How to Save Money During the Holidays (and Still Have Fun)

You don't have to empty your bank account to have a beautiful and meaningful holiday this year. Here are a few ways to have fun but still save money on your holiday festivities and gifts.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Instead of hosting an elaborate and expensive Christmas party this year for family and friends, why not get together and head out to a local restaurant or coffeehouse.
   Still want the privacy of home? Make it a potluck dinner and ask that everyone that comes bring either a main course, side dish or desert.

2. Instead of a standard gift exchange, why not play a little Dirty Santa. Have each houseguest of family member buy an inexpensive and random gift and wrap it without a tag. Then, put all the gifts under the tree and have all participants draw a number from a hat. The person with the lowest number gets to go first by choosing a gift from under the tree. The next person then gets to choose a gift from under the tree OR take a gift that has already been claimed by a person before them.
   It can be so hilarious and exciting, people will forget they didn't come home with a load of gifts.

3. Save money on cards and stamps by sending E-cards to your more computer-savy friends. Go to www.hallmark.com, or if you are a desktop publishing whiz, try making the card yourself.

4. Before the credit card was king, people celebrated the holidays in all kinds of (Gasp!) inexpensive ways. Take your family to the local Christmas lights display. Buy some hot cocoa and have a night of family togetherness.
   Start some new family traditions at home by choosing a book to read together on Christmas Eve or baking cookies for Santa.
   Show your children the true meaning of the giving spirit by singing Christmas carols to shut-in elderly family and friends or delivering small fruit baskets. These are very much appreciated gestures.