Frugal Christmas Ideas

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It's very easy to feel pressured to spend a lot at Christmas, but sometimes the most meaningful things can cost almost nothing.

Check out some of our most favorite frugal ideas for Christmas.

Then...

FFM's Favorite Frugal Christmas Ideas

• Start this Christmas season by rekindling last years memories: Chances are last years holiday pictures are still in a box.

  Scrapbooking last years photos can get you started this season by remembering the things you did as a family last Christmas, and make plans to do your favorites again.

• Write the family holiday letter together: Have everyone add a few sentences in their own handwriting to the family holiday letter to be mailed to friends and relatives.
• Shop Early: The competition for your dollars is still fierce, and holiday sales are starting as early as November. So make your list and start comparing prices now.
• Use Layaway: A service that's made a comeback in recent years. Layaway allows you to shop now, and for a small fee, the store will hold your items while you make payments; usually over an 8 week period. A great alternative to using credit.
• Bake Christmas Cookies and other yummy things: One of the most delcious frugal Christmas ideas. Start with one of our favorites, magic cookie bars, and save big by baking your own goodies this year.
• String Popcorn: To save money buy popcorn kernels and pop them on the stove top. String popcorn garlands for your tree for an old-fashioned look. A blunt darning needle and some embroidery floss usually do the trick.
• Make a Construction Paper Chain: I love doing this! Simply cut strips of colored paper and glue, tape or staple the loops inside each other to form a chain. Use it like garland all over the house.


Build a Snowman: If you're lucky enough to live where it snows, go build a snowman, ride a sled or have a family snowball fight. Make Snow: Paper snowflakes are a favorite around here. This video gives great instructions for how to make very simple but intricate looking paper flakes.



• Make Your Own Gift Wrap: We do this for lots of gifts using craft paper.
• Make Gifts in a Jar: We LOVE receiving gifts in jars. They're fun, inexpensive to make and give too. Here are the steps for how to make brownies in a jar.
• Have a Scrooge-a-thon: We do this every year. We watch every version of "The Christmas Carol" we own. That's quite a few, back-to-back-to-back.... :) You get the idea. Do this with your families favorite holiday movies.
• Have a Dessert Party: You could even do this during your movie marathon. Invite friends and family over and have everyone bring their favorite holiday dessert.
• Make Easy Homemade Christmas Decorations: Along with making a batch of FFM's cinnamon ornaments to decorate and add the smell of Christmas all over your home, learn some homemade Christmas decoration making tricks from guest writer Isabella York, from Balsam Hills.

• Hang out under the Christmas Tree: Let your kids spend one night in sleeping bags under the tree with all the lights twinkling. Just make sure it's not Christmas eve. Santa needs space to work.
• Attend some holiday performances:Lots of churches, schools and theatre groups put on plays and performances at Christmas time that don't cost much to attend.
• Adopt-A- Family: The Adopt-A-Family program helps families in need (usually single parent families) receive every day necessities as well as fulfill some holiday wishes at Christmas time. Sponsoring a needy family as a group with family, friends or an organization you belong to can make this one of the best, and rewarding frugal Christmas ideas.

To find out more about this program contact your nearest Salvation Army office.

• Make Toys for The Toy Society This is a fun thing you can do with your kids all year round. Learn more about The Toy Society here.
• Can't Make Toys?: But you still want to do some frugal giving? Check out our list of frugal Christmas gifts for some low cost ideas for this season.
• Go to the Tree Lighting: Chances are your city or town has some kind of tree lighting or ceremony marking the start of the holiday season. This is a great way to meet other families and there may be free activities for the kids.
• Keep an Eye Out for Santa: As of Dec. 1st, your family can track Santa's progress on NORAD. The North American Aerospace Defense Command will let you know how close Santa's sleigh is to your part of the world.

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