Most of us loathe to see the hijacking
of our favourite holidays by commercialism and pressure to spend.
Yet, we have come to harbour so many expectations of how the holidays
ought to be celebrated, and it often takes the spending of money to
meet those expectations. Fortunately, there exist alternatives for
the money conscious. Here are our top four ideas:
Ditch the wrapping paper: you
may need to rely on disposable gift wrapping for gifts you give
outside your home, but within your household, you can do away with
throwaway materials in favour of reusable fabric bags. It takes
absolutely minimalistic sewing skills to make a rectangular bag, and
with the amusing fabric selections out there, homemade bags will
serve double duty both as gift wrap, as well as an addition to the
décor. If you're really uneasy about the idea of sewing, you're not
out of luck: reusable grocery bags can be bought cheaply in an array
of colours. Not only are you reducing your landfill contributions by
using reusable bags, but you will also see savings over the years to
come in money that you're not spending on wrapping paper.
Ditch the wrapping paper: you
may need to rely on disposable gift wrapping for gifts you give
outside your home, but within your household, you can do away with
throwaway materials in favour of reusable fabric bags. It takes
absolutely minimalistic sewing skills to make a rectangular bag, and
with the amusing fabric selections out there, homemade bags will
serve double duty both as gift wrap, as well as an addition to the
décor. If you're really uneasy about the idea of sewing, you're not
out of luck: reusable grocery bags can be bought cheaply in an array
of colours. Not only are you reducing your landfill contributions by
using reusable bags, but you will also see savings over the years to
come in money that you're not spending on wrapping paper.
Use second hand décor: try not
to get suckered by designer displays of décor that stores set up
this time of year. It helps to realize that those displays won't look
that way in your own home. Instead of paying for these pricey pieces,
do a little bit of digging on Craigslist, at garage sales, at church
rummage sales, or in your friend's attic. Not only will you spend
less (or sometimes even nothing at all!) you're also bound to acquire
one of a kind items that aren't in production anymore. That will add
sparkle and uniqueness to your setup.
Plan gift shopping throughout the
year: anticipating your holiday spending can help you save in a
couple of ways. First of all, planning ahead gives you plenty of time
to lie in wait of a once-a-year type of deal on the items you are
looking to buy. Additionally, it helps you stay focused, which
reduces the chances of you overspending. When you are armed with a
plan, sticking to it will ensure that you don't get caught up in the
holiday hysteria of “deals” and of the urgency to get something
fast.
Eat in: while meeting friends
and family at a favourite restaurant can be a great time, so can
hosting a dinner in your own home—especially since your holiday
décor will create an ambiance unique to that time of year. Hosting
gatherings at someone's house will be both more frugal, and more
personal. It doesn't need to be extravagant either. If the thought of
cooking a Dickens-style feast for the whole neighbourhood intimidates
you, realize that you don't need to go to such proportions. You can
scale back by:
- keeping the gatherings intimate (limiting numbers)
- hosting a potluck (so that the work is shared—and people are usually quite happy to contribute!)
- hosting tea and dessert instead of a full on meal
What are your favourite frugal holiday
traditions?
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