Unique ideas for an in-budget Christmas

Christmas is that one time of year that families come together in joy and happiness. Parents want their children to have a memorable moment, and children get excited by the anticipation. However, with this past year of inflation, job worries, and rising prices Christmas could be that time of year that “breaks the bank.”  In spite of all the successes a person has had in making a budget and keeping to it, Christmas could cause setbacks in a family’s plan to control spending. I am offering some ways that might not have been considered to help keep Christmas fun without blowing the budget.

1.  When buying gifts, look for those gift cards you might have gotten over the past year  that you never used. Most store gift cards do not expire, and these can be used to buy gifts for someone else. They can reduce the price or provide the total funds necessary to get gifts for the family or friends.
2. For the children, buy that one special gift for under the tree. Then find those small toys that are available at discount stores, like Dollar Tree or Dollar General. You may even find some cool looking toys at your local Walgreen’s or CVS. These are usually used as stocking stuffers. Instead, use candy and wrapped cakes (like Twinkies or Fudge Rounds) in the stocking. Wrap the small toys and put them under the tree. It makes the tree area look fuller and the amount spent is significantly less than buying multiple toys that may not be as appreciated with all the Christmas excitement. And the kinds of toys that can be found (although they are not designed for years of use) will last long enough for the kids to have fun, they can enjoy unwrapping multiple gifts, and they can have that Christmas magic that we all want for our children without “breaking the bank”.
3. When buying for relatives, use gift cards as the gift. You can choose the amount of each card, and these can be kept within budgetary range. It is best to pick cards from stores or restaurants that are frequented by the family member and not a generic gift card. A gift card may be a better present than choosing a gift that will never be used. And, if necessary, your relative can use the gift card next year to help offset their cost of gift-giving. Since we are all working with inflation and high prices, we can all appreciate having the option to lower our costs.
4.  If you are anticipating hosting the family for Christmas, it might be a great idea to make it a barbecue (provided you aren’t in the midst of a snowstorm).  This way you can make it a pot-luck type of event. Each person can bring their special dish, if they would like, and those that can’t cook can bring a dessert made special by their local grocery store.  This has become  a tradition for many families. If your family hasn’t started the “Wow, a winter barbecue” yearly surprise, then maybe this year is the time to start.  Changing a tradition should be a group agreement, not a single decision.  There may be critics, so this should be kept in mind, but plan on an event that will make most people happy.