Plan Ahead for a Frugal Christmas
Save Money on Gifts this Holiday Season
The Christmas holiday season is an expensive one in many households. Some families even go into debt to buy gifts. Planning ahead for a frugal holiday can save money and keep you debt free this Christmas.
Garage Sales
While the warmer weather is still here, the perfect time to start Christmas shopping is garage sale season. Toys for young children are great finds at garage sales. Children younger than four or five are not going to know the difference between a brand new toy and a nearly new toy purchased from a garage sale. A side benefit of garage sale Christmas shopping is that someone else has already thrown away the packaging, thus reducing the clutter of your Christmas morning.
Shop in Your Attic
For parents whose children are spaced more than a few years apart, baby and toddler toys that were stored in the attic after the first child outgrew them can be wrapped and placed under the tree for the new baby or young toddler. Chances are the oldest has long since forgotten about the toys and they will be new and exciting to the young child.
Search Sales Fliers
For the child whose taste in toys is consistent, search sales fliers early for deals on toy favorites. This is the best way to purchase new Lego kits, Barbie dolls, gaming equipment and other toys for older children. Many stores, such as Toys R Us, will have a Christmas shopping sales flier as early as September or October.
Set a Budget
Setting a Christmas shopping budget for each child ahead of time and forcing yourself to stick to it will save money. If a child is asking for a particular, expensive gift, then buy a few smaller, less expensive gifts to go with it. Dollar stores and discount department stores stock toys and other items that can be used to supplement a more expensive gift and keep you within your holiday budget.
Focus on Non-Gift Traditions
A frugal Christmas isn’t about an excess of toys. Children will appreciate the holiday season more when the focus is on family. Create special memories with your children by donating outgrown toys to a shelter, baking cookies, caroling or making Christmas crafts.
The Christmas shopping season doesn’t have to leave you with credit card debt. Setting a modest budget, shopping garage sales and shopping early for sale prices will help you have a frugal Christmas.
For more money saving ideas read Frugal Back to School Shopping.
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