Save at Christmas and pay off your debt

On the recent economic surface, when people are experiencing various financial hardships like job loss, wage reduction, and underemployment, knowing how to celebrate Christmas in a frugal way can be helpful. Almost all individuals are drowning under the sea of outstanding debt and many are enrolled in debt consolidation programs, so with tight budgets it would be nice if they can save some money and keep up the spirit of holiday.

Avoid last moment shopping:

Avoid last minute shopping because just before Christmas the prices are likely to be higher. So it is wise to shop throughout the year and pick up Christmas gifts from various stores. Pay attention to the discounts offered by the stores and to Black Friday Sales. Doing this you can save some considerable money on Christmas gifts, with which you can later on pay down your debt.

Give homemade gifts:

Make cookies, fudge, and cake in your house, wrap them in gift boxes and give to your friends and relatives. This shows how loving and caring you are towards your near and dear ones. You can also consider purchasing gifts from craft stores or dollar stores as you get them in cheaper. Along with making gifts at home, make containers as well. This will bring out your creativity and enable you to save some money.

Design Christmas cards on your own:

Be innovative and design Christmas cards on your own. Use glitter, heavy card stock paper, stickers and glue to design the cards. After Christmas is over, you may also go to Christmas sales and stock up on Christmas cards for next year.

Consider buying an artificial tree:

Buy an artificial tree rather than a real one to save some money on decoration. Go the traditional way and decorate your tree with popcorn garland and with some homemade crafts. You can also decorate the tree with pine cones from outside. Use glitter and sparkle to enhance your decoration. If you wish to decorate with some Christmas ornaments, then you must buy them from Christmas sales.

Keep an eye on food deals:

During Christmas many groceries and food stores offer discounts, so check on your local store flyers regularly during this time of year. Before you start shopping, compare the prices from one store to another in order to get things at a lower cost. Remember, one item may be cheaper at one store than it is in the other, so shop around before you start buying.

Have fun at home:

You do not have to necessarily to celebrate your Christmas by going to bars, restaurants and movie theaters. This year you can stay home and play board games or drive around town to see Christmas lights. This will be as enjoyable as going to out where you have to spend money.

In conclusion, if you follow these tips, you will be amazed to find the amount you have saved at the end of your holiday. You can then contribute all your saved money towards paying off the debt.