Dollars and Sense

For $1 or $2 at local friends-of-the-library book sales, I buy hardcover books that are like new. On my tight budget, I can find books for everyone, and every family member is touched that I thought of each of them personally.
Heather Gross
Coralville, Iowa

Instead of throwing a glitzy holiday party, I host an informal soup, rustic bread, and caroling party. It’s always fun to get warm and toasty with the soup, stroll the neighborhood singing — even better if it’s snowing — and then come back cold, happy, and ready for some hot chocolate. The cost is minimal, and everyone, from the youngest child to the oldest grandparent, has a wonderful time.
Sherry Cassilly
Edgewater, Maryland

I have a composition notebook–turned–holiday planner that I carry with me during the holidays. I’ve divided it into sections for gifts, lists, cards, and menus. I’ve also attached an envelope to the inside back cover for receipts, recipes, and coupons. My composition notebook helps keep me on budget and on track so I don’t overspend and don’t buy someone the same gift two years in a row. I couldn’t make it through the holidays without it.
Sarah Steelman
Moore, Oklahoma

Have your holiday cake and eat it, too! Instead of hosting an expensive holiday party, I throw a dessert party. A pie, a cake, brownies, and cookies are inevitably supplemented by sugar-free and low-calorie desserts and sparkling nonalcoholic drinks brought by my close friends. I spend most of the party with my guests instead of in the kitchen, and cleanup is simple.
Denise Brady
San Jose, California

Every year, I find a small, significant item that I can stock up on — like a special ornament or a tin of imported tea — and I give the same or similar gifts to several friends. This helps me avoid more extravagant buying and saves time as well.
Teresa Luckman
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Rather than spending a lot of money going out for New Year’s Eve, which is always overpriced, my husband and I invite our friends over for a dinner party. We have our guests contribute beverages and sometimes a dish or an appetizer. We dress up, play games, and listen to music, and we find it much more entertaining than a loud public place. We have all our good friends around us, and the bonus is that we have an excellent view of the Manhattan fireworks from our apartment rooftop.
Tina Marie Libby
Brooklyn, New York

Instead of rushing to mail gifts to our out-of-state friends and family before the holidays, we exchange gifts in January. This way, we can take advantage of postholiday sales and ease some of the stress of shopping in December.
Grace Gorman
Belmont, Massachusetts

Last year I finally got around to starting a gift closet. It’s truly the best thing that has happened to my holiday budget. With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I found myself buying items at regular price or holiday markup just because I was already in the store and didn’t want to waste time shopping around. Now when I see things that I think my loved ones will like, I pick them up, tag them with the recipient’s name, and add them to my closet. Buying gifts ahead of time allows me to save a lot of money by purchasing items when they’re on sale.
Jamie Reaser
Reading, Pennsylvania

You can’t beat “Black Friday” shopping the day after Thanksgiving. My mom, my sister, and I get up at the crack of dawn every year, stand in lines out in the cold, and map out the location of every low-priced item. We always wind up saving hundreds of dollars.
Beth Gannon
Newark, Delaware