| With the Christmas season rapidly approaching, you | | | | are always a great gift idea for children as they have |
| may be worrying about the financial impact of the | | | | long lasting value. |
| gifts you will be giving. It is difficult to relax and | | | | 3. Save money on your gift giving by making your |
| enjoy the holiday season knowing that big bills will be | | | | gifts. If you enjoy cooking, make up some pre-made |
| coming in after the start of the new year. You can | | | | baking kits like your special cookie recipe. Put it in a |
| have a wonderful holiday season without spending | | | | decorative jar and use fancy ribbon and bows to |
| too much money. A commitment to celebrate your | | | | make the presentation look great and include a |
| holiday season in a debt-free fashion will bring much | | | | hand-written recipe card. If you sew make a |
| peace to your life when the New Year comes | | | | handmade blanket or pillow. Even if you are not the |
| around. You will not need to worry about the credit | | | | crafty type, visit your local craft store and see what |
| card bills that will be coming due in January and | | | | gift ideas they have featured. Some of them require |
| February. Here are some ways you can give gifts | | | | very little in the way of expertise and can be made |
| without going into debt. | | | | inexpensively. |
| 1. Make a detailed gift giving list including recipient's | | | | 4. Shop for gifts at your local dollar store and create |
| name, gift, and budgeted amount. This way you can | | | | a themed gift basket of the items you find. You |
| gain an overall picture of what you are going to | | | | could choose a bath theme gift basket and fill the |
| spend. Then, vow to stick with the list and not go | | | | basket with different toiletries; a toy gift basket |
| over the budget. If you spend more money on a gift | | | | made of an assortment of dollar toys; or even a |
| than you have budgeted, then another gift will have | | | | Christmas gift basket filled with some of the |
| to cost less than the amount you budgeted. Take | | | | Christmas merchandise. |
| your list with you whenever you go shopping and | | | | 5. Be on the lookout for sales and clearance items. |
| cross off the items as you purchase them. | | | | The earlier you start shopping, the better your finds |
| Remember, the goal is to celebrate the holidays with | | | | will be. Scan those sale ads every week and check |
| no debt. Avoid impulse purchases as they are usually | | | | the clearance aisles frequently. I look for kid dress up |
| not budget friendly. | | | | costumes after Halloween when they all go on sale |
| 2. To save money on gifts for children, shop for toys | | | | for 75% off. |
| and games at consignment stores and garage sales. | | | | With just a little bit of planning and the determination |
| Many times you can find items that have never been | | | | to stay on budget, you can enjoy a holiday season |
| used, are in their original packaging, and cost a | | | | with no worries about debt in the New Year. |
| fraction of what they would cost in the store. Games | | | | |