10 Ways to Spend Less for Christmas Shopping in 2007

It is never too early to start thinking about next holiday season and how you can reduce your spending. All of these suggestions are ones that I implemented for this year, plus a few new ideas that I will be trying out for next season.

1. The absolute best way to spend less is to buy less. Slash your gift giving list by talking to family members about possibly only buying for the children in the family, or drawing names or starting a Yankee Swap. Chances are that if you are feeling the pinch each holiday season, others in the family are too.

2. If you can't cut your list down, then it's time to get creative about what you are giving. For instance, buy a gift that the entire family can use as opposed to one gift per family member. It might not save you a lot, but every bit counts.

3. Look around your house and round up all of your unfinished and un-started craft projects. If they are more than a couple of years old, or if you need to still buy pricey items to finish them, toss them. Take what's left and make a commitment to yourself to finish one project a month. This is money that you have already put out, so if you complete even one of these orphaned projects and give it as a gift instead of buying something new, then you are ahead of the game financially. Another spin on this is to get together with your friends and swap unfinished or un-started projects. The half done quilt that you cringe at the thought of finishing might be exactly up your neighbor's alley. And she might give you enough yarn to whip up a couple of gorgeous scarves.

4.Consider creating a 'year round' holiday gift by shopping the after holiday sales for an entire year. For example, give female co-workers, teachers, hard to buy for family members a gift of a year's worth of holiday socks or kitchen towels or pot holders or candle holders or door wreaths or earrings or lapel pins or holiday neck ties. Start this January by shopping the after Christmas clearance. Then do the same after Valentines' Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween and Thanksgiving. By next December you will have a great gift for very short money.