Short on money this season? No problem! I’ve come up with some friendly, budget-saving holiday tips that won’t take the joy out of the season or your pocket books!

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1.  Go old school, buy books & make CDs… books and CDs are an inexpensive way for a personalized gift. Whether it’s the latest fiction novel or coffee table book, there is a book out there that fits every person and personality…you can find great bargain books on Amazon.com for under $5, $10 or $20! Remember the days before iPods and MP3 players? There were CDs…bring back the good ol’ days by putting together a musical mix for your loved one. Surprise them with songs they can jam to or throw them a blast from the past…you know what I’m talking about…who doesn’t love Journey?   I know iTunes has become the music store of choice, but personally, I think Amazon has music for cheaper, check it out: Amazon Music

2. Set a budget with your friends/family… Before the holiday shopping season begins, determine a maximum budget that can be spent…whether it’s $5 or $50, knowing how much you can spend will allow you to plan your gift buying…one big present for $50 or many small presents totaling $50!

3. Get creative! Make presents for your loved ones…sit down and really think about everyone’s personality and what they like and create something for them. Presents from the heart are usually the best kind of presents. Some inexpensive ideas include: a photo calendar for next year (Snapfish.com), a recipe book (collect recipes from all your family members and put together a family recipe book for grandma!), gift basket (purchase a basket from your local art store (usually under $5), pick up some of your gift receivers favorite foods (gummy bears, popcorn, chocolate…) and put a personalized basket together for them!

4. If you’re throwing the holiday party…ask everyone to bring an item! Don’t just limit people to bringing food items, some may find it easier to bring the plates or cups …or even supply the game boards for after dinner fun! Make sure to have a list of items people are bringing though, so you don’t end up with all cups and nothing to drink! Also, it makes it easier if you have a theme (for example: if it’s an hors d’oeurves only party, if someone is bringing the plates, they can opt for the smaller ones!)

5. Create your own wrapping paper. Sometimes I wonder why I spend so much money on something that gets ripped apart within seconds and thrown in the trash without another thought…wrapping paper clearly helps the element of surprise, but really, what a waste! So, to save money & trees…recycle! Wrap presents with old newspapers or pages from magazines…it will be unique and still creates anticipation!

Budget shopping and budget spending can sometimes be a challenge, but with a little bit of creativity, it can be lots of fun! Hopefully some of these tips will be beneficial to your happy holidays! Feel free to leave comments with your own budget ideas or if you have questions about holidays on a budget!