi (I get a ton of these points at work) to pick up a few things for people at no cost for myself.

So far I’ve got 2 out of 7 people done and have spent $7. I’m planning on getting a couple more items this week and will be done before Thanksgiving. :) For 7 people (all adults) I plan on spending much less than $150.

Oh, and I’m childless, single, I give my laundry to my parents (since I have so little and a laundromat is expensive) and I still find the site useful – most of the time.

By: K

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 11:55:03 +0000

claire
I am childless, debt free, do not use cloth diapers or make my own detergent, but I still find lots of useful information on this blog. These tips are about offering ways to save money and then you choose the ones that fit your lifestyle by sacrificing things that are less of a priority for you. You may not find making laundry soap worth it since you can get it on sale with a coupon for nearly the same price (as I do.) Then read Trent’s article about coupon clipping and skip the laundry article. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, then apply these tips to Birthday or other gifts you have to buy or else skip the article and read what is more important to you.

By: Karin

Karin — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 13:32:51 +0000

Trent,
I’ve been reading your blog for a couple of months and enjoy it so much.

One of the coolest things I’ve done for holiday shopping this year (uh huh, I’m almost done) is to utilize the ‘gift card’ options that we have on our World Points credit card. We have been in the “black hole of debt” and have worked hard to polish up our credit scores. After paying off all of our debt (except for our house and car), we now pay everything off EVERY MONTH. I now use our credit cards to pay for things for which I would normally pay cash (groceries, gas, dining out). I’m earning points along the way. A few weeks ago, I went online and ordered great gift cards, including: iTunes, Macy’s, and Best Buy. I will make a card for each recipient and tell them to enjoy shopping on us.

I realize this won’t work for everyone and don’t recommend it for anyone who doesn’t pay off their credit cards each month. It has taken me 30+ years of earning, saving, spending to learn how to maximize dollars. I’ve made my fair share of bad decisions along the way; but, have also made some smart decisions as well.

Thanks for a great blog-when I am finished reading, I always feel like I have read something from a trusted friend.

By: Christy

Christy — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:45:38 +0000

Thanks for the great pear butter recipe. Someone gave us several pounds of pears that needed lots of “trimming” and we don’t really need pies or cakes at our house so this is perfect.
If you do need to buy Christmas items-decor, wrapping paper or etc. Only buy it on after Christmas sales.I also tend to buy any paperware, silverware and etc in red when it goes on sale because it can be used for so many holidays-Christmas,Valentine,patriotic and etc.

By: Maha

Maha — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 10:27:38 +0000

Wow, I’m so envious of the ideas posted and the family’s willingness to do them. For years on my husband’s side of the family, we drew names and had a dollar limit. But no one ever wanted to draw names before Thanksgiving (no planning abilities), so we were often left buying things at full price. Last year one of the family members couldn’t afford to participate in the exchange, and that really bothered me (and my husband, but no one else, it seems). This year (just last week!) I suggested a white elephant exchange game, but with nice gifts for around $10 or gifts that are homemade. Oh, my goodness. Some people were opposed to it because they didn’t want a homemade gift, or were afraid of getting something they couldn’t use (like wine or coffee for the none drinkers). I felt like the whole Christmas spirit wasn’t even in the picture. In the end, someone suggested we don’t exchange gifts at all, but was incredibly rude about my idea, thinking I was doing it for my own financial reasons. It was hurtful, because I was actually thinking of his sister. In the end, I’m sort of glad to not have to deal with buying these fussy people anything, but at the same time I’m sad that they couldn’t see beyond their own pettiness. I thought homemade gifts would have been fun, but I guess not everyone feels that way. I also love the idea of cloth wrapping paper – it has a very Little House on the Prairie feel. I can at least do that with just my family.

Anyway, for my kids and husband, I buy through out the year, and through some deal sites (like dealnews), I’m able to get some nice things for great prices. Now I only have one or two items left and the stocking stuffers to get.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:23:42 +0000

My family knows that their gifts are very likely to come from yard sales, thrift stores, and used bookstores. And I am totally happy to receive gifts from those sources. Yard sales are also great places to get wrapping paper. And if you are buying, favorite food gifts can come from the grocery store – I usually like to get pistachios and whipped cream for my dad, because my mom is too frugal to buy those for him on a regular basis.

By: AndreaM

AndreaM — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:45:14 +0000

Today I read a “saving money” suggestion in the San Francisco Chronicle that made me realize there are good and not-so-good ways to economize. The suggestion was “fire the babysitter, start a babysitting coop to share sitting with other families” So, I’m thinking…when I reduce or remove my babysitter’s income she has less to spend on clothes, food, books, etc, which reduces the income of stores in my town, which lay off employees who then don’t hire babysitters at all, further reducing the babysitter’s income. Seems like lowered spending equals fewer jobs equals lower spending. Hmmm.

This concept actually has a name (my economist husband tells me) The Paradox of Thrift: if everybody saves, the country is impoverished.
We need to think carefully about how our reduced spending impacts others. My plan is to cut way back on the lower quality items I purcahse and concentrate my budget on really good quality, even though I will have to pay more for them (usually).

By: Marie

Marie — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:37:36 +0000

I’m glad to see the Christmas decorations out already. I think 4 weeks is simply to short for such a wonderful season!

Having 10 neices/nephews to buy for, I actually start buying in June or July. One or two gifts a week. I believe I already have everyone done with with the exception of my 2 children.

Thanks for a great post!

By: kristine

kristine — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:27:30 +0000

Freecycle.org is great for fabric too. Buying new fabric is unecessary. Besides- new printed fabric smells like formaldehyde.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:14:26 +0000

In my wife’s family we did away with the gift exchange at Christmas. Instead we pool the money we would have spent on trinkets for each other and use that money to anonymously bless one family with cash, gift certificates, food, etc. that is having struggles that year from our community. It could be a neighbor, a family from one of our churches, or an acquaintance. The families have never found out who their gift givers were and we expect nothing in return from these families. We feel it is our priviledge to bless another family just as the Lord has bleesed us. Very inspirational and I feel sets a good example for the younger generation in the family. It really helps us all to focus on the true reason behind Christmas.

By: glenn

glenn — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 17:29:31 +0000

Tim,
My inlaws started using newspaper as wrapping paper several years ago when they moved at Christmas time. My mother in-law didn’t have time to buy wrapping paper and just used newspaper as it came out of the moving boxes. By the way, they still use newspaper and trash bags as main means of wrapping gifts and they are on a 6 figure annual income.

By: ablemabel

ablemabel — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:45:36 +0000

@Kelly – you can save money on the fabric by buying pretty sheets, pillowcases, etc, at thrift stores and garage sales. You can often find fabric there as well. Also, for the gifts we wrap in fabric when we are present when they open them, the recipient usually hands the fabric back to us, since they don’t know what to do with it! by the way there is a great website showing how to wrap gifts in fabric using all these Japanese wrapping methods, unfortunately I lost the link but maybe you can google for it.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:03:46 +0000

@Mike: I’m making cloth wrapping ‘paper’ this year (not just bags– all forms of reusable fabric wrapping) in an effort to be more sustainable and frugal and crafty. My nagging question– there’s a large up-front cost to this project. And then, it’s not certain that *I’ll* be the one reusing all the wrapping. So aside from just enjoying the process, how do I maximize my return on this project? (The gift of frugality?)

By: kristine

kristine — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:52:43 +0000

Note: you freeze the applesauce in plastic containers until it is time to thaw in the fridge for gifts.