3 Fun and Affordable Holiday Ideas
With all the present buying, Christmas card sending and party hosting you partake in over the holiday season, it's no wonder money seems to fly out of your pockets at breakneck speed. Sometimes, you might even feel compelled to send those cheesy Christmas cards that have been on the dusty shelves of your local drugstore since October to save money. Even worse, some frugal fashionistas stoop to sending the same Christmas cards they sent last year!
Don't succumb to this tragic Christmas card fate. Instead, consider some of these great ideas for saving money without sacrificing your style (on Christmas cards or anywhere else!):
- Set a price limit for gifts shared with family and friends. If you are facing a budget crunch this holiday season, you can be reasonably sure that your friends are experiencing the same thing! Set a limit on how much money everyone can spend on gifts. You will ease financial tension while at the same time encouraging more thoughtful, handmade and sentimental gifts.
- Engage your guests in your holiday party entertainment. Instead of hiring a DJ or catering your holiday event, make sure that your holiday party invitations encourage your talented friends to perform, bring dishes for a potluck or provide entertainment in the form of a white elephant gift exchange or ornament exchange.
- Make your Christmas cards work overtime. Instead of sending one Christmas card and one holiday party invitation to everyone on your list, have your Christmas cards work double duty! Include a short note in your Christmas cards to informally invite all your guests to your holiday soiree.
These three simple steps toward saving money this holiday season will have you living the good life for less. Just remember that the heart and soul of the holidays isn't wrapped up in how much your Christmas cards cost or how many presents are under your tree—the true value of Christmas can only be counted in the number of smiles you share with the people you love.