Comments on: Ten frugal holiday tips

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 01:47:39 +0000

Excellent tip about Xmas cards with Xmas not that far away again especially if one tries to econimse by sending Xmas cards overseas by seamail. I think I will be using the online method this year. Bit hard on post office profits but I am sure they will survive!

By: Silvia

Silvia — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:28:52 +0000

I always buy the most of food for christmas beforehand. It is worth doing that because on the eve the prices used to rise .

By: Silvia

Silvia — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:10:44 +0000

To shorten our budget before the holiday one might buy artificial branches or a tree for the decoration of home instead of natural.

By: David

David — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 10:39:37 +0000

Good suggestions. I’d like to add a few more.

1. Instead of giving gifts to everyone in a group of friends/family/co-workers, do a gift exchange where you take one name at random and only give them a gift.

2. Try baking or making your own gifts. One example – my sister is giving out miniature herb gardens that people can put in their windows.

3. Instead of exchanging gifts with your significant other, donate to a charitable cause instead. I suggested to my wife that instead of presents, we donate to the humane society. She loved the idea.

By: CHristianpf

CHristianpf — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:47:15 +0000

NIce tips – I like the one about putting pics online in leiu of CHristmas cards – I do like christmas cards, but I think most people are up with the times enough with the web that they should be able to figure it out. A couple years ago, I don’t think it would have been possible…

By: dawn

dawn — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:32:58 +0000

Another idea if you have grandparents or great grandparents that lived through the depression era – call them up!
They’ve probably got loads of terrific ideas

By: Chelo Marroquin

Chelo Marroquin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:09:52 +0000

Hey no need to take the bad economy out on the inflatables that folks put in their yards(we just retired ours it was old and in bad shape).

But truly great tips!
Remember what you charge today has to be paid tomorrow.

By: Paulette @ Spend Tracker USA

Paulette @ Spend Tracker USA — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:39:45 +0000

This is my most creative tip to add: Let others do the entertaining. Fortunately, this is the social norm in my family. We’re just not the designated entertainers. We visit local grandparents and one sis-in-law who jealously guards her Christmas Eve gathering. I guess she doesn’t like to be away from home on Christmas Eve – neither do I, but I also don’t like spending extra money OR entertaining!

By: Shaun Connell

Shaun Connell — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:14:08 +0000

Haha, the 50 state quarters is an interesting idea. I bet I could sell one of those to a pawn shop for 20 bucks or so.

PS: I really appreciate the last link. Very encouraging.

By: Miss M

Miss M — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:32:03 +0000

I saved money this year by buying a smaller tree. The prices increase dramatically by height. Then I put the tree stand on a sturdy wooden box about 1′ high, voila taller tree. The tree skirt hides the box and raising the tree off the ground is helping to keep it safe from the dogs.

PS- I hate tacky christmas decorations.