by keisi j

Created on: December 08, 2008   Last Updated: March 08, 2009

Cutting back on holiday spending doesn't have to mean cutting out the fun. With a little creativity and frugal shopping, you can make this holiday season just as wonderful as always for a much lower price. Look out for stores that are closing down for amazing deals and find other steals at general discount stores like Wal-Mart and Dollar Tree. In addition to saving by shopping sales and discount stores, collective gifts are sometimes an option for added savings. Consider emphasizing the presentation of your gifts to increase excitement and festivity. Showering your loved ones with gifts can be awesome even in a season when money is a little tight.

You can take advantage of the spark in gift presentation by wrapping cookies with colorful cellophane. Crack open a cookbook and find a tasty treat to bake for your friends. Find a festive plastic plate at your favorite discount store. Wrap your sumptuous gift with bright cellophane, bunching it up on top and securing it with a pretty ribbon. Or, if baking isn't your thing, give tasty treats by visiting a store that sells sample sizes of foods like Cost Plus. Find a neat mug or basket and choose some treats to fill it. Get a chocolate bar, mints, a wrapped cookie and a couple teabags - add a candy cane for holiday flair. With a bow on the handle of the mug or basket, you've got a creative, thoughtful gift for a great price. Or, if you are more of a crafty person, buy some colorful felt, beads and buttons to make star-shaped tree ornaments. Stitch the sides, adding newspaper before finishing and add a hook shaped paper clip to one tip of the star. What tree couldn't use one more pretty ornament?

When shopping for kids, avoid toy stores and opt for a child's version of the winter treat package in a cup or basket. In the child's mug or basket put hot cocoa mix, mini marshmallows, a cookie, chocolate and a candy cane. For young siblings save even more by creating a collective gift basket that is fun and original like a "s'mores" party kit. Gather everything needed in s'mores preparation like graham crackers, chocolate bars, marshmallows and skewers. It's fun to give in an empty coffee can with the label peeled off for a woodsy, campfire feel. Finish it with a ribbon tied around the can.

While you're saving money with collective gifts for the kids, why not save even more by putting together fun collective gifts for families? Make a game night kit for a family with kids or a loving couple. Get playing cards, puzzles and board

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