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2. Dollar Stores – Many decorations can be
purchased at your local dollar store if you missed the after Christmas sales or
forgot something. They have really cute tins for cookies and candy, bows, wrap,
tinsel, and many other items.
3. Lower Expectations – I don’t know about
your families but in ours we have discussed lowering the budget on Christmas
and have decided to limit giving to the children and the elder members of the
family. There are a few family members that are alone that would not receive
gifts if it were not from the extended family to whom we also give. We have
discussed with our children cutting back to one or two things they really want
and a few small gifts. Over the years things can really get out of hand with
our children!
4. Start Shopping Early – Consider buying a
couple of gifts every month starting a few months before Christmas. Shop during
sales like back to school sales and Labor Day to save money and avoid the
Christmas rush.
5. Make a List and Stick to it – Make a
list of all those you want to buy for and write an amount next to their name
that you can afford. Write possible gift ideas underneath their names that
correspond with that amount. It makes it faster when you are in the store and
if you stick to the amount beside each name you will come out better in the
end. I have done this for several years; it has helped me immensely.
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A few other things to consider are gift
exchanges and homemade gifts. I know my neighbors and some of my single cousins
really enjoy getting homemade cookies for Christmas, as well as teachers. When
you are having extended family over for the Christmas meal you might consider
doing it potluck style. Cutting back is difficult but if you do it a little
each Christmas it will not be as hard and you will find that you are enjoying
the holidays a lot more.
Guest post by Jack Meyer, a regular
contributor for http://www.nannybackgroundcheck.com/. As a detective he wants to spread the knowledge of terrible things that can happen when people don’t
fully verify the credentials of a caregiver or any employee. He also writes for
various law enforcement blogs and sites.
