by Suzanne Rose

Created on: December 24, 2011   Last Updated: December 25, 2011

Christmas is a time of fun, family and, unfortunately, spending. You may not have the same funds available this year and thus need to lower your expenses. Lowered costs do not have to mean any less of a Christmas if you take the right measures.

Look for free and low cost Christmas activities

You may be accustomed to going to expensive dinners, events and shows during the holiday season. To save money, you can choose free or inexpensive options. Instead of eating out at expensive restaurants, invite family over for a nice potluck dinner. You can have the exact same special family time and spend only a fraction of the cost. You can make a pact with different family members to rotate the house that hosts the different Christmas events so that no one person has to take all of the burden.

Many cities also offer Christmas events for both children and adults. Libraries will often have programs for kids. Cities host parades, Christmas tree lightings, festivals and other events. You can simply go for a drive to look at the Christmas lights around the town or go caroling with your neighbors.

Save on gifts

One of the biggest costs of the season is on gifts, and there are many opportunities to save. Talk to the people with whom you exchange presents. Some people may prefer not to exchange gifts and only be doing it because they think you want to or because of tradition. You can also make a pact that you will only spend a small amount of money such as $10. Another idea is to make a Secret Santa so that you only buy a gift for one person but everyone still gets a gift. Another idea is to give handmade gifts that are very meaningful and yet relatively inexpensive.

CBS News suggests a variety of ways to save when buying gifts such as buying online with discount codes, getting cash back and purchasing gift  cards that are discounted. Good Housekeeping recommends looking for last minute deals.

Save on decorations

You can spend a great deal of money on lights, ornaments and other decorations for Christmas. Christmas is not really about spending money but you still want the home to look festive for the season. One idea is to make the Christmas decorations. These can be excellent crafts for children and adults and provide a unique look to your home. You will find many ideas for making ornaments, wreaths and other decorations from sources such as Family Fun and Martha Stewart.

Christmas is not about spending money, but about spending meaningful time with friends and family. With the right steps, you can enjoy a special Christmas and lower your expenses.

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