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Almost any way you look at it, Christmas is a big strain on your wallet. Not only are there gifts to buy, but there are groceries for family dinners, cookie baking, and Christmas parties, and decorations for the house and tree. Every year we try to cut down on expenses, but it can be difficult when we all try so hard to make our families and friends as happy as possible during the holiday season. So what else can we do to ensure we keep costs down, put a little money aside, and still have a merry Christmas, when it is more important than ever to make every penny count?

Think Outside the Box-Gifts have never been about how much money you spend. Gifts can be clever, personal, and valuable depending on the amount of care you put into it. One year when I was broke after having taken a trip to Europe I framed drawings that I'd done for my friends and family members. Many of the gifts given that year were lost, broken or exchanged, but my drawings remain in each person's home or workplace to this day. When my husband and I were first dating, His Christmas gift to me was a message in a bottle (complete with sand and tiny shells). The message contained some special words I treasure to this day, while the purse he also got me that year has since been worn out and replaced.

Start Early and do Your Research-If you do buy fancier or more expensive gifts for people, get the best deals possible. This means watching sales, looking for deals, clipping coupons and maybe even (dare I say it?) becoming a participant in "Black Friday." Every year, my Christmas shopping starts around September. I make lists of gifts for my family, and start looking for the best deals on that product. I read newspaper ads, browse the internet looking for deals, and research the "doorbuster deals" offered the day after Thanksgiving. If an item I'm looking for pops up somewhere, I jump on the offer as quickly as possible.

Know your Retailers' Policies-Have you ever bought an item during what you thought was a good sale, only to have it drop in price a few days later? Hang on to your reciepts and call the store. Many merchants allow you to get refunded for the difference in price within a certain amount of time. Some retailers honor sale prices for a week, others for 30 or even 90 days.

Open a Credit Card-This tip is not recommended if you have poor credit, too many bills, or if you're trying to buy a home or car. For the rest of us, it might be beneficial to use Christmas shopping as the opportunity to

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