NOVEMBER~ Best tips/ideas on being frugal about CHRISTMAS

This month we begin kicking off gayla's winning idea from the contest.

Since it's appropriate for this time of year, the 1st months topic is Christmas :wreath:

It can be absolutely anything that relates to Christmas, any tip or idea on how to do it frugally.

Please try not to stray off topic

(Sorry...I really wanted to try that emoticon...lol).
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Frugal & Fun Gift Packing presents

I read this idea quite recently but can't remember where scratch

Anyhow, although it was mainly directed at children (since apparently they get more enjoyment from large boxes than gifts) it could be adopted for anyone.

The idea was to get a large, empty cardboard box, fill it with balloons, which can be purchased cheaply at dollar stores and hide the gift inside. Then simply wrap the big box!

If you hid several smaller gifts inside it'd be fun rummaging through the balloons to find them. Plus you wouldn't need to wrap all the smaller gifts individually. I'm planning on trying it this year and using balloons in Christmas colours of red & green. Not only will it be different and fun but our older dog Sam goes nuts for balloons so we'll have a very entertaining time on Christmas morning. The few dollars spent on balloons will be so worth that alone Laughing

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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

I've read many articles about saving on giftwrap as so much goes into landfill each year.
An often repeated tip is to re-use as much giftwrap as possible, which I try to do, although it mainly ends up being just the giftbags as the paper usually ends up torn and not fit for re-use.
Another tip is to use part of the gift itself as wrapping...e.g. a new teatowel for kitchen items.

This gave me an idea for an inexpensive gift:
A footsoak & lotion and a pair of slipper socks. Put the lotions in the bottom of one sock, roll the other sock and tuck in on top (or below) then tie of the top of the sock with a piece of co-ordinating ribbon or string. No additional wrapping required as one of the socks serves as a giftbag. Very Happy

Easy, cute (if i do say it myself...lol) and enviro friendly!
I'm going to keep my eye out for sales on slipper socks now and have a few stashed...I like wearing them too!
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1919

A fun and easy....and more importantly CHEAP gift bag idea is to color a Christmas coloring page, cut out the picture and paste to the front of a brown lunch sack...slip the gift inside and staple shut. I do this ALOT for those weird shaped childrens gifts...I have also pasted on the cut out picture from a card for adults

I made up some cloth gift bags that we reuse ai made them for extra large gifts ... I made up some small ones for last year they were so cute we are cutting down on gift wrap each year ...
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

It's good to cut back on giftwrap gayla.
I know it can be purchased quite cheaply by the roll in dollar stores but it creates so much waste at Christmas.
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

When it comes to gift wrapping,,I have almost always bought my wrapping paper on after Christmas sales.The ones I have now are two kits with 4 rolls each and asst.bags bows and ribbons and also name tags.I cant remember the exact price but it was just pennies compared to regular price paper.
I know before my husband and I met,,he was known for wrapping gifts in the comics or newspapers!LOL.Now adays thats considered eco friendly recycled!

Moderator Age : 27 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 1919

I usually wrap all the kids gifts in novelty paper, like barbie or whatever....but this year I just got one roll for each kid and will wrap the rest in generic. I didn't get a chance to buy any after Christmas last year, so I am paying full price! YUCK!

We try to come up with innovative gift-wrapping ideas. One year my SIL wanted a small rake for the garden. I wrapped the entire rake in plain brown paper. Then, I went outside and picked up various size twigs and branches. I hot glued the trigs and branches onto the handle to form a tree trunk and branches. I cut out leaves from colored paper (since I couldn't find any real leaves) and hot glued them onto the top of the rake. When I was done, the rake looked like a tree. My SIL had no idea what the gift was.

A frying pan can be made into a santa face. Just wrap the the pan with plain brown paper. Cut out from felt or colored paper eyes, nose, mouth and little round red cheeks and glue them onto the round , backside part of the pan. For the hat, cut a triangle out of red paper so it fits the size of the handle. Glue that on and add cotton balls for the trim and the little pom-pom on top of the hat.

I love the idea of disguising a gift Sissy Wink

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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

cute gift ideas Sissy
I like to pack box in box in box ... that drives my DH crazy ...
last year I left him a key in the bottom of a big box that was to the trunk of my car then another clue about 6 clues later I sent him to the new barn and his gift ... this year I dont have a clue but I think I might have to borrow Sissy idea and camoflage his gift.
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

I, too, buy wrapping paper the first of the year - when it is $0.25/4 pk. When cleaning out the Akron house, we found all the paper that I've been buying at the end of the season... we have over 25 rolls of paper. But I cant help but buy it every season. :-)

~M
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"It is not how much money you make - it is how you spend it."

We all like a few luxury snacks and food items at Christmas, especially me Razz

Since there are some weeks to go yet I'm going to set aside some space in my pantry or get an empty crate/box and each week/fortnight when I'm grocery shopping I'm going to buy one (or two) non-perishable Christmas treat items and tuck them into my little 'hamper' stash.

Another idea to help spread the cost is to get a few dollars worth of supermarket vouchers every week between now and Christmas to help with the cost of the extra goodies. Unfortunately there always seems to be unexpected expenses close to the holiday or a shortage of money Rolling Eyes

I know many organize premade hampers and pay weekly or monthly throughout the year but I think some can be overpriced and I don't always like some of the items included.
When I create my own 'stash' I know I'll use everything I've chosen myself, plus doing it over several weeks means I can compare costs and specials santa

Also, I've learned over the last few years not to 'overdo' it as many times in the past there's been a fair amount of waste. Embarassed

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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

shop early and avoid the rush ...
I have brought huge gift basket broke it two and have 4 lovely gifts for someone ...

I have a shelf in the pantry that says do not touch .. so far so good but I put my DH favorite chocolate he might be bad ..
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Sissy,,I love the wrapping of the rake..tooo cute!!!