A First Christmas Couple's Guide to Saving Money

Twelve months ago, I was in a panic. I didn't know what I was going to do for Christmas. I was recently married, and we weren't exactly rolling in the dough. However, we used a few strategies to save some money and ended up making it though our first Christmas as a couple just fine. One thing that really helped was when we cut our spending on each person. Before we were married, we traditionally allocated about $25 for each person. Now that we were trying to support our household, we decided to cut how much we spent on each person however we could. One good, thoughtful gift was better than a lot of expensive, useless junk. This realization helped us as a couple to choose more carefully which gifts we should purchase for others. Another thing that everyone should do is let everyone know ahead of time what to expect. No, I don't mean telling them what their gift will be. I think you should tell the recipients of your Christmas gifts that you are trying to get your new family on track, and you should let them know that this year might be a little slim on the giving side. Most people will be fine with that, because a lot of us have been in that position at one time or another. Being frugal might be looked down upon at times, but being frugal as a couple can bring you closer together! Here are a few frugal ideas that can make a couple's first Christmas a little easier to handle financially.

Card/Letter

I know that it might seem silly, but a well thought out card can really make someone happy. Letters with a personal message of appreciation can't be beat in the heartfelt category. I wrote a long letter to each set of my grandparents last year, telling them how much I appreciated their contributions to my life. My grandparents were extremely touched by the heartwarming letters, and I knew that the time spent on writing them was well worth it. They cost virtually nothing to create and present to them, but the sentimental value of those letters was priceless.

Craft

I'm not sure how well this would work for the older people on your shopping list, but the younger audience is just about always thrilled with these types of gifts. The kids I know love when I make them paper airplanes, and they play with them until the planes fall apart or are attacked by the family dog (which is quite often!). If you have a knack for origami, then fold something special for each person. A small origami book with folding paper isn't too expensive when the cost is spread over gifts for several different people. There are dozens of websites that tell how to make crafts for children. Pick one and get started!

Coupon Book

This idea has been covered in many, many places, but the value of a good homemade coupon book is not to be laughed at. I am very good at working on computers, and if I were making a book for someone, I would definitely put in a few free hours of technical support. If you have a child in your life that enjoys spending time with you, they would love to get a coupon promising them a walk in the park, time playing a game together, or a chance to bake (and eat) cookies. I'm sure that my wife would enjoy getting a voucher for a free car wash, cooked meal, house cleaning, or foot rub. Friends and/or family would also like for someone to volunteer to babysit for them. The possibilities are endless, and I encourage you to use your imagination and your talents to find out what you could do best.

Buy in Bulk

If you must spend money on gifts, try to get something that everyone can enjoy equally. I found a great t-shirt store that gave bigger discounts as you bought more shirts. Many stores would be glad to offer a small cut in price if you place large orders with them. My wife gets shirts made for various school functions, and she usually gets good prices, because she is able to get so many people to order shirts with her. If you are a little bit proficient in the technological area, then you can burn a DVD slide show movie. You'll have to buy the blank DVDs, of course, but if you purchase a large pack, then they are not too expensive. I made a DVD out of old photos for my parents' anniversary a few years back, and it was very popular. A lot of websites that you can order from will give a discount or even free shipping if you purchase enough items. A related suggestion would be to purchase gifts with someone else so that you both get the discount without spending over your limits!

Used

Buying used items should not be a taboo thing to do. I know that I purchased used items for several different people last year. My rationale is this: If I buy something used, then it will cost less, so that means that I can purchase more! I was able to give my brothers 2 used DVDs instead of 1 new DVD, and both of them played just fine. I also bought used books that were out of print for my dad. I buy a lot of my used items through www.ebay.com, www.amazon.com, or www.half.com.

Create Frugal Traditions

This suggestion isn't for the gift-buying part of enjoying your first Christmas as a couple. This is for you and your sweetheart to enjoy. Last year, my new wife and I decided to create some frugal traditions that would ensure that we always remember our first Christmas as a couple. First, we made sure to set aside one night to sit in the dark, eat popcorn, and watch It's A Wonderful Life together. We borrowed other movies from friends and family, too, but that movie is one that we absolutely must watch every Christmas together. Second, we sent a few small items to a soldier. This takes very little time and effort, but it can make such an amazing difference in the life of someone else. I can't imagine spending Christmas so far from home, and I know that receiving a gift from someone I don't even know would make me feel a little closer to home. I know that Kim Komando does amazing things on that front, and her link to help the soldiers is www.komando.com/operationkomando/index.asp. The last thing we did was go out and sing Christmas carols with a group from our church. We sang to the old, the young, and anyone else that wasn't bothered by a dozen out-of-key voices. We enjoyed each of these activities during our first Christmas together as a couple, and I hope that they continue to be a part of our Christmas ritual for many years to come.