Christmas and Holiday Budget Ideas for Treasured Memories

Dec 14, 2011
Teresa Knudsen

Christmas Decorations at the Flour Mill, Spokane - T.K. Dashwood

Keep the spirit of Christmas and holidays. Provide gifts for young children, tweens, teens, young adults, and seniors, and save money for the New Year.

Christmas and winter holidays can bring stress from trying to give presents during a time of economic hardship. Remember that the happiest holidays come from spiritual and family experiences, according to the article 12 Psychology Studies of Christmas. PsyBlog. Yet, keeping the Christmas spirit can also bring ideas for economical presents and wonderful memories. Here are some ways to create holiday occasions and keep money in the bank for the new year.

Keep a Gift Brainstorming List

The gift list helps organize gift ideas and price ranges. List the family, friends, and others whom you would like to provide with a Christmas or holiday gift. Begin to jot down gift ideas and price ranges. This process can focus your shopping and save you money by avoiding last-minute gifts that may be too expensive for you.

Prioritize Gifts According to Ages

Christmas and winter holidays are wonderful, magical times for youngsters and tweens. Buy the kids' presents first. Listen to what the kids are talking about, watch what they like to look at in stores, and ask them what they would like for Christmas.

Price the items in local stores and online to get an idea of price ranges. Consider the benefits and liabilities of buying in stores or online. Stores may be more expensive, but you will have the item right away. Online may be cheaper, but you may have to wait for the gift arrival. Avoid last-minute shopping and extra fees.

If you have no money at all for children's gifts, ask for help. Family and friends with deeper pockets may be glad to lend or give money to make the children's Christmas and winter holidays happy and memorable. Contact community organizations to see if there are programs or sources for toys, books, games and clothing. Check local second-hand stores. Very often, they have surplus inventory, or know of other stores with items to donate for children, and can help provide wrapping paper, ribbon, and gift tags.

Wrap a Gift in Several Packages to Increase the Number of Gifts

Children and kids enjoy the anticipation of seeing wrapped presents under the Christmas tree, and wondering what is inside the package. Many kids' gifts, such as dolls or train sets, come with accessories. To provide more gifts, take the toy out of the package, and wrap the toy and accessories in separate packages with a variety of wrapping papers and bows.

This is a quick way to give the kids more presents to open. This also deals with the "what's next?" question from kids who open presents, quickly scan the gift, and then move on to the next present. When the kids are done opening presents, they feel as if they have received a lot of presents, and then can begin looking over their gifts.

While adults certainly enjoy a present, they can better understand the need for economy. Even children who are prepared for a lean Christmas may feel a keen hurt if they only receive a few presents. By putting the kids first, their Christmas and holidays can be filled with fun and gifts that they can play with or use.

Keep Eyes Open for Free or Inexpensive Useful Gifts

Especially during Christmas and winter holidays, seek out free or inexpensive gifts. Department store cosmetic departments often offer free samples of perfume in small phials. Ask family and friends about their favorite scent. Then, go to the department store and ask for a sample. These samples make nice stocking stuffers.

Companies often offer promotional items, such as walking meters, water containers, or key rings. Gather items without worrying about who will get them. At home, you can decide which family member or friend gets which item. Free Christmas Gifts and Holiday Stocking Stuffers gives lots of ideas for free gifts.

Consider Homemade Gifts

Making presents gives a satisfying way of giving without spending a lot. A fun gift for elementary to tweens is a homemade Harry Potter-inspired wand. As shown on The Instructables, with only a few pieces of notebook or computer paper, a glue gun, paint, and decorations, you can quickly make a wand. Or use wood, an LED light, and layers of paint for a sturdier homemade wand.

Honor the Christmas and Winter Holidays through the New Year

The Christmas and winter holidays bring a magic to homes that honor the spirit of the season. Brighten these days by spending only what you can afford. The magic of the season lends a sparkle and glow to even the most humble presents in a loving home. Then, start the New Year with great Christmas and holiday memories and a healthy bank account.