This holiday season don't let your credit card woes get in the way of a gift giving. Using all cash removes anxiety and fear, allowing you to focus on the true meaning of the season. Woman's Day has tactics for your all-cash campaign. Among them are:
Start early: Make your list now and start crash-saving. Refuse to make unnecessary purchases. (Next year, start even earlier.)
Set a budget: Figure out your budget and divide by the number of people you will be gifting, and stick to it!
Celebrate the week after Christmas: It may sound funny at first, but think about it: Whatever cash you have will go a lot further when you take advantage of the after-Christmas sales. Plan your extended family gathering for the week after Christmas. Besides being less expensive, it's unlikely to interfere with anyone else's Christmas plans.
Make it yourself: A tree ornament, plate of cookies, box of fudge, note cards -- there's nothing like a homemade gift. Photo books for grandparents, canning jars for dry ingredients for cookies or hearty winter soup. Buckwheat pillows, roasted coffee bean packages in festive bags, and many, many more.
Limit gifts: If you normally give three gifts, pare it down to two and use the extra resources to reach out to a needy family in your community.
Give compassion: Want your gift to say how much you care? Then show you understand what matters most to that person. If they are passionate about medical research, become a bone marrow donor. An environmentalist? Donate to an organization that reforests and plant a tree in her name.
Give retail value: Don't feel guilty about finding a bargain! Let's say you've designated $30 for your sister. To your utter amazement, you find a gorgeous sweater her size and color valued at $29.99. Its perfect, but here's the best part: It's on sale for $19.99. You've just saved yourself $10
Give it in writing: Worried that your gifts -- homemade or otherwise -- are too cheap or not exactly right? Your doubts will vanish when you include a heartfelt note telling the recipients what they mean to you the value they bring to your life. The best gift delivers a message of love and joy that remains with the recipient long after the gift has been used, consumed or put away.
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For more tips, pick up the latest issue of Woman's Day magazine or visit www.womansday.com.
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© 2008, Woman's Day magazine.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Start early: Make your list now and start crash-saving. Refuse to make unnecessary purchases. (Next year, start even earlier.)
Celebrate the week after Christmas: It may sound funny at first, but think about it: Whatever cash you have will go a lot further when you take advantage of the after-Christmas sales. Plan your extended family gathering for the week after Christmas. Besides being less expensive, it's unlikely to interfere with anyone else's Christmas plans.
Make it yourself: A tree ornament, plate of cookies, box of fudge, note cards -- there's nothing like a homemade gift. Photo books for grandparents, canning jars for dry ingredients for cookies or hearty winter soup. Buckwheat pillows, roasted coffee bean packages in festive bags, and many, many more.
Limit gifts: If you normally give three gifts, pare it down to two and use the extra resources to reach out to a needy family in your community.
Give compassion: Want your gift to say how much you care? Then show you understand what matters most to that person. If they are passionate about medical research, become a bone marrow donor. An environmentalist? Donate to an organization that reforests and plant a tree in her name.
Give retail value: Don't feel guilty about finding a bargain! Let's say you've designated $30 for your sister. To your utter amazement, you find a gorgeous sweater her size and color valued at $29.99. Its perfect, but here's the best part: It's on sale for $19.99. You've just saved yourself $10
Give it in writing: Worried that your gifts -- homemade or otherwise -- are too cheap or not exactly right? Your doubts will vanish when you include a heartfelt note telling the recipients what they mean to you the value they bring to your life. The best gift delivers a message of love and joy that remains with the recipient long after the gift has been used, consumed or put away.
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For more tips, pick up the latest issue of Woman's Day magazine or visit www.womansday.com.
------
© 2008, Woman's Day magazine.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
L.A. for less than the price of sunblock. 
