Ah yes, the holiday season is almost upon us. And in the midst of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, some of us are cringing in horror at the prospects of having to keep up the appearance of a ‘typical’ Christmas. But why? So the next day the family can haul their loot to far off corners of the house only to have it be forgotten in a week or so. What exactly have we come to? $15 CDs, $20 DVDs, $25 gift cards as stocking stuffers! What happened to some peppermint sticks, a plum, and a few oranges, turning the kiddies inside out with delight? If you’ve had it with the ridiculous costs of Christmas, here are a few ways to cut your costs while keeping the holiday spirit of giving intact.

1. Do it Yourself

It’s time to put some of those seldom-used skills to use. Are you proficient at carpentry? Have you a knack for music? Is it possible you could force yourself to cook? Consider making your own Christmas gifts this year. A CD of favorite songs for a loved one, a new handmade dresser or jewelry box, or a dinner cooked to order could be wonderful, not to mention inexpensive Christmas gifts.

2. Husbands and Wives

Women love to be pampered, and men … well, men like attention just as much as their wives. Making coupons for free massages and home spun spa treatments can save you money and get you both you some great pampering time.

3. Child’s Play

It typically isn’t until ages four or five that children begin wanting new, unused toys. Until that point, why spend the money on store bought items when the kiddies are just as happy with used toys or hand-me-downs? Trust me - unless you have a baby Einstein on your hands, they’ll never know the difference. My child has been playing with garage sale finds and family hand-me-downs for three years now and never complained once.

4. Make Stockings Fun Again

You don’t need gift cards, CDs, iPods, cell phones, DVDs, and video games to stuff stockings. Stockings are meant to be filled with little treats that shouldn’t break the bank. Toys, food, candy, and games, are perfect stocking stuffers, many of which can be found at discount or dollars store and can allow you to fill a friend’s or family member’s stocking for $10 or less.

5. Vacation Celebration

Make memories that count this Christmas. If you typically take the family on a yearly vacation, consider making that their Christmas present. You were going to spend the money on it anyway, but doing so at Christmas can allow you to make it a ‘family present’ and could possibly get you out of the cold weather for a while.

6. Play it Again

Logic would tend to point to most people rather having 20 used CDs as opposed to three brand new ones. Yet, seldom do we see resale items showing up as Christmas gifts. As long as the used items still work well, there isn’t much difference except for price. It’s the same for video games and DVDs. With online vendors offering all but the latest releases, going used is a great option for lightening the financial load at Christmas time.

7. Parental Presents

What happened to the days when kids actually made things for their parents? It seems that nowadays kids are asking for money to go out and buy mom this or find dad that, when all parents really want is something from the heart that shows their children still love them like they did when they were three.

8. Start Early, Save Big

One of the best ways to reduce costs during the holiday season is not to wait for the season to arrive to begin your shopping. Keeping your eyes open for deals throughout the year will decrease the pressure on you to run out and buy something that isn’t on sale because you waited until the last minute.

9. Brand Name Pressure

Due to advertising and fashion trends, we often feel tremendous pressure to buy brand name products when we can find store brand items of equal quality for half the price. If you want to save, don’t be swayed by those savvy advertising executives. Buy for quality and price, not just for a name.

10. Trade ‘n Go

If you’ve given up on Christmas gifts altogether, you can always do what my grandparents used to - trade fifty-dollar bills and head out to Walmart. On a serious note though, consider exchanging gift cards to restaurants you like, or stores like Target, Walmart, Home Depot or Lowe’s. This way you can enjoy your gifts and get what you want, while having the option to use them for practical things like going out to eat or doing home repairs and improvements.

About the Author

Kris writes about managing personal finances for an Australian credit cards comparison website where you can can compare 0% balance transfer and cash back credit cards that help you save money throughout the year. In his spare time Kris enjoys reading and spending time with his young family.

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