For many people getting back to basics and keeping the expenses down during the holiday season is critical. Keeping it frugal is not hard if you start thing about easy ways to make some changes. With that in mind, here are 8 great frugal tips for the Christmas holiday that you can use.

1. Don’t be afraid to use alternative gift wrappings! You can use the Sunday comics for wrapping gifts for the kids and for large bulky gifts, don’t be afraid to toss them into a pillowcase and tie a bow. You can also use a large garbage bag and decorate it with some stickers and colorful ribbons for extremely large gift items.

2. There is nothing wrong with recycling & reusing gift wrap, ribbons, bows, tags, package toppers, etc. from your gifts. Put them all into one box and reuse them again next year.

3. You can reuse those holiday greeting cards by cutting off the front of the card and turning it into a holiday greeting postcard to send out next year. Leave your cards together for now and then when next year rolls around, cut the front off, turn it into a postcard and send it to someone different than whom you received it from.

4. Create your own cards and envelopes. Go to the craft store and purchase an inexpensive envelope template maker and a few glue sticks. These templates will make various sized envelopes and you can make your own gift card and greeting card envelopes from newspapers, magazine pages, leftover & used scrap gift wrap and more!

5. People still love homemade gifts! If you are on a tight budget this year get busy baking up some cookies, cakes, cupcakes, breads, rolls, muffins, etc. Most of these items can be made up ahead of time and frozen until you need them. Pop them into a gift bag, add a tag and you are done.

6. Check out some of your local second hand stores for great holiday gifts! In addition to selling gently used items, they also sell brand new items that people didn’t want and donated to them. I once picked up a new rice cooker in the original sealed box for $2.00 at a second hand store! They can be a real frugal goldmine at this time of the year when it comes to gift buying.

7. Don’t go overboard with your holiday meal preparation. Serve one main dish, two or three sides, one or two desserts and a bread item. Get an inexpensive bottle of wine and call it a day. We often overcook and end up with leftovers for weeks on end! Another idea is to go Potluck! Assign items for other guests to bring.

8. Create decorations from nature and save. Leaves, berries, pine cones, fruit, plants, etc. all make beautiful display pieces. Then use tea lights, candles, clear bowls and small white lights to enhance the display.

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