How to Keep a Realistic Budget for The Holidays

A few suggestions on how to keep a budget while celebrating the Holidays. give everyone a gift without breaking your bank.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• easy craft books
• recycled gift wrap
• yarn
• craft glue
• construction paper
• scissors
• markers
• crayons
• craft paint
• creative imagination

1. Keep it simple. If you don't have travel money and your house is big enough have everyone visit you. If you have a smaller house schedule days that you visit with friends and family. Ask Family to bring a dish to pass. Tell them to share their best Holiday side food.

2. Try to do all of your shopping at the dollar store. Some even sell snacks, containers, ribbon, wrapping, and art supplies. Stick to the basics get only what will be needed for your gifts. Gifts do not need to be big in size just big in heart.

3. Keep gifts simple too. Choose a gift to give for each gender that is similar. You can always have your guests make their own gift too. I made several cookies last year and then each of my guest were given a container to choose what they wanted to take home. I did the same with the kids but with candy and small toys.

4. If you need to buy store bought gifts limit your gifts to groups give families a gift they can share. Always think recycle. Many thrift stores have nice items too. Some items I find are very close to new.
   It's ok to re-give a gift from last year too just don't re-give it to the person who gave it to you.

Tips & Warnings

• Homemade is from the heart. I like to get easy crafts from Oriental Trading Company many of them just need glue and paint and they come in packs of 12 each!
• if you make candy or cookies you might be expected to do a repeat every year especially if you did a great job. I have a candy recipe that I'm expected to do every year.