by C. Ann Cunningham

Created on: November 17, 2009

The economy is not doing well and the chances of it improving before the holidays are nil. Most of us have learned how to scrimp and save since the economy began to collapse and some of us much longer. You can take those same everyday tactics and apply them to the holidays and have a merry Christmas without making it seem cheap or less happy than normal.

Start out with the little things. Most of us have decorations we use year after year, but in the event that you do need more or new decorations, check the local dollar stores, thrift shops, and bulk discount stores. While they may not be name brand decorations and ornaments, you can still find very nice items at a low price. You can also find serving dishes, candy dishes and that sort of thing at stores like that as well. You can also pick up candy and sweets to fill those dishes at a lot of the dollar stores.

More and more people are turning to community food shelves for help with Christmas dinner. If you need help with that, don't be embarrassed. Call them up and check to see if they are offering a food basket, and if they aren't, they might know of someone who is. Check with your local churches as well. The churches might be able to help you with gifts as well.

Even if you choose not to access the help that is out there from churches and community organizations for gifts, you can still find inexpensive gifts at stores. Hit the discount and clearance racks for clothes. Utilize layaway while you still can at stores that offer it. Some stores, like Target and Toys R Us, offer coupon books. Check online for coupons for gifts as well, at places like couponalbum.com. They have a variety of coupon types, and offer both online coupons and printable ones. You can even look at all of the coupons offered by a particular store using the link listed under the featured coupon or along the left sidebar, and expiration dates vary on all of them. There is also the chance that a discount grocery store will offer hot name brand toys and gift items for much less than normal pricing, so if you have a discount grocery like Aldi's in your town, don't be afraid to shop there as well.

Things are rough all over, and there is nothing to be ashamed of if you use coupons, special promos, shop at a place you normally wouldn't or break down and admit to someone else that you need help getting through the holidays. As long as your family is happy and together, no one should care how or where the gifts and food came from. All they should care about is the fact that they have someone to spend the holidays with.

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