[tklahn]

A few quick ideas for Christmas saving:

We've started setting aside $20 out of each paycheck (either cash or buying a gift card from a store that we shop from during the holidays) for our Christmas buying.

Keep an eye out at rummage salses and thrift shops. We've found items with the tags still on or in good enough shape to give: a flannel shirt for dad - $2, a pooh sweathshirt for sister - $2, a snoopy mug (added a couple packets of hot cocoa) for the piano teacher 25 cents + cost of hot cocoa packets. Our own children absolutely love to read, so I start early collecting used books that I know they'd like. By the time Christmas comes, they each have 5-10 books wrapped up. (I have 7 children, so this is a lot of books!) We also purchased used books for all the grammas in our lives. They like to read romance novels and these are a dime a dozen. We give several books to each gramma for birthdays, mother's day and Christmas.

We also have credit cards that give you points for purchases. We sign up for the 0% interest ones and then cancel the others. We've redeemed our points for restaurant gift certificates and then give those gift cards to others for birthdays or Christmas.

We've made up coupon books for each other and also families that we'd like to give something to, but lack the money to buy a gift. The coupons can be for 1 dozen cookies, 3 hours free babysitting, 1 home-cooked meal, 1 weekend watching the dog, etc. The sky's the limit on this one!

Watch clearance racks and shelves and then pick up something for gifts (this works for birthday, wedding and baby gifts). I have a plastic tub with $2-3 gifts that I've purchased after Christmas and during season changes at the stores. These are baby sleepers that were purchased for $2 or chip and dip platters for $3, etc. These are all ready to wrap and give. This doesn't work if you buy something and never give it. Always have someone in mind when purchasing these or at least know that they make a good wedding or baby gift that you will give to someone.

That's it for now. I look forward to seeing others' money-saving ideas for Christmas!