No- and Low-Cost Tips for the Frugal Christmas Gathering

Everyone has their own idea of what constitutes the perfect Christmas. Some folks go all out with lavish gifts and immaculately decorated homes and hosting lovely parties and holiday affairs. And some folks prefer to keep it low key with small, simple gifts from the heart, a nicely decorated tree in the living room corner and relaxed, intimate family gatherings. No matter how you observe the holiday, almost everyone is looking for a way to save some money and avoid the financial burdens the holidays bring so many of us these days.

Our family has gone far more low key on the holidays in recent years but have still found that we can enjoy the occasion and make fond Christmas memories together regardless of our economic status. The following are some suggestions and tips our family has found valuable and have become very grateful for:

Holiday Meal

This is a tradition that has never wavered in my family for as long as I can remember. My Mother's side of the family has always gathered together on Christmas day, forever. Whoever has been generous enough to open their home for the event is the one who cooks the turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy. Then, everyone else brings a side dish. This doesn't place the whole cost of the meal or the burden of preparing it on just one person or family. We all take turns hosting from year to year. Thanksgiving is a great time to discuss the meal plan for Christmas and allow everyone a little time to come up with their contribution.

Ask others to bring items such as paper plates, napkins, soda, etc. if they offer. Small items such as these are still fairly cheap and it doesn't place an unusual cost on the one asked to bring it along. Everyone usually wants to participate in the event somehow so take advantage of the offers. Perhaps your Great Uncle James doesn't cook much so maybe he could be the guy to suggest the plates and napkins to. If Sis makes the best apple pies, by all means ask her to bring the dessert.

Look for sales on turkeys and hams or any other item your family enjoys for the holiday meal as early as October and early November. Start stocking up on the items you will need for the meal so the cost isn't so large all at one time. Examples: Canned Broth, margarine quarters(freeze them),canned fruit toppings for baking, graham crackers, boxed or bagged stuffing mix, etc.

Gift Cards received as gifts from others are a great way to help fund the meal costs. Wal-Mart, Meier, and most grocers offer gift cards or gift certificates useful for purchasing a turkey or other items. Speak up when asked what you would like for gift exchanges and suggest a gift card from your favorite grocery. Some employers prefer to give gift cards versus cash bonuses for the holidays. If you receive them as gifts or incentives from work throughout the year, you could consider saving them up for the holidays to help defray costs as well. Just be sure to check expiration dates before you consider this idea.

By all means, if your family is struggling and you need assistance with providing a holiday meal, swallow your pride and go apply for it. There are numerous programs available almost anywhere you live. Social agencies, local food banks, The Salvation Army, The Red Cross, Catholic Charities, Associated Charities, local fraternal organizations such as Elks, Eagles, Moose, and VFW all help to provide needy families with holiday meals. Check your local area for sources available to you.

And something our family does at our Christmas meal that doesn't cost a thing but means a great deal to most of us is to say a prayer together and thank God for giving us His son to worship especially on this day and express our gratitude for yet another year we can share as a family.

Family Gift Giving-Children

Providing one's children with gifts, especially those most wanted items and must have articles can be very taxing on a parent's already strained budget. That is why it is important to look for those sales early on for your gift needs to help save money and or save enough money to have the item purchased by Christmas time. Unfortunately, sometimes it just isn't possible to provide these items no matter how hard you try. Here are a few ideas to help soften the blow for your child and your finances.

One great way to help with those big items is to ask grandparents and aunts and uncles to help pitch in if you can. Alot of folks like to do it this way so that they know the child gets what they really wanted and they were a part of it.

Consider purchasing previously owned items. Lots of items are available at second hand stores, thrift shops, through individuals who sometimes place for sale ads prior to the holidays because they also need extra cash. Check your local newspaper listings, community message boards, ebay, and even consider posting your own add for the item you need. Try to use free sources of advertisement such as free cycle or your local free on line trading posts(check yahoo groups for information) and the community message boards in laundromats, stores, libraries, veterinarians, etc. Also, hard to think of now but next year consider holding a yard sale in the warmer months selling off some unneeded items that someone else may use as a gift down the road and using that money for Christmas gifts.

Everyone wants name brand and kids are no exception, however, we all know that not every name brand is necessarily better than generic versions. Strongly check out your options when comparing like items. Consider what trait is important to the recipient and make your decision based on that. Take for instance, a lot of teens want cell phones for the basic purpose of staying in touch with friends and family. Most want all the bells and whistles or the latest and greatest but if you strongly consider what the real need of the item is, perhaps you could settle for a basic phone without camera or mp3 players built in that may sport a much higher price tag.

Use your talents and make or enhance gifts at a fraction of the cost. If you sew, no little girl can refuse a new handmade rag doll with a fresh set of clothing to go along with it. If you do woodwork, perhaps the most hyped doll house on the market can be blown away by a custom creation of your own. And most certainly last longer and be cherished more than a hard plastic version in years to come. Or make your son a soap box derby type car set with bright colors and maybe a little imagination for a race track to go along with it. Perhaps you've come across a good deal on a basic play kitchen set but can't afford all the little extras you can purchase to go with it, so why not try to make some of them?

Some families avoid gift-giving within the family completely and choose rather to donate what they would have spent to those less fortunate. This gift also teaches a lesson in what the meaning of Christmas is all about.

