Holidays on the Cheap

This year I've been clipping and using coupons, shopping sales, and scoring unique items at thrift stores to take full advantage of my $100 holiday budget. So far, I've gotten all my family's (save for one brother), my squirrelly student workers, and my colleagues gifts, all for $52! How can you do Christmas on the cheap? Easy!

Here are some tips I'd like to pass on for being frugal yet classy this Christmas:

• Craft stores like Joann's and Hobby Lobby have ridiculous sales on holiday crafty shit this time of year. Right now all kinds of stuff is on sale for 40-50% off. Wrapping paper and cards are on sale, so are packing materials and gift tags. If you shop the sales you can get materials to make holiday tokens and cards for everyone in your office for under $15! YES! $15 total.
• Try buying blank postcards or scrapbooking paper. Buy one holiday-themed rubber stamp and stamp pad in the color of your choice, and a set of 25 mini-ornaments. Stamp the cards, sign your name, and punch a hole in the side to tie the ornament on. Voila! Instant coworker gift! No wrapping, taping or gluing required. Best of all, those people that drive you crazy all year will think you're a really nice person. Even better? You're only out a few bucks. (If you shop smart,* that is.)
• Have friends who like weird things or collect oddball objects? Head to the Goodwill and score 99 cent glass tumblers, $2 candle holders, or $3 abandoned but hilarious artwork. You can also get cool things like tennis rackets, coffee mugs, funky lamps, and funny/hip t-shirts for ridiculously low prices. Not only is the item probably one of a kind, but the purchase price goes toward helping someone get a job. Win-win, eh?
• Christmas cookies. Who doesn't love cookies? It's not like they're hard to make, either. After you bake them, place them in clear cellophane bags and tie with holiday-colored ribbon. Pass 'em out like candy. Oh, candy in a gift bag is another cheap but welcome gift! You can theme this idea to whatever holiday it is you celebrate.
• Time. Know someone who hates grocery shopping or can't get out to the dry cleaners regularly? Make a coupon book. Yep, one of those dork-ass but lovable coupon books full of favors. The recipient turns in a coupon, you do what it says. Since you're making the gift, don't put anything on the coupons you don't want to do, like grocery shopping or going to the dry cleaners. Doing that would just be stupid.
• Mix-CDs are always cool. Come on, you've got a huge stash of CDs and an even-bigger collection of mp3 files, why not burn a disc and make purty artwork for it? Who cares if it's a CD full of heavy metal hits and the recipient is wayyy into John Tesh? Think of your gift as a cultural exchange or at least a ticket out of Lamesville for them.
• Hard liquor. This time of year can be stressful. A cheap bottle of booze can go a long way for someone who's stressed out from shopping, decorating, or pretending to enjoy their family's company during the holidays! Make sure to buy it in a plastic bottle -- that way when that special someone reaches the bottom of said bottle and lobs it at the nearest relative, nobody gets seriously hurt.

So there you have it! Some easy and cheap tips for gift giving and holiday survival! May your wallet remain fat, your thighs thin, and your sanity intact! Seasons Greetings and to all a good night!

*S-Mart. Duh.