Christmas on a Showstring Budget

Image by mahalie via Flickr

Creating Christmas on a shoe strring budget may be a daunting task but it is a goal that is achieveable during these tough economic times. It is time for planning, gift making and scaling back on the number of people on the gift recieving end of the list. Adults will understand the need to cut back but it will be a bit harder for children to comprehend that there is no money for the expensive toys advertized on every channel geared toward children.

Planning

Although budgets are tight all over by using the shoe string method of planning there can still be enough money to allow for a few extras at Christmas. The toys and other gifts may not be what the children see on televison but they will have something under the  tree come Christmas morning.

Scouring resale shops and dollar stores can lead to a variety of gifts for children. Consignment shops offer great deals at a reduced price. Many items are like new or need very little fixing up to  be made almost as good as new. There are clothes that often times still have the price tags attached. It may simply be a case of someone buying something they changed their mind about wearing. Much of the clothes on the racks have been worn only a time or two, thus they still have that new clothing item appeal.

Dollar stores are a shoe string budget person’s best friend. There are numerous toys, craft objects and books to choose from for those who have little ones on their list. This enables parents to buy many small items to wrap up instead on one big expensive item.

For the teens on the list, Dollar stores offer candles, bath items knockoff perfumes and colognes there are often gadgets for phones also. Use these items as fillers when considering what to get teens. They may have more of a concept of the money situation and be more open to the thought put into the gift rather than the price.