Dreaming of a CHEAP Christmas

The economy sucks and Christmas is right around the corner. What to do?
here are a few ideas that just may help!








Okay, so money is tight and Christmas is right around the corner and you haven’t even started shopping yet.

You know that if you don’t start thinking about shopping soon that panic will begin to set in.

So what do you do? You decide not to think about it because you don’t have the time or money for it yet and you refuse to feel the panic set in.

well here are some tips that may make things a little easier for you this Holiday Season!


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1)Personalize

While we all would love the new i-phone or other latest gadget, most of us would be more than happy with a gift that took some thought.

For mom and Dad, a family picture in a frame that matches well with their decorating mo-tiff always seems to do the trick. Make sure the kids write out a personalized note and present them all together as one gift either in a Christmas bag or box. This is a fool proof gift for any parent or grandparent.

For those people that you always seem to forget yet always manage to never forget you, here is an idea that will come in handy.

Get a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, buy some pretty and festive ribbon and a few cheap holiday tins that most stores carry. Fill the tins up, wrap them with a ribbon and PRESTO! you have a last minute Christmas present for the just in case moments that always come up!

Shop On-line

This one probably doesn’t need to be said, but instead of the shopping websites, be sure to check out craigslist and auction sites as well. Many a good bargain has been found on these sites and if you act quickly, they should be delivered in time for Christmas.

Gift Baskets

You will more than likely save serious money if you start making your own Christmas baskets.Simply buy some seasonal fruits, cheeses and cured meets, a nice wicker or false wood basket and some shiny cellophane wrap with a ribbon. Better yet is that you can personalize each basket for a specific person. Uncle Jerry loves Lil smokies while Granny loves her choc mints? No problem there and who besides Scrooge wouldn’t love a basket of treats personalized to their tastes?



Accessories

While we may not be able to buy all the high tech gadgets on every-ones wish lists, we can buy some of the accessories for the things they do have to make them a bit more modern or fun.

Many of todays cell phones are app down loadable. That means they can download software or such to make them more modern and fun. Purchase a gift card, Mp3 case,cell phone car charger, etc… any other item you see that you think your recipient will enjoy.


Finally

One of the best ways is to involve Santa into the mix.

Create a secret Santa with the different groups you will be spending Christmas with, One for friends and one for family if you are going to two separate events.

Also, one for each side of the family if you will be spending your Christmas between them.

you can also make out the theme of your secret Santa gifts as well as the costs.

for example: No more than 25 dollars and the gifts have to be something you would use at the beach!

It could range from anything between suntan lotion to beach balls to bikini’s! Someone original might also buy a pair of Binoculars for *ahem* sea life watching…

You might even want to do one for the adults when the kids aren’t around, say something you would use at night, or something you would use on a first, second third date.

It’s your rules and the main one should always be to have fun and spend it with the ones you love.

After all, is’nt that the best gift of all?