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momAgenda Blog
Holidays on a Budget
December 11, 2008 12:08 PM
So I have been thinking a lot about how to save money over this holiday season, and one idea I thought of was so good (in my humble opinion) I just had to share it with you.
I have an American Express card, on which I accrue membership rewards points each time I make a purchase. Usually people use these points for flights, but sadly Larry and I have no trips planned for the foreseeable future. So I went on the membership rewards website and sure enough you can use our rewards for a lot more than just flights! I traded mine in for gift cards at stores like Williams-Sonoma, Saks, and Bloomingdale's. Then I went to those stores and shopped for gifts... and paid for my purchases with my new gift cards!
I was able to cross nearly everyone off my list, except for the kids, using my completely free membership rewards points.
And now I can put my whole holiday shopping budget toward Larry and the kids. It will still be a much more modest Christmas this year, of course, but I feel really good about saving money on the bulk of our holiday gifts.
Do you have any great ideas for those of us (I think it is probably all of us) on a holiday budget? Please share them with us!
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Comments (2)
You know, I really believe Christmas has become too commercialized... It is so great to give, yes... but our society is more focused on the material.
When I was younger, we couldn't afford much, so my sisters and I made all our gifts. So they weren't perfect, but they were made with love =)
There are so many options when shopping on a budget. First, you can give certificates to kids for a movie, etc. or something that really costs nothing, like no chores for a day, or sleeping in, karaoke time - you get the idea. You can also give edible goodies that you've made. Some families even draw names to see who buys gifts for what family. You can make personalized CD's with songs just for certain loved ones.
Another wonderful way to give is to drives that take donations from your closet of coats, blankets, etc. to the homeless. You can give to people you don't know on a budget, too.
The best gifts, I truly believe, are love and the time you spend with family and friends.
Posted by: Deanna - December 14, 2008 1:58 AM
I saw a Maxine cartoon just the other day that said something to the effect of "Home-made gifts are a nice way to say I have more time than money." As the single mom of a beautiful two-and-a-half year-old, I have very little of either, but I have REALLY enjoyed crocheting scarves for my female family members. I can get a skein of yarn for $2-$3 and crochet something I KNOW they'll use and love.
Posted by: Alyssa - December 23, 2008 12:08 PM
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