How to Save On…

How to Save on Seasonal Items

Mail flat rate for heavier items. Choose this two- to three-day shipping option (for domestic destinations) from the U.S. Postal Service and pay the same amount regardless of box weight. For example, sending an 11-by-8½-by-5½-inch box from New York to California costs $11.35, whether it weighs 20 pounds or 70.

Send out holiday postcards. If you choose the standard 4¼-by-6-inch size, you’ll save 13 cents a card (using a 32-cent stamp instead of a 45-cent one).

Say so long to expensive wrapping paper. Cover your gifts with butcher paper (about $16 for 500 feet) instead of “designer” paper (about $30 for 30 feet).

 Stock up on wine by the case to present as hostess gifts. Most retailers offer a 10 percent discount on larger orders; just ask the next time you’re at a wine shop. Some will even let you mix different brands in one box.

Top gifts with yarn. Pass on the $10-a-yard ribbon options and score a huge bundle of yarn―more than 70 yards―for just $2 to $6.

Stick with serving a signature punch or cocktail. Stocking a full bar can be quite costly―around $265 for wine, beer, liquors, and mixers to serve 25 guests.

Ditch disposable stemware. It may seem cheap (about $10 for 10 Champagne flutes), but the price of plastic can really add up, since you’ll have to buy it for each party. Instead, visit a restaurant-supply store (visit yellowpages.com to locate the nearest one). You’ll find reusable glass stemware for around $1 a glass.

Search Craigslist.org. People who have just moved often give away large boxes (perfect for a dollhouse or a tricycle) through the site.