This morning, I read this article about making tough decisions with the holiday budgeting. It talks about such things as not using credit cards, creating a budget and making lists – all very good ideas. I have a different mindset though, this holiday season and would add to the list of potential options:

• Make gifts to give. Certainly, it helps if you’re a little crafty or creative, but a lot of people say they aren’t and they just haven’t tried their hand at something. If you’re really low on money, making something might be the way to give without spending a lot. The web is FULL of ideas on making things that would make good gifts – just Google some ideas and see where it takes you. Of course, sometimes craft supplies cost money too and that is where you can get sneaky. Get on the mailing lists for the local craft store and they will send you coupons for 40-60% off one item. Buy your most expensive items with those coupons (that’s how I built my Halloween costume this year). Or use found objects for crafts. One idea in that direction would be to save cards and postcards in a box all year and make interesting collage’d bookmarks for people out of them. If you garden, plant a seed, paint a pot and give a tiny bit of spring to people.  If you knit or crochet, you can give all sorts of goodies that way. The possibilities are endless and if you plan it right, you can get all your gift giving done really cheaply. And believe it or not, most people appreciate something you spent the time to make more than something you fought in the mall to find.
• Group gift giving. Another way to save on gift giving is to identify ways to give a single gift that will be appreciated by a group. Rather than buying 5 presents at $25 each for a family of five ($125), why not buy a single gift that everyone will get use from, for $50 or $75? Of course, the best way to do this is to
• Ask what is needed. In my family, it has become acceptable to ask in advance what sorts of gifts would be appreciated. And with everyone’s money being so tight these days, most everyone has as list in their head of things that “we’d buy if we had the money.” Maybe your oldest brother, a father of 3 little ones, just saw an oft-used appliance die and hasn’t replaced it yet and you can be the one to gift that to them this Christmas. Or in the case of my sister, mother of three, there are always things that she’d love to treat herself with that she’d never budget for herself and I can provide it. In my own case, I start keeping a list somewhere in October, as I go about my life, of things I’d really like to have but can’t afford and when my mom inevitably asks, I tell her. The holiday gift receiving is always MUCH more personalized and ideal when a whole slew of things you desperately needed appear under tree. But no one would know if they didn’t ask!
• Give nothing. Okay, this might seem harsh, but seriously – why? It just so happens that my health insurance costs will be tripling on December first and I’m living on a third of what I used to this holiday season. If I wanted to simply give the gift of my presence and not bring presents, I could and I would.  There is no crime in this, and no shame. Even as a non-Christian, I recognize that this season is not about gift giving at all. And there is so much more to give and celebrate than things wrapped in packages, boxes and bows (I got that from the Grinch). Putting debt on credit cards, struggling more than you already are, and stressing about what to give that you can afford and is still appropriate is crazy, people! Before you do any of those things, take a deep breath and think about this: Will your loved ones and friends stop being your loved ones and friends if you give them a big hug, a sparkling smile and wish them a happy holiday, and nothing else? If so, you might have bigger problems than what to buy for Christmas.