Deck the Halls with a Budget This Christmas

Whatever happened to celebrating the birth of Jesus? Christmas has turned into the biggest commercial holiday, as if the main purpose is to either see how much in debt a person can get or how many gifts we can give to get notoriety within our inner circles. I'm fussing, sorry. Christmas should be a time of celebration. It is a time to enjoy your family, enjoy the year's accomplishments, and depending on what city you live in, enjoy the weather. In spite of what is portrayed through media, through retail stores, and through shopaholics... Christmas can be done on a budget.

The following tips will offer you ways to have all of this enjoyment without having others enjoy your money.

Christmas Budget Tip #1 - Leave the ham, get the hot dogs

The first area of budgeting is the Christmas holiday food. Most people break the bank buying hams and turkeys and ingredients for desserts that have tons of calories. Cut back on food spending in two ways: 1) try chicken instead of ham; 2) use your coupons. Chicken will give you more options and it's healthier for you than ham. To really cut back go with children favorites like hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone. Most people like these foods and once they get past the initial shock of not having ham or turkey, they'll eat as if it were a normal meal. The savings per person is between $4 and $8.

Christmas Budget Tip #2 - Do you need to light up the whole house?

Elaborate decorating will cost you both in the actual decorations as well as your electric bill in January. I've seen houses where the entire house has been decorated in lights and Santa merchandise. Leave the elves in the store, leave the hundreds of lights at the store, and keep Christmas simple. If you want to decorate, get a Christmas tree - artificial. You can get a bottle of air freshener that smells like pine if it's that serious. Get some lights and ornaments just for the tree, not the entire house. You should save at least 50-100 dollars this way.

Christmas Budget Tip #3 - Research merchandise you want to get

Retailers are pushing online sales lately, so much so that they'll give more discounts if you shop online and have it delivered to your house. Of course this is a little more money for UPS or FedEx but it's less money for you. Then there is Black Friday shopping (although in my opinion, the best deals are after the holiday). There's usually one good rush between Black Friday and Christmas, somewhere between the 10th and the 15th of December where retailers will have sales. Keep an eye out in your local newspapers and online for retail deals.

Christmas Budget Tip #4 - Travel light this Christmas

The majority of airlines now charge per bag carried on a flight. Take only what you need if you're flying somewhere for Christmas. Get a flight at an off-time (usually before 9am or after 9pm). Drive instead of fly if you can. The cost of a rental car plus gas will far outweigh that of an airline ticket for every person in your household traveling with you. It will take a little longer, but the cost may outweigh the time factor.

Christmas Budget Tip #5 - Entertain yourselves at or near home

Rent DVDs and watch them at home instead of going to the movies. If you're in a colder city like Chicago, arrange snowball fights or winter games your family can do together. Some people use Christmas as the time to live it up downtown and be entertained by others. There is nothing wrong with that, but if you are looking to cut costs - be creative with at-home entertainment.