Tips for a Christmas Budget

It seems as though more and more people are being affected by our sour economy. And as times get tougher, the folks that have not had to struggle will be faced with some new challenges. Some things they may have to deal with might be not having enough money for everything, worrying about having enough food to last until payday, or how to ration out the gas in the car. For those fortunate poor folks like myself out there, we have had to live this way for a long time, and these times don't really feel any different than how we grew up. This time in our lives is enough to worry about, but Christmas is right around the corner. I want to help, so I have compiled a list of gift ideas for this holiday season that will help spread the love and also not take food out of your mouth. Here are some tips that I hope will help those of you that may never have ventured into the world of not enough.

1. Go to your local bank and open a savings account just for socking away money for Christmas. I know some banks offer a program designed precisely for this purpose. If you add up $5 here and $4 there, you just may be surprised at how fast money grows. Also, the interest rate that you are getting paid may not be much, but at least it is something. This is also a good character trait to teach your children about. Have them go with you to the bank and learn all they can about savings. Most banks also offer a program geared towards children and savings.

2. Take a cookie jar or your favorite jar and start emptying your change into it every night. I know in this day of debit cards, this practice is almost obsolete, but bear with me. If you start dropping the change from a broken dollar bill into a jar, you can actually watch your money grow. And if you practice self control, and not dip into it and take all the quarters out before Christmas, you may just have enough loose change to buy all that you need to buy this year.

3. Start collecting cans. If you are throwing away any empty soda or beer cans, you are throwing away money! In my area of North Carolina, there are places that will give you top dollar for the aluminum that is found in those cans. So, on top of recycling, you are also getting money to help for Christmas. I know you have seen those old men on the side of the road with a spear and bucket, what do you think they were doing? They were helping the environment by picking up other people's garbage, but also, they were helping themselves by getting paid for it. Also, look into donating the pop tops that you get from the cans to a local charity, like the Ronald McDonald House. You can give back to your community and your family just by doing a little extra work with that can.

4. Now I have seen this one work first hand. Dollar bill saving. This is a great way to add up a lot of money with little effort. It is the same idea as coin savings, but with a bigger reward. As long as you have the will power not to spend the money, you could easily save enough money starting now to pay all of Christmas for this year. Take the change that you get back from breaking a $20 or a $10 and put the change in your special change jar, and take the dollars and put them in a special envelope or box. I have seen people come to the bank and bring in over $500 at a time in $1 bills. This is also a good way to get us off of our dependence on debit and credit cards. Think of all the fees you have paid this year to your local bank for overdrafts or service charges. There is instant savings right there. Instead of lining the pockets of the bank, you are actually lining your own pockets.

5. Give "green" gifts to your friends and family. If you have a pretty flower bed or herb garden at home, you have tons of presents just waiting to be taken. It is very easy to take cuttings from plants and herbs and propagate them. Just go to your local garden center or ask a green thumb neighbor for their advice if you are not handy in the garden. This is a two fold gift. It teaches you a new skill that could benefit your whole family and it is also strengthening the bonds of your community by getting others involved. Some types of plants that come to mind are rosemary, mint, hosta, cactus, and gardenia. Just think that these plants could cost you about $5 each, and you have an endless supply in your own backyard, free.

6. Have a reverse Christmas this year. If you are fortunate enough to have extra stuff laying around that you no longer use or need, or if your children have toys that they no longer play with, take those things and give them away. I'm sure if you research your local area, there is a homeless shelter or domestic violence shelter that would be forever grateful to receive a donation from you. There is also a tax deduction in it for you, too. I'm sure that you can see that this would teach a lesson to your children that it would take a lifetime for them to learn on their own.

7. If you can afford it, give money. I'm sure you have family members that are struggling right now, and a little bit of money will go a long way to help them feel better. Word to the wise, if there is drug abuse or alcoholism in the family you are thinking about giving money to, think again. My next Christmas idea may suit that person better. I am a proud woman, and I don't like to take a handout from someone. Christmastime is a little different. I don't feel bad about receiving money as a present. If you think about it, we are just exchanging items that cost money to each other. If you give money, you also lose the risk of getting someone something and they don't need or want. I don't care who you are, if you work for a living, you could use a little extra money from time to time.

8. Give gift cards that people will actually use. Sure, restaurant gift cards are nice, but also think about a grocery gift card. My family was running down on luck and money, and a friend of mine sent us a $50 grocery card. This card meant that our family could make it until payday without having to worry about what we were going to eat. I am forever grateful to this act of kindness.

I hope that some of these tips will help ease the burden of Christmas this year for you. For those of us Americans that have not had to suffer or barely get by, I feel that it is our duty to our families and friends to do all that we can to help each other out. Don't wait for the government to do it, it is our responsibility. Also, it does make you feel better to help other people out. I wish you the best of luck.