It’s Okay to be Cheap This Holiday Season…

The holidays are quickly approaching and you find yourself strapped for time and cash this year. So what can you do to get in the holiday spirit? Try one (or all) of the quick, cheap and easy ways to get in the holiday spirit! I am too!

1.     Make your own Christmas cards instead of buying them. Whenever you have a few minutes here or there, cut out holiday words and pictures from magazines, catalogs or ads. Set aside 1-2 hours to glue the clippings on colored paper & write a quick note. 

2. Write a letter to a recovering American soldier with a simple message about how you appreciate their service, hope for a quick recovery and have a happy holiday. Write to: Holiday Mail for Heroes/ P.O. Box 5456/ Capitol Heights, MD. 20791-5456. All cards must be postmarked no later than Dec. 10. For more information, visit: http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/

3. Bake cookies as a gift for family/friends or treat for your office party. Betty Crocker cookie packets are only $1.50 at most grocery stores, require only 2-4 additional ingredients and take 20-45 minutes to make and bake! There are many varieties to choose from - the oatmeal (add in raisins) and chocolate chip are my favorites! http://www.bettycrocker.com/products/cookies/Cookies-Landing-Page.htm

4. Dig up last year’s ribbon, wrapping paper scraps and holiday cards and use them to quickly decorate your office (or cube). 

5. Donate a toy to Toys for Tots, Walmart has several toys under $10. Or donate canned goods to a local food shelter. Look online or in a newspaper for local collection centers. 

6. As part of your office holiday festivities or holiday party, invite co-workers/guests to bring in a canned good or toiletry item for a local food bank and drop off the goods during lunch or after work. 

7. Organize an ugly Christmas sweater day at work or plan an “ugly Christmas sweater” happy hour with friends. Tacky Christmas sweaters, shirts and jewelry are all encouraged. Find tacky sweaters your local Goodwill or your parent’s basement.

8. Take a “tour” of local holiday decorations by taking a drive through a neighborhood or take a walk downtown one evening with friends. 

9. If you don’t have the cash to mail holiday cards this year, send friends and family a holiday email or e-card. Make the email or e-card more personal, by including a message specific to each recipient. http://www.americangreetings.com/

10. Listen to commercial-free holiday music on Pandora radio. Go to www. And click on the button for holiday music and you can choose from several “stations” based on your music tastes. http://www.pandora.com/?cmd=indexmini