I started getting my Christmas game plan together this past weekend, but I'm actually running behind this year. I try to take advantage of summer clearance items on things like toys, tee shirts, and outdoor items. It's a great way to start your shopping for the holiday season and avoid the hectic stores all together after Thanksgiving.
One of my favorite ways to help budget for the holidays is lay-a-way plans. Kmart offers a great a plan, place as many items as you want in their lay-a-way, put 10% plus a $5 fee to start (start up fee in nonrefundable) and make biweekly payments over the next 8 weeks until paid in full. I also love that I can place the lay-a-way online and make my payments this way. Once I have completed payments, I just go to my local store and pick them up! Viola!
Walmart is also bringing back their lay-a-way plans for this 2011 shopping season! It begins Oct 16th and you have until Dec 16th to pay it off. They are enforcing a few new rules, items must be at least worth $15, minimum $50 balance to start plan, 10% down plus $5 start up fee, cancellation fee is $10. Also, items can only be from the toy department or electronics (they never stopped their jewelry plans) but no household or clothing.
Marshalls is my go to store for putting clothes in lay-a-way. Their terms are shorter, 30 days to pick up your items, but down payments are still only 10%. Be sure to check availability in your area as some stores do not offer lay-a-way, you can check on the website by searching for your nearest location and looking for the hanger symbol in store features.
OK, not all but some area thrift stores are now also offering lay-a-way plans! Refabulous offers a 14 day plan, where you select the items you want, pay a 25% deposit, but if you change your mind the deposit is non refundable, so be careful and don't go overboard!
Panache Plus also offers a plan, 25% down, 45 days to pay off, minimum $45 purchase. I haven't used their lay-a-way yet, so be sure to get the full details about payments and fees associated by calling or going in (info not provided on website) but I do love this store!! I posted a previous review on this adorable boutique and will be making another visit soon to stock up on winter clothing.
So we have established that clearance items are a great way to start your holiday shopping and using lay-a-way can help you spread out the cost (credit card free might I add) but we all know a big chunk of cash is spent on decorations, food, and travel expenses too. How can we save on this stuff so we can stockpile gifts under the tree for our wonderful families??
Let's start with decorations. I buy most of our decorations second hand from Ebay or thrift stores. If I do buy new items, for example lights, I usually stock up on those during after Christmas sales. We also make a lot of decorations as a family. I buy inexpensive ornaments that we can paint or use glue on, we string kix cereal to hang around garland, and the kiddos decorate the windows with construction paper decor such as wreaths, trees, and snowflakes. Another awesome tip my mother-n-law taught me was to use empty tic tac containers to wrap up like mini presents and stick them in glass vases or even to use as ornaments! I'll be showing a few of these tricks in upcoming post :)
Disney has some amazing family crafts for the holidays as well: http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/christmas-decorations/christmas-ornaments/
Tons of great ideas! Including this nifty tree and ornament template:
http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/pdf/printables/0606_christmas_tree_template.pdf
Now on to the food! There is nothing better than the smell of Christmas cookies baking in the kitchen or a Christmas ham - yummm! I love cooking big holiday meals, but this year seems like it might very well be next to impossible with the cost of everything on the rise. But - they don't call me Thrifty StL Mummy for nothing!! First and foremost, if you do not use coupons, you should start now, or send them to me! Clipping coupons now can help you fill your pantry with what you need for your holiday meals (including Thanksgiving) at a fraction of the retail cost and you'll have everything you need ahead of time! I recommend making a list over the next week (before October) and start buying items according to weekly sales. Here is a super simple printable blank shopping list to get your juices flowing: http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/ajc/thanksgivingshoplist.pdf
Another idea to save on food cost is to do something less traditional. A couple years back my entire family went to a buffet. Each family member paid for themselves and we ended up saving money. But it wasn't a very intimate setting and we all agreed NEVER AGAIN! Then again - there was no clean up...
Make sure to ask for help. If you are hosting Christmas dinner in your home this year, it doesn't mean you have to cook everything alone. Ask your aunt to bring one of her famous side dishes or your mom to make her Pecan Pie :) Trust me, they'll be honored you are including them in the meal preparations and it helps take some pressure off of you - cost wise & time wise!
Lastly, travel. Unless you are blessed (or cursed) to have your entire family living within a 35 mile radius of you, traveling can mean big time charges on already stressed credit cards. I always found it was actually cheaper to drive than to fly a family of four almost anywhere, but time does not always allow it and you can score great deals on plane tickets through one of the many travel sites. If you know ahead of time (way ahead of time) buy your tickets early. The earlier the better. If you can, think of alternative modes of transportation, like Greyhound or Amtrak. And always have a back up plan! Skype is great technology, just saying :)
Ok, hope this gets you in the holiday shopping spirit! My three favorite holidays are upon us; Halloween (i know it's a made up holiday but it's still a holiday in my book!), Thanksgiving, and Christmas! So be preparred for lots of Thriftastic updates on planning for all three over the next few months and add even of your holiday thrift tips below or to our Facebook page!
Toodles!!
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