Stretch your holiday fund without skimping the fun

The holiday shopping season starts in about two weeks. Retailers are worried as sales dipped 2.8% in October. It’s definitely the season for less spending. Here’s a thought: think how much we would all save if we shopped in our own personal closets, entertained at home and ate from the food stored in our pantry. I think with imagination in most cases it shouldn’t be a problem. Even so I thought I’d offer up these cool ways to stretch your holiday shopping budget and still have fun.

If your office is doing the gift exchange thing this year and you’re nervous that it doesn’t fit into your Christmas budget, suggest that your office or department draws names and the gift you buy for a person must match the gift recipient’s name initials.

For instance, Doug Brighton could receive a Detective Book. Peggy Hall could get a pencil holder or pink hat. Charles Pruitt might receive a Cherry Pie or Cotton Pullover. The advantage over this gift exchange is that it’s a unique twist on traditional name pulling and there’s an array of choices that meet your spending budget. For example you could select a paperback book, one that’s hard cover, or purchase book on tape. Another plus is that regardless of your gift choice it will always be letter perfect.

Another way you can save money during the holidays is to curb eating out at restaurants. When you want to get together with friends and family do something that doesn’t revolve a menu and waiter. Opt for a local museum, take a walk around the park, go to a high school game or holiday performance. And my personal favorite . . . meet at your favorite neighborhood coffee shop and play Scrabble

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This entry was posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 8:53 am and is filed under Misc. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Response to “Stretch your holiday fund without skimping the fun”

  1. chammy Says:

    November 22nd, 2008 at 4:18 am

    i’ll buy something sentimental and its not the gift that matters, it is the thought of giving and the feeling that you are remembered :)

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