I realize you can entirely skip Christmas and gifts etc, but many people choose to participate in all those things and still be frugal at the same time.
Some tips that help keep our Christmas frugal:
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Keep gift bags, tissue, ribbons, and big pieces of wrapping paper to use to wrap presents next year.
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When you get gifts that you don't want, don't open them (open the wrapping paper, obviously, but not the actual present). Then return what you can, or label with a sticky note so you know who it's from and store them all for next year. This is especially good for when you want a small present for your kid's teacher, babysitter, or whoever next year. Many stores have great return policies after the holidays. If you return something to a store that isn't your style, keep the credit to shop for someone else there next year (or just roll it to an even-amount gift card while you're there and you'll have a gift ready and won't have to go back.)
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Get treats you don't want? Or just too many? Use them as the treat you have to bring for something else. (Example: my dad gets lots of cookies and baked goods, as he's a teacher. We use these as the dessert tray at our yearly holiday party. Lots of variety, less work, and we don't end up eating tons of cookies.)
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After Christmas, stock up on things you ran out of (for example, gift tags and scotch tape were 90% off at Target last year after Christmas).
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Start a list (like a note in your phone) where you can make gift notes when you get ideas of what you might ask for or what you can get for someone you know. It's SO helpful when Christmas comes and it also lets you take the time to online shop with alerts and shop when prices are low, or look for used items.
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Take advantage of corporate matching (if your company offers it) if you are giving to a charity in someone's name for Christmas, in order to increase the value of your gift.
I always love when I start unpacking the Christmas stuff and realize how many things I kept from last year that I can reuse, pass along, or share, and also all the things I now don't have to buy!
Last year someone gave me some clothes from Dick's Sporting Goods, and they were just not my style. I returned them and the "holiday" clothing items were HUGELY on sale (including fancy winter hiking socks that were like 80% off and then buy 2, get 1 free on top of that). I was able to get a few big presents for this year and also a giant bag of the socks, which are going to be great gifts and stocking stuffers (they generally retail for like $23 a pair, and instead were like $3.
CVS near me also went to 90% off after Christmas, and for the most part it was junk, but it included socks and fleece blankets, so that the socks were 9 cents a pair and the blankets were $1 each. Great to have on hand for extra gifts or even just to add to a wrapped package, and the ones we don't give we'll donate to the homeless shelter, which is always asking for both those items.
December 18, 2018 at 07:00AM
