I am going to write today on how to cut down on Christmas spending. I know things are hard with the economic hardships we are all facing. I wish to share my ideas on how you could have a splendid Christmas even on a low budget.

Christmas at times turns out to be too expensive especially when we have kids at home. It’s a time people look for the perfect gift they could offer for their loved ones. Below are some tips you can use to cut down Christmas spending and have a merry one for you, your family and friends.

1. Figure out your budget

First thing that comes into mind is for you to put in writing what you want to spend this Christmas. You can check your old receipts if you saved them. Make sure you include everything. Compare it with what you spent last year. Checkout areas that you will want to do a cut for this year. Put a limit on what you have to spend and make sure you don’t go above it. The smaller the amount of money you have in hand means you will have to put a lot of thought which will make you to be imaginative enough and hence think of cheaper replacements.

2. Cut down on Food

In my house, most of the food prepared is not usually finished on that day. This is common with other homes. It should be a good reason for you to cut down on food and drinks. Consider each item for the menu of that day. Ask yourself if it will be eaten. Some of the dishes cannot be stored for long and so will be thrown away if there are leftovers. Take note of such dishes and reduce the quantity or avoid adding it to the menu.

3. Recycling Gifts will Cut Down Christmas Spending

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Recycling gifts and/or decorations can be of great help. Some people might still be keeping last year’s gifts because they never needed it. You can give these gifts to others this year. Anyhow, you should make sure you kept track of last year’s gifts not to embarrass yourself by returning the gift to the person who offered it last year.

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You might not need new decorations because you have the old still packed somewhere. For instance, in my house, we have used the same Christmas tree for two years now. It still looks fine and can be used for this year, except we want a change. It can also be recycled and offered to someone who needs it as a gift.

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4. Be creative

Make your Christmas to be fun. Rather than buying new ornaments for decoration, why not let the kids make them? It will be fun for them and they will put a lot of value in it. It will also cost you less.

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Handmade gifts can be a creative idea to cut down Christmas spending. If you have the talent, you can use it to make gifts for each of your child. You spend time with them and hence know what they love. If you think you can make them yourself, it will be the best of things to do. You can even encourage them to make gifts and offer to each other.

For friends, you can send hand-made cards. With the Internet, it is even possible to send an e-card to distant friends. This will save you some postage fees.

5. Why do you celebrate Christmas?

This should be a question on the lips of anybody celebrating Christmas. An answer to this will give you a great thought on how to manage your expenses. There are many reasons why people celebrate Christmas. Some see it as a time to bring together the family, a period of renewal and hope, and Christians celebrate Christ. Once you know why you are celebrating, you will know how to do it. If you want to do it as a family, then it can be cheaper doing just a family meal and avoid the gift part of it. If you want to do it as a Christian, then going to church will be better. It should be a pious moment and not an extravagant moment.

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Anyhow you want to do it, just try to cut down some cost. You can add other cost-saving methods you have been using for others to read in the comment section.

Follow the tips and have a splendid Christmas with less spending!