Ways to SAVE During the Holidays !?

Not only do 'things' seem to be getting more expensive, but the holiday season takes budgeting, saving, and cutting corners. How are you going to make ends meet this year? What are some of your ideas to help spend less? .... (or use less credit! eeeek!) THIS holiday season.
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Check your list, and check it twice. If your gift list keeps getting longer and pricier, it’s time for creative rethinking. At the office, suggest a cookie swap instead of a gift swap. Give family group gifts instead of individual ones. And make a list before you shop - and stick to it.

Decorate with what you have. Instead of impulse buys, check your holiday stash before you head to the store for decorations. Reuse what you have in different ways - you might not have to buy new lights after all.

Keep a holiday cash stash. This year, resolve to pay for gifts using paper money instead of credit cards. Using a credit card makes you prone to spending up to 50% more.

Do it yourself. Homemade gifts are huge money savers - and are always a hit.

Be a smart shipper. If you mail gifts to relatives, buy all the items for one household through a site offering free shipping, as many retailers do during November, and ship them direct.

Don’t throw away money on wrapping paper. Even if your craft-phobic, it’s painless to make your own gift wrap. Buy a cheap roll of "Brown Paper", tie on a ribbon and write your holiday message with a sharpie on the wrapping.

Buy hostess gifts in bulk. If you have a lot of parties to attend, early in the season order a case of wine. Leave the box in the garage so you always have a perfect hostess gift on hand - and you’ll save a couple of bucks a bottle.

Streamline your card routine. Update, organize, and number your address list so you know exactly how many boxes of holiday cards to buy. Guesswork often leads to surplus cards you’ll never use.