What frugal things are you doing for the Holidays?

[SOAPPRO]

We finally decided to draw names for the Holidays to save money. It took a while to get everyone to agree, but they finally did.

[gptmca]

We have been using that scheme for years in my family, it has saved me a fortune!
I still buy gifts for the kids though and rather than buying tags to put on the gifts, I just cut out shapes (santas, bells, snowmen etc) from last years christmas cards....they look grea and are FREE! )

[shepav]

I'm going to make some of gifts to give away to family members. My husband and I aren't big gift people, so we don't really spend a lot. I have plans for a wreath, scarf, and a quilt.

That's it so far.

[rduell]

I am using some of the freebies I heard about on this forum as stocking stuffers.

[fairy74]

making lots of food gifts for coworkers, using gift closet to put christmas gifts together, using a discount photo processing site that offers 10 free photos (we typically print around 40 for the xmas cards), trying (not always successfully) not to get caught up in the I need a peppermint latte, more ornaments, silver sweater mindset, shopping going out of business sale at a bookstore liquidator for easy stocking stuffers (paperbacks), using freebies in gift baskets and stockings...

[Ima saver]

I bought a small permanent tree last year, so no expense in a live tree. We are cutting down on presents to each other also.

[Staceyy]

To wrap gifts, I use newspaper and comics, old decorative hat boxes, recycled gift bags and gift boxes. I also use recycled bows and ribbon, and will use the tip from the previous post to make my gift tags (thanks!).

[frugalmomof1]

I am cashing in survey points for $5 giftcards to Blockbuster Video to give to the employees that I supervise.

[lrjohnson]

I have a lot of stashed wrapping paper and ribbon, and this year I'm going to use what i have. Even last year I didn't need new stuff, but got some extra at after Christmas thrift store sales. I can easily still have half of what I have after wrapping a ton of gifts, and that way I'll have less room taken up by this stuff.

[shelbylovesmelby]

Well I tried to buy marked down paper & ribbon last year but one of our basement windows sprung a major leak during a rain storm in late spring.

If I had my way we'd only be buying for us & the kids & that's it.

[fairy74]

talked boss out of icky, icky country club christmas party dinner (wildly expensive and everyone hates it) and talked him into an office gift exchange by drawing names and lunch at a moderate restaurant in town. Wouldn't mind if he gave me the difference! LOL!

[Fern]

i like to use old national geographic maps for gift wrapping.

i stopped buying a live tree years ago.

[jodi]

I asked several family members if they wanted to opt out of a gift exchange this year - they all agreed. That's three less presents to buy.
I use primarily gift bags for gifts. I have been using the same ones for years (they were gifted to me - I have rarely bought any!). I do have a stash of wrapping paper that I bought for $1 at a garage sale two years ago - about 10 rolls. I think that's nearly gone, but I do sometimes pick up some on clearance after Christmas.
This year I am going to give some homemade jams as gifts. DH and I also plan to transfer my parents' tapes onto DVD. The cost is low, even though the time commitment will be high. I know they will love it as they have been planning to do it themselves for years, but never have the time. I'm trying to creatively think of more gifts like this that will cost less but mean more.

[Dixiebell]

My plan for this year is to use giftcards that I have received to buy gifts. I am not in need of too much, so I would rather use up the giftcards before they expire for gifts, than spend too much cash. I also converted some of my cashback bonuses from my credit card into gift certificates. We have car insurance coming due, (as well as a tv and a refrigerator about to die), so we need the cash!

[tinapbeana]

doesn't always work this way, but i try to give gifts that are packaged in something reusable (like a stocking during the holidays) or decorative (like a neat wooden box with a bow stuck on it). if i pick things up during the year, my actual packaging cost isn't really all that different and the packaging becomes part of the gift.

kinda OT, but DH is really bad about wanting to know what his gifts are ahead of time, so i'm thinking i might by him something small and bury it in the yard. under the tree will just be an envelope with a letter of instructions! ooooh, he could use the metal detector...

[Ima saver]

I ordered giftbags from QVC and I love them. I reuse them and the tissue paper over and over. It is not as much fun as ripping open the paper, but it is a lot cheaper!

[Gruntina]

It’s my BF and I first Christmas together... we have no decorations or anything so everything is from scratch. We are just saving money for luxury foods to enjoy for a few days and we are getting a tree and lights but that is it. We have to make an ornament ourselves this year and that will be a tradition of making an ornament each year. Other than that, my family understands I can not spend much this year as I shared them my debt goals and they seem really supportive of it.

[kealina]

lol... when i first saw this post my first thought was with each other... i was like "well, we're gonna pop in our "white christmas" DVD, pop some popcorn, make hot cocoa and spend our evening relaxing... haha... oh well... let's see... no real tree, instead very pretty lighted artificial one... no new decorations or lights (have tons), plenty of wrapping supplies bought 2 years ago at post-christmas sales... basically all we gotta do is finish getting our gifts which we have also put spending limits on...

[lrjohnson]

Originally Posted by Fern

i like to use old national geographic maps for gift wrapping.

Off topic, but: I love getting old magazines for folks from the time they were born. It's really a kick when I can get a National Geographic for someone from the week they were born, for a quarter at a thrift store!

[dossin1]

I have been re-using the same gift bags for my kid's presents for about 3 yrs now (does that sound really cheap?) They don't appreciate the wrapping, they just want to get to the gift.

Also, and this is going to sound really goofy, but I finally called and cashed in my reward points on my credit card. I had this card for a long time and they started this point thing and I just ignored it, figured it was some kind of gimmick that would cost me extra money.
Well, after reading you guy's posts about cc rewards, I called and am getting $75. I will use that to help pay for dd and dh's gifts Yea!