Are you sick of all the hustle and bustle of the holiday
season? Do want to stop all the craziness and just keep it simple? A “make
under” Christmas may be the answer to both slowing down and saving money. Try
these suggestions for an effortless, unadorned and down-to-earth Christmas this
year without having to say “Bah Humbug”.
- Dinner:
Instead of the fancy, over-the-top family dinner that takes days to
prepare, have a potluck with your family. If you as each member bring a
simple dish to pass, you just reduced both your cost and your workload
without having any effect on the happiness of the day or the quality of
the meal.
- Presents:
If you have a large family full of aunts, uncles and cousins, streamline
your gift-giving by drawing names at Thanksgiving (or assigning them via
email). Have each person buy a generic boy or girl gift with a reasonable
spending limit. Create a game of picking wrapped gifts, playing hot potato
with them or drawing names to see who gets which present. You can do this
for everyone or just the adults; either way you have fewer gifts to buy
and more money to spend on other things (like paying off credit cards).
- Party:
Why go to the trouble and expense of a formal party? Your friends have a
ton of holiday functions, from the office to family functions. They will
need to get dressed up, hire a sitter and stress over being late. Keep
your function ultra-casual. Invite everyone over, with kids, on a Thursday
night. Tell them you are wearing jeans and ordering pizza. For less than
$100, you can buy enough pizza and 2-liters to feed all your friends and
their children with no stress, little clean up and plenty of holiday
cheer.
- Cards:
We are all guilty of mailing our Christmas cards late. The stamps and
cards add to your stretched budget. For many people, just the thought of
addressing and commenting in so many cards can be overwhelming. Make it
easy on yourself and send e-cards. Or, if that is too informal for you,
don’t send Christmas cards. Buy festive but generic cards on sale after
Christmas and start a tradition of mailing New Year’s cards in January. No
rush. No stress.
- Decorations:
Keep it minimal. Don’t drag box upon box of ornaments out of the attic and
spend days decorating every square inch of your house. Create a dramatic
display on your mantle or put a gorgeous wreath at your door. That’s it.
No one will accuse you of being Scrooge. They will just admire your
unpretentious design.
- Cookies:
The average person gains 5 pounds over the holidays. Save yourself the
diet headache and don’t make any cookies. No need for extra calories or
added expenses.
What else can you think of to create a memorable “Make
Under” Christmas for your family this year?
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