With the holidays fast approaching many people are reconfiguring their household budgets to afford gifts, parties and other unexpected expenses that come with hosting out of town guests.
Tis the season to get creative with your savings techniques That may mean cutting out your daily dose of Starbucks or re-evaluating whether you really need that weekly manicure. Another option is to channel your inner Martha Stewart so you can spruce up your house for holiday guests without breaking the bank.
For example, instead of spending money on expensive storage units, decoupage affordable containers to use as totes for household items. Another way to save around the house is to repurpose old or broken dishes. Rather than tossing a chipped plate, use it to make a mosaic for a mirror or side table. If you know how to sew, create new curtains from some old bed sheets, and then string together beads from broken costume jewelry to use as customized tiebacks. Also, forget about paying big bucks on elaborate frame sets. Instead, pick up a bunch of different frames in various sizes at a local thrift shop and paint them the same color. Once they all match, you can create a wall collage of your favorite photos.
When it comes to finding inexpensive gifts to show loved ones how much they mean to you this holiday season, flex your creative muscle. Learn how to make your own soaps, lotions and other body potions from online tutorials. How-to Internet videos are a frugal source for learning a variety of different skills. Or, visit a craft store and get tips on how to make beaded bracelets and bookmarks.
Finally, if you don’t have the time or energy for DIY projects, then simply ask yourself where you can reduce spending. Pay attention to how much you use of certain products, such as body wash, hand soap, and laundry detergent. Most people use a lot more than is necessary. You don’t need to dispense huge globs of product to get the results promised on the package.