Cutting Down Holiday Spending

With Thanksgiving over and Christmas just a few weeks away, we all know that the holiday spending can get a bit much.  The old saying, "giving is better than receiving" always proves to be true, because this is the time where we tend to spend the most to give to so many people!  For me, I have to get a gift for my mom, my brother, my grandparents, a few of my cousins, my roommate, and the list goes on.  This Christmas season, I've decided that I need to scale down the cost and cut back on my spending. 

The article, "How to Cut Down on Holiday Spending" gave ten tips on how to cut back this year.

1. Create a budget. 
     (It's easy to go over budget when you don't have one...so take some time to create it!)
2. Make a gift list.
     (If you know who and what you're shopping for, then you'll be able to get just those items.)
3. Trim down your gift list.
     (Same as above, only this time it's a little smaller.  Saves money that way!)
4. Start early
     (You can get good deals if you hit the right sales)
5. Shop smart.
     (You don't have to spend a ton of money to give a nice gift.)
6. Shop second-hand.
     (It doesn't always have to be new, sometimes the best things are the oldest things!  
      So check out thrift stores and antique stores.)
7. Make it yourself.
     (It's the thought that counts. Making something from the heart is better than something store-bought.)
8. Don't shop for yourself.
     (Duh!  Quit being selfish!)
9. Skip the Christmas cards.
     (Who reads them anyways?)
10. Skip the pricey gift wrap.
     (Check out the article for some great ideas on cheap gift-wrapping ideas.)


Happy Hunting!