Enjoying Christmas without Spending a Fortune
Children adore Christmas, it is such a magical time of the year that they get swept away in the festivities and look forward to it all year round. Adults, however, often have a love-hate relationship with Christmas. This time of year can become extremely expensive as parents attempt to give their children all that they ask for and spend more money on food, visiting people and decorating the house. This can lead to Christmas time being stressful and worrying, however, it is possible to cut down on your spending at this time of year and it shouldn't take away any of the magic or enjoyment, in fact it could actually lead to this holiday being even more special. Below are some tips on how to enjoy Christmas time without spending a fortune.
- Handmade crafts.A beautifully decorated house is definitely magical. Shops sell some beautiful ornaments to make your house look special but these shops often charge a small fortune with some single baubles costing as much as $15. It is possible to see that you can soon be spending a fortune just on tree decorations alone. Instead of buying everything from stores, create your own. If you have children have them help you too; this will get them excited and they will also enjoy making them and being involved in preparing the house for Christmas. You can make paper chains out of wrapping paper, reindeer decorations out of handprints and paint, You can make welcoming signs using cardboard... there are many websites with tips for handmade Christmas decorations and the majority of them do not cost very much money at all.
- Handmade gifts.Following along the handmade theme, think about gifts for others. Is it possible to make them gifts instead of buying them? You can have a look on websites for inspiration for homemade gift ideas. There are lots of options from baking some cookies or creating a handmade hamper to making your own jewellery or painted glassware. These gifts can hold a lot of sentimental value and also cost you less if you source your items carefully.
- Plan.Always think ahead. If you begin your Christmas preparation too close to the big day then you are likely to spend more. In the months before Christmas there are often sales to tempt you to buy early. This could mean you save money on gifts but always remember to plan carefully; it is no good spending money on a gift you wouldn't normally buy. It is always a good idea to think about who you would like to buy for, what kind of thing you are looking for and then see if it appears in a sale. Thinking ahead like this can mean that you catch some sales which are often great opportunities to make savings.
- Don't buy for everyone.
Do you really need to buy for everyone? Perhaps this is the year to cut back on how many gifts you buy. Although you may enjoy giving to a certain friend, if it is a struggle to actually afford to do so then you should reconsider whether you should keep on buying for them. You may be able to arrange a secret santa with a group of friends so that you can all cut back on savings and just buy for one person and not everyone. This will take the pressure off you.
- Combine trips.At Christmas time you may have lots of invitations to visit people and attend events. Remember, if you are struggling to do everything there are ways around this. Perhaps you could combine trips; would going to see your children in a nativity play fit in with going to the party in the same town straight afterwards? Could you arrange that family members all meet in one place so it's just one trip instead of having to go to individual houses? Also do not be afraid to say no to invitations; if you cannot afford to go to every party you are invited to then prioritise; just choose the one or two which you feel you will enjoy the most.
- Food.It is very easy to go overboard with food at Christmas. The shops are full of party food and luxury items and it can be very hard to resist. Before shopping make a list and plan ahead, think about what you will need, what meals you will make and then stick to it. Make sure you do not get taken in by the nicely-packed festive foods or the special offers unless they are already on your list. It may work out cheaper to make your own cakes or a big stew instead of buying pre-packed party food.
It is possible to enjoy Christmas time without spending a fortune. If you are organised and plan ahead you will be able to take advantage of any offers and do not be afraid to turn down invitations if it will be too much a strain on your finances.