And once again, I encourage those with small children to seek assistance if you are eligible and you need the help. Keep in mind that this is the reason folks are so kind during the holidays. Most of us want to help someone out and some of us just can't and this is the reason for these programs. They can be of tremendous help and may just be the way you can provide for your little ones and not go in debt doing so. Check with your local participants. Most advertise their assistance in the local newspaper so folks know when and how to go about signing up.

Family Gift Giving-Adults

Photo's make excellent gifts. They don't even need to be professional quality to use as a gift. A snapshot enhanced on the computer or enlarged at a store can often be the best photo's for gift giving. Family photo collages make great gifts for the elderly and can be very inexpensive to put together. Buy used frames at the thrift store or use ones you have around home, paint them or decorate them with things you have on hand(ex.:seashells, buttons, decals, flower arrangements, ribbons, etc.) A scrapbook of old family memento's and photos are awesome gifts for the elders of your family that already have everything they will ever need.

Baked Goods or holiday candy is often appreciated during the holidays. Those that don't have the time to make these things themselves really appreciate a basket of peanut butter fudge or a tin of Christmas cut-out cookies or fresh baked muffins and pies. These items are fairly inexpensive and often the recipe's can make very large quantities of yummies, so why not share and give some as a gift to someone?

For someone who has everything, consider such things as gift cards for grocery stores or chain stores or their favorite restaurant. Sometimes local radio and television stations advertise a two for the price of one gift certificate special to various locations in your area. Consider these items as they give you double the value for half the price and that does not happen often this day in age.

Instead of buying for everyone in the family, my family always in the past bought for just the kids under 18 and for many years, the adults did a name exchange and everyone just had to buy the one gift for whoever's name they got. As the years have passed and kids have grown, we still give gifts to all the kids but we have eliminated the adult gift-giving altogether. We have found that the main thing all of us take away from the holiday gathering is the feeling of gratefulness for just being able to enjoy each other's company and be all together if for just that one day of the year. Sometimes we have to look at what is really important in life and cherish and embrace it.

Our family now does a gag gift exchange instead of the traditional gift giving we once did. It is great fun and we spend at least a few hours of laughing and having fun playing the game and seeing all the items people come up with from year to year. Instead of having to purchase these gag items, we have always just used something we've had around awhile and no longer need, junk drawer items, unusual items, outlived conversation pieces, etc. We really even do occasionally receive something useful out of it. It's true what they say, someone's junk may be someone else's treasure. You just never know and best of all, it's free. But I'm sure your Dad may get a kick out of receiving your Aunt's 1960's era prom dress. ha ha.

Another option for gift giving that can cut down on cost is for each household to purchase and wrap one household item of neutral use and draw numbers for who gets to choose the first family package. Ideas for family items include a picnic basket with picnic accessories inside, a home tool kit, ice cream makers, popcorn poppers, rechargeable flashlights, rechargeable sweepers, a set of solar lights, etc. Of course you have to establish a dollar amount that the gift cannot exceed to be fair.

Some folks even re-gift during the holidays. That's a personal choice but one worth pondering.

Christmas Cards And Decorations

There are numerous ways to cut the cost of sending holiday greetings. Perhaps my favorite nowadays are the free on line greetings available all over the Internet. You can choose from several choices and themes and have them delivered most usually anytime you designate. They can be personalized just as a traditional paper card with whatever your heart desires. Another free source to send a greeting on line is to send an email to your family that may include a newsletter and photo's from throughout the year, or just your own design for that special person you want to wish a Merry Christmas to.

When purchasing traditional paper cards, the possibilities are limitless. You can custom order cards with photo's and personalization but they are very expensive. If you are computer savvy, try using photo shop or another similar program to make your own paper cards this way. There are boxes of cards all the same style or pattern and are somewhat cheaper than custom cards or even individually bought cards but the best deal is on the value cards found in a box of 30 to 40 cards of different varieties and sizes and typically around five dollars. Usually it's the thought that counts and the little messages you put on them yourself that mean the most to people.

Another option is to make your own cards out of materials you may have at home including old greeting cards you may have saved from the past or calendars of wintry scenes, backed on grocery bag paper and tied with a ribbon or adorned with a small flower, etc. The options for homemade cards are as many as your imagination will allow.

Ways to save costs on the price of mailing cards is to perhaps use post cards instead of full size cards. And hand delivering them is still an option and sure to be appreciated by most. It shows you care and wanted to spend a minute with them. If you are mailing a gift, put the card inside the package and save the cost of mailing the card separately.

As for decorations for a Christmas tree, once again, you can't go wrong with homemade items. Strings of popcorn, handmade gingerbread men ornaments, re-vamped ornaments you have on hand that may have seen better days. Again, a little imagination goes a long way. Shop thrift stores and second hand for artificial tree's and lights. Test lights at the stores before you purchase and make sure the cord is in good condition with no splits or breaks. Often in the summer during yard sale season, folks will sell perfectly good holiday decorations just because they want to change theme's the next year. Don't overlook these items and always keep an eye to the future.

Whatever you do, don't forget the true meaning of the day and cherish and enjoy your family during this most precious time of year. This gift is truly PRICELESS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!