The more money you save on Christmas decorations, entertaining and Holiday incidentals, the more money you’ll have to spend on the good stuff, like kid’s presents.
Make some of these unusual Holiday cost cutters part of your yearly tradition so you can begin the New Year will a little change left in your pocket.
Festive Holiday Centerpiece
Use clear glass bowls or hurricane candle holders to hold colorful Christmas ball ornaments and create inexpensive Holiday centerpieces. Place small Christmas balls in small candle holders and large colorful glass balls in large clear glass bowls. Place the centerpieces on surfaces around the house for festive Holiday décor in every room.
Christmas Card Garland
This unusual Christmas garland will only cost you the price of a spool of ribbon. Use a paper hole puncher to punch holes in the upper right-hand corner of Christmas cards as they arrive during the Holiday season. Thread a length of ribbon through the holes and tie the cards to a bough of real or artificial greenery. Attach card garland to a mantel, staircase, window sill or over a doorway.
Tex-Mex Christmas Dinner
When you’ve had your fill of traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas foods and the grocery budget is low, try this inexpensive Tex-Mex enchilada casserole. Use your favorite enchilada recipe, place prepared enchiladas in a baking dish, cover with green chili sauce then drizzle roasted red pepper chili sauce on top.
Bake Artisan Bread
Find a simple recipe for artisan bread (mine is banana nut bread) and prefect it to serve to your Holiday dinner guests and give as gifts. A loaf of homemade bread, cheese and a beverage makes for an inexpensive way to entertain guests and a loaf of artisan bread bagged and tied with a ribbon makes a wonderful inexpensive Christmas gift. And best of all, artisan bread can be baked in advance to free up oven space and time during the hectic Holiday season.
Unusual Gift Wrap
A cheap Christmas stocking purchased at a dollar store can dress up an inexpensive gift and make it feel more substantial. Use cheap Christmas stockings to package homemade goodies too.
Got old maps? Then you’ve got fun and inexpensive wrapping paper. Connecting the gift with a map of the country it’s from adds another layer of fun and whimsy to the unusual gift wrap.
Little Black Dress
If your little black dress has seen better years, save money by renting a dress for this season’s must-attend events. Then with the money you’ve saved with these Holiday cost cutters, buy a new Holiday dress at about an 80% price reduction after New Years.
