Our Readers’ Best Holiday Time and Money-Saving Tips
Freebies & Deals
October 30, 2012 at 12:33 pm
by cassiekreitner
The holidays will be here before you know it. To prepare for them, Family Circle readers shared with us on Facebook their best tips for a very merry season. Take a look at our list, check it twice, then post your own advice!
“Use coupons and gift certificates that people have given you, especially if they’re from a store that doesn’t interest you, to buy gifts.” —Dawn Krajewski
“Exchange credit card points for gift cards.” —Gini S. Ohlson
“Save your change and cash it in at Christmas time. It’s always a good amount that will offset unexpected costs.” —Erin Blake Byers
“Keep your holiday cards. The next year, create postcards and gift tags: Tear or cut off the front part, punch a hole and tie a pretty ribbon.” —Kimmie Jackson Saucier
“I send electronic cards and donate the money I would have spent on real ones to a local charity.” —June Butka
“Shop online from a website that refunds a percentage of your purchases, like Ebates.com. A few dollars here and there can really add up!” —Jen Malliet-Leonard
“Wrap gifts in batches—as you bring them home—so you don’t feel stressed out on Christmas Eve.” —Candace Crawford
“We give cookies as gifts to other families. I start baking a few batches each week in early October and freeze them. My goal is to finish by Thanksgiving. That way, throughout the busy holiday season I just have to thaw them before I leave the house.” —Lori Beard
“When I’m sending presents in the mail, I cushion them with popcorn packed in one-gallon Ziploc bags. It’s also a nice bonus gift for the recipient!” —Loose Screw Chef
What’s your best holiday tip? Share in the comments below.
Cassie Kreitner was editorial assistant at Family Circle magazine.
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I have spent all my savings this Christmas and am going through a financial crunch to welcome the new year that is knocking the door, but have managed to smoothen the bumpy roads by going for a $200 pay day loan which I could pay back once I have my check.
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All year long, whenever I receive a $5 bill in change, I tuck it away in a secret pouch. In November, I open the pouch and count my $5 bills. This year I had over $300! And surprisingly, I mever felt deprived during the year!
Two years ago I made up cookie coupons. I put extra time into making them look nice and had them laminated. I give them to friends and family as gifts. So many people are overloaded with cookies at Christmas so the coupons can be used when you dont have other baked goods around. When someone turns on in for cookies I have a special place to keep them so I can reuse them year after year.
the money i save with coupons for groceries i put away until christmas and buy gifts with it. I always save $300.00 or more. Jo Shuemaker
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I have a separate savings account for Christmas, & have $200 automatically transfered each month into that account. I have enough momney for Christmas AND my property taxes, leaving Christmas stree free. I used to get $20 cash back at the grocery store each week when I did my shopping, & put it in an envelope for Christmas. That works, too as long as you don`t dip into the envelope during the year!
Starting in the first week of November I pull out all my holiday cookie recipes and jot down in a notebook how much of each ingredient I need.Each week as I go shopping I pick up a extra 10 pound bag of sugar or flour or anything else that I don’t keep on my shelves year round. My goal is to have all the baking ingredients ready so that I can start after Thanksgiving with my baking. Less of a shock to the pocketbook this way. Also every November 1st I go through my spice rack and throw out all the spices I maybe only use once or twice a year. (Put your allspice/nutmeg etc.. in a simmering potpourri pot) Now I know I have fresh spices for the holidays
I keep a little note book in my bag. I write down who I have to shop for and what I am getting them when I am at home. That way when I go out to shop I am not over spending be getting something on a whim. By figuring things out at home I get a chance to think through the purchase and not fall prey to the sales on things I do not plan on getting.