How to Have Christmas when You're Broke

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all that... it doesn't sound too merry when you're broke, does it? It seems like everything to do about Christmas takes money. When you can't buy gifts, can't buy decorations, can't afford Christmas dinner and don't have the money for gas to go anywhere anyway, what's so merry about Christmas?

Being broke at Christmas time is kind of like being broke any other time, except that you have a chance to use your creativity even more. It's a chance to begin to think differently about giving and about getting and about celebrating the holidays.

Feeling sorry for yourself won't change a thing, but using some of these ideas will. Guaranteed.

Go to a real Christmas tree sales lot and ask for broken limbs. Most of the time, they'll be happy to have you pick them up. Take them home and decorate with them - and breathe that Christmas smell. Tie a few together to make a swag for your front door, then arrange smaller pieces in a bowl or on a platter and add whatever you might have to make it look festive. Don't get stuck on ornaments if you don't have them. Use fruit, small jars filled with colored water, strips of bright cloth tied into bows. One time I even took the red lids from spice jars and snuggled them into the greenery. They looked quite festive!

Look around at everything you own and pull out everything that's green and/or red or other Christmas colors. Use them to decorate one room in your house. A red sweater, a green bowl, a red and green plaid ribbon, a gold candle... Cover a throw pillow with the sweater, set the green bowl on the coffee table or a side table and put the ribbon around it. Set the candle beside it and there you go. Use your imagination. Being broke doesn't mean you can't use what you already have.

Go to the local soup kitchen. Not to eat, but to volunteer on Christmas Day. Let yourself give to others and you'll find yourself on the receiving end of happiness. Since many charities have an influx of volunteers around the holidays, ask early, or volunteer to do things nobody else wants to do, even if it's cleaning up afterwards. You'll still be in the midst of things and being broke won't matter at all.

Go to a church service, even if you're not religious. Watch the Christmas pageant, take part in the singing and wish at least three people "Merry Christmas" before you leave. Take the good memories home with you.

Take stock of your talents, whether they're telling stories, doing crafts or cooking. Gifts lurk within them. Give of what you have in abundance, even if it's just time spent with someone who is lonely. If you can bake, bake a cake or some cookies. If you can tell stories, put them on paper and wrap them for a gift. Almost any kind of craft can create a gift.

Don't let Christmas pass you by, even if you're broke. Who knows? Some day you may look back and realize that the Christmas you had no money was the best Christmas of all.