$25 Holiday Giveaway: Share Your Holiday Money-Saving Tips
When the holidays arrive, it’s easy to blow your budget on big-ticket meals and parties with friends. With so many other fun things to spend your budget on this season, we want to know how YOU save money around the holidays!
Tell us: What’s your best money-saving tip for holiday shopping?
Tell us your tip in the comments of this blog and you’ll be entered for a chance to win one of 5 prize packs including the following:
- $25 in ALDI gift certificates
- Assorted holiday seasonal chocolates
- Baker’s Corner 6-in-1 Baking Sprinkle Jar
Your tip should be related to saving money around the holidays, including ideas on menu planning, grocery shopping, party planning… you get the idea! Now head to the comments section and share your best tip.
Looking for inspiration? Check out our budget-friendly meal ideas that are easy on the wallet and loaded with fun flavor:
Entries are due by December 31, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Editors will select their favorite based on originality and creativity. Winner will be notified via email by Jan. 14, 2013. For full contest rules, click here. Thanks for entering!
Shop months early for Baking supplies whenever you see them on sale using coupons if possible. I purchase some such as holiday specialty flavor (mint etc) chocolate chips, colored sugars, candied fruit after Christmas when 50% off and store in cool place or frig/freezer for use during the year or next Christmas. Butter, nuts and chips can be frozen to last longer. I save my gallon size plastic Ice Cream containers to put my Christmas cookies in for gifts. They are clear with no print on sides and I cut a circle of Christmas wrap to put on lid and add a name sticker (and bow if you wish but not as easy to stack). As soon as I bake my cookies they go into zip lock bags and right into the containers. Containers are Free, keeps fresher and I’m recycling as well.
Wait!!! Don’t throw away that Christmas wreath on your front door after Christmas. Simply take the Christmas ornamentation off (if there is any) and add buttons and shakers from your favorite college team. (Depending on your teams colors the ribbon may be fine to stay on). Now you’re wreath will last you through your team’s bowl game. Plus, it will be a talking point for all who pass by your house.
Wander to the back shelves in stores. Almost all the popular stores place their clearance items in the least visible places. Avoid the displays in the main aisles where your likely to impulse buy and spend more.
My money saving tip is to buy most of your baking supplies (if you bake), the week or two before the holidays because there are really good deals. I stock up when I find a good deal also.
MAKE A LIST BEFOREHAND AND STICK TO IT! Go where the most bargains are (Aldi’s) and don’t run around looking for better deals-waste of time and gas! Recyle!
Plan, plan, and plan! Plan a menu, make a detailed shopping list before you head to the store. Once you’ve spent the cash on all the fixings, utilize all the leftovers. Making a ham? Stretch it – use leftovers in a breakfast casserole, a baked pasta dish, a pot of ham & beans or chop it up and put it in the freezer for later. Make stock with the hambone; it too will freeze.
Do you bake? Purchase baking supplies now that you will use in the coming months while they’re on sale.
Most years we have a turkey for Thanksgiving, we freeze a large portion in family size bags and use it to make quick meal thru the Christmas season. You can use the turkey to make almost every dish you would normally use chicken for. Turkey quesadillas, all kinds of turkey casseroles, put turkey on pizza crusts with all your regular toppings, I’ve even added turkey to spaghetti, the menu options are limitless.
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