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Simple Ways to Save Money During the Holidays

This holiday season will make saving money more of a necessity than in years past. With our economy in the midst of a recession, people are having to make calculated decisions on how to pay their everyday essentials and have funds for holiday expenses.

Giving is more joyful than receiving should be the theme of this holiday season. To be able to stretch your holiday spending funds is essential. The following suggestions will help you accomplish just that:

1) Make homemade gifts of Christmas candies, breads and/or cookies. Wrap these in new decorative containers, mugs, tins and whatever you find in thrift stores or at yard sales at a fraction of their original price. Be creative as you select containers. If you have a golfer on your list, choose a golfing motif; an Elvis fan, choose Elvis memorabilia motif and so on.

2) Making homemade crafts that are easily done can include: making table napkins from fabric remnants; embellishing picture frames with ribbons, rhinestones from old or broken jewelery pieces and your trusty hot glue gun. One favorite gift I enjoy making is finding an inexpensive photo album and adding pictures to depict the life of a family member from birth to adulthood. Add stick-on quips to personalize.

3) Handwritten coupons have been another favorite. Tailor coupons to fit the intended receiver. A few suggestions would be a free two hour babysitting or a free home cooked meal with twenty-four hour notice for a busy mom.

4) Shop EBay, Amazon.com and Craig's List to find new and like new items at great prices. Always include shipping cost of an item as part of the total cost of an item. Better yet take advantage of offers of free shipping when available.

5) Buy family group gifts whenever possible. Suggestions: a glassware set, a family board gsme or a blanket throw for the family room.

6) Plan your shopping using a written budget of how much you can spend per person. Try to take advantage of special holiday sales on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Known as "Black Friday" by retailers, it is the busiest shopping day of the year. Most retailers have the largest sales increase for the year as a whole. There is a web site, (http://blackfriday/home.com, that is up and running by mid October each year. It list alphabetically all retailers known "Black Friday" sales. Be sure to check back for updates until the actual sales ads are delivered in the Wednesday newspaper before Thanksgiving. Some retailers have online shopping specials too.

7) Large extended families draw names for the adults to save on time and money. Our family has found Thanksgiving the best time to pick names from a bowl. You have the option of setting a price limit on gifts as a group. The kids are never included in the drawing. Everyone brings gifts for all the kids.

8) If you are internet savvy, you can go to a web site, (http://www.justfreestuff.com/c ategory.php?catid=36, that offers free magazine subscriptions. The selction varies from time to time as well as the number of issues. Current selections include: Antiques, Electronic Gaming Monthly, LEGO Magazine and Prevention. No credit card needed and no shipping charges.

9) Saving on the holiday meal can be done by having it "Potluck" style. The host family only has to prepare the main course, turkey or ham. Every other family brings a favorite side dish, salad or desert to share. This plan has worked well over the years for my family.

Hope you will find some of the suggestions useful an you plan your holiday celebration. Best Wishes for the holidays to be filled with family and friends!

Learn more about this author, Carolyn Teasley.
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