[nylorac]

How many of us are planning on cutting back our spending for Christmas this year? I say that I am every year, but I really don't. I get that Christmas bug and shop til I drop.

Anyone have any great money saving ideas during the holidays?

[sleepyprincess]

I am definitely spending less this Christmas. I don't have nearly enough money, and so I will be making my gifts. I've foudn some different types of sites that have good homemade gift ideas. I was thinking about perhaps baking as well!

[Bella]

Even during the most lucrative years I always bake at Christmas for people that I need to give something to, but they're not all that close to me to actually buy for. As far as spending goes, this year I will definitely be cutting back. You can only rob Peter to pay Paul so many times before Peter hires a collection agency and needs to be paid back.

[greenqueen]

This won't help much for this year but you should try to start shopping year round instead of just this time of year for Christmas. Especially after each major holiday, you can get great gift items on clearance super cheap. I've taking perfumes and bath care stuff bought after Mother's Day for 90% off and repackaged all the items into a pretty basket for Christmas. Generally it's only the packaging that mentions the holiday.

I also hit clearance sales all the time and just put items away for Christmas.

[Sunny14]

Greenqueen that is an awesome idea. You are right and I shop a lot too after every Holiday when the clearance sales are the best. I never thought about re-packaging them to look like Christmas gifts.

I'm scaling back a bit this year. I shop year round so my wallet does not take the hit in November and December.

[Allie]

That's a wonderful idea! We are making different types of candy for neighbors, mailmen, club members and so forth. The only ones we are spending hard cash on this Christmas is immediate family and they are being trimmed down too, they just won't know it.

[alygirl]

Sleepy Princess I would love to know the names of those websites. We are cutting way way back this year. It will be my little girl's first Christmas though so most of our budget has been designated to her.