Great ways to shop wisely for holidays - stay out of debt!

[Kathy]

Let's start some ideas on how to make sure that once the holidays are over we don't have debt, paying for christmas until next year.


I picked up some cute christmas plates and will make some goodies from my kitchen to pile on it to give as some of my gifts.

I've also been shopping a bit this summer/fall to prepare.

How about you? Are you making gifts or finding great bargains to make sure you don't end up in debt?

BTW I think its important to remember that we (and our gifts) are not responsible for making others happy. It IS the thought that counts. I started a few years ago downsizing my grand ideas to manageable so that I am not stressed financially or emotionally during the holidays.

[GirlyGirl]

I pay cash for everything...no credit card purchases anymore. I've also started thinking twice about anything I buy or think about buying for the girls. In years past, I tended to go overboard. Now, I take some time to think about if they really need something or if they have asked for the item more than once. I also think about what they are doing with items I've bought in the past. I can tell you, there a quite a number of items that have not been bought this year!

[clogaholic]

I like to give handmade gifts. I make jellies and jams with homegrown fruit. Add a loaf of home baked bread or rolls, some cookies, a pretty basket. Everybody loves them ( well so they say :D ).
I also make hand stamped cards. It's not actually less expensive but loads of fun.
I've been working on cutting my list down too.

:dance:

[ofgrace]

Girlygirl, I like that idea about paying cash for everything. I'm not sure we can do it this year but it will be worth trying. Makes ya think twice before spending so much on one gift.

This year my DH's extended family all agreed to draw names. This is going to be a huge spending burden lifted off of us. We have always gotten presents for his brother and wife and 2 sisters and hubbys. They each have two children , thats six neices and nephews and now 2 are married with 3 more children, and then there are the long term girlfriends and boyfriends. Oh and I almost forgot grandma and grandpa. It was killing me and last year I really lost the spirit. It's like our list just kept on growing and growing. Now we will only be responsible for four gifts since there are four in our family when we get together with DH's side of the family. I can now shop for something decent and be more relaxed about it too.
On my side of the family it is still relatively small and managable. Except that my mother likes all of us to also contribute to stockings that she continues to hang for all of us. They are from when we were all little and she made them and made one for each new member of the family too. I have my own familys stockings now and really hate buying a bunch of junk for all these other stockings also. Don't get me wrong I'm not being a scrooge here my brothers family also have their own stockings at their homes too. The gifts and presents that I buy for my brothers and spouses and two nephews and for her don't fit in the stocking and are considered seperate. She is soooo sentimental about these stockings but they drive me crazy. Maybe this year I will do alot of baking to fill up those stockings. Hmmm, I wonder why I haven't thought of that yet? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Digitizingqueen]

It is never to early to start thinking about Christmas, My brother and his wife and I agreed years ago to only buy for the kids, and we have cut back on spending for our kids one more big year for our son and that is it... Christmas is about family and tiem together I make gifts for my mom and dad and ths year bought them food (My Mother does not need any more dust collectors in her house)
My parents usally give magazine subscriptions, and gift certificates for dinner...

Coupon books that offer sevices are really nice gifts for family, or dinner out or in... I made knitted hats for all of the kids last year to add to the purchased gifts and they loved them... picked yarn that reflected each kids personality....