I know many, many of you are already thinking about what to get, setting budgets and snagging good deals now.
Chrissy and I have been doing the same and we wanted to share some of the things that work for us to help keep expenses under control amd hopefully we can get some good new ideas from you!
Here are just a few of the things we are doing
:: Start setting aside money each month beginning in January
- We figured up how much we wanted to spend and divided it by 11 (so it will all be saved by the end of Novemnber)
- This also gives you a fund from which to do some early shopping when the deals are great!
:: Take FULL advantage of the boutique and specialty store coupons offered throughout the year.
- I have 3 bags of soaps from the Body Shop (thanks to that great tip from iMommies), Specialty bagged chocolate from Russell Stover (on clearance) and two bottles of coconut essential oils (to make Body Scrub as gifts) and I paid next to nothing for all of it!
:: If you are at all creative or crafty or even if you just WANT to be…
- Try making your own gifts…I’m not talking about woodwork and sewing here, do something simple that you are good at. My sister and I put together baskets and soups, cookies, or other recipes “in a jar”. We split all the ingredients, jars and material to save money and we spend an entire day together making all of our gifts! It’s a ball and it saves us tons! We try to pick recipes our family and friends would be less likely to try on their own. Somethig out of the ordinary makes it a little more exciting for them!
- Check your local library or community center for inexpensive classes for making cards, photo keepsakes, ornaments, gift tags, etc. My sister and I did this last year and for $4 we had a 2-hour evening together making 25 cute little one of a kind tags for our gifts. It dressed them up a bit and saved time and money.
- Make your own Christmas Cards!!! This is relatively easy to do and will save you money!
:: Shop Black Friday Sales!
- I know this probably sounds like a suicide mission, only the crazies are out kind of day but it’s probably the MOST FUN I’ve had shopping. We go SUPER early and are done in time to enjoy breakfast out.
- It’s a great way to get some gifts on your list that you just can’t make and you can always find great stocking stuffers.
:: Stock up on holiday cooking items now!
- When you notice a sale on items you might use for Christmas dinner or to take to holiday parties, STOCK UP NOW. You’ll be so glad you did when you don’t have to fight the masses at the grocery store 3 days before Christmas!
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