Cut Costs and Have a Better Christmas: Great Ideas for Free and Inexpensive Gift Giving

It's no secret that many individuals and families are struggling financially in this troubled economic time. With many people out of work, thousands of families around the country are scrambling to pay their bills and buy groceries. These financial changes will undoubtedly mean changes in how some families celebrate Christmas this year. Christmas already puts a financial burden on many families each year, and many more will be affected similarly this holiday season. If you need to cut Christmas costs dramatically this year, you may find the following suggestions helpful.

Change the way you think about Christmas - Few people would argue that Christmas has become a vastly commercial holiday, and many would agree that what our country (and our pocketbooks) need most is a return to a more historical celebration of Christmas. Capturing the true spirit and meaning of Christmas buy giving your time and love to others is going to be far more beneficial than handing them another unnecessary holiday wrapped gadget or book for their coffee table. Instead, give of yourself this year. As a gift, offer to help a friend or relative with a home project that they can't finish on their own, or cook a simple meal for friends to share in your home. Memories and true acts of service are far more appreciated than material items. This approach cuts costs while making Christmas much more meaningful.

Consider heartfelt homemade gifts - A good way to cut costs at Christmas is to give thoughtful homemade gifts. Baking is a great way to cut costs at Christmas, and everyone loves to receive homemade baked Christmas goodies. It's possible to stock up on baking supplies like flour, eggs, and sugar quite inexpensively. This is even appropriate if you have kids on your gift giving list because it's easy to make brightly colored, festive Christmas cookies or cupcakes, and what kid doesn't love those? Check around online for a creative way to package your baked items, and you can likely bake gifts for everyone on your list for under $100, possibly even less, so clearly this is a great way to cut costs for Christmas. Set aside a weekend for baking, look up recipes online, and you've got Christmas in the bag.

Donate your time to charity instead of gift giving - If you really want to cut costs this year while still engaging in true Christmas spirit, consider handing out Christmas cards this year with a special note inside informing everyone that instead of giving gifts this year, you are going to donate a certain amount of time to charity in their family's honor. You can include specifics, for instance: "This year I am donating 4 hours to the downtown soup kitchen in your family's honor. Merry Christmas!" This approach is a fantastic way to cut costs and really engage in the true spirit of Christmas.