16 Tips to SAVE More MONEY During the Holiday Season!

[@cynthiablodgett1882]

Older people really don't need so much. Experiences the most. Movie tickets, dinners out. Gas cards. Year subscription to Netflix or any other app. The gift that keeps on giving.

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

❤️

[@oh_my_godshall]

We do experiences more than stuff. My mom wants to see her friend in Florida so I'm giving her a roundtrip flight

[@Mahoney2866]

What a wonderful gift! So happy you can do that for her❤​@oh_my_godshall

[@suzanneosborne2238]

So true! My mother is 84 and is in a position where she can buy anything her heart desires, so I give her filters for her air returns every year! She appreciates not having to got to the store to hunt for the sizes she needs.

[@marilynrybak9154]

I love the idea of gifting to the humane society or to people less fortunate. I wanted to do this 20 years ago with my family instead of all of us exchanging gifts (none of us really needs anything). My sister and brother didn’t want to do that. So, I started sponsoring a child in Haiti through World Vision. I am now on my second child that I provide monthly support for! It’s so rewarding.

[@gladyschandler6724]

My son & I don't exchange gifts. I cook several special meals for us.

[@marypiper171]

4:02 The big issue is that the “Ugly Christmas Sweater” used to refer to a thrifted or handed down piece, but now they’re mass produced and often lack that vintage charm, in addition to being wasteful of money & materials

[@liveyourbestlife1878]

I never ask for anything and don’t want anything. I think the older I get, the more I value experiences rather than receiving material items.

[@Judith-b3t]

I agree. I even have trouble stopping at a thrift store to browse these days. Once decluttered I do not want to fill up the house again. 😮

[@asavannah7439]

The only gifts I want is the ones I can eat, read or experience. I don’t need any clutter!

[@gladyschandler6724]

I have a friend who sends my goodies like chocolate, teas, coffee, honey, and a personal birthday gift since my birthday is in December.

[@thebusybees2006]

Happy early birthday 🎉! I’m a December baby , too ❤!

[@bevanbuckwheatshea5520]

Buy gifts during the year at sales or clearance sales and put the gifts away. Much cheaper and saves a last minute rush around the shops in December trying to find gifts for everyone. Also make your own gifts if you are good at crafting.

[@nmkuemmerlein9996]

Some more consumable gift ideas for a variety of households: amaryllis bulbs grow with little care, last for weeks and weeks and add holiday color to someone's winter season. A box of various sized candles: tea lights, votives, tapers in ivory or white can be used throughout the year. Braided challah bread with high quality butter and maybe a pot of local honey. A table-top sized Christmas tree with fairy lights and handmade ornaments might lift the spirits of an elderly person who hasn't decorated but would like to.

[@Doris86pl]

We do secret Santa among adults in our family, we draw names in mid November so we have some time to prepare. Each of us has only ONE gift to buy and we have certain budget, we love that idea. When it comes to gifts my top are tickets to concerts, plays, events or vouchers to restaurants, coffee spots or gift cards for speciality coffee shops, beer/wine stores etc. These are great also for birthdays and other occasions. No additional clutter for reciepients, which is also good thing.

[@gladyschandler6724]

I don't buy any home decor for the holidays, except a large pumpkin for front door.

[@rosaurarodriguez596]

Same

[@lauramarzen7081]

our family only buy for the 4 grandkids.they each get 1 " big special" gift and 4 smaller gifts. no adult gift exchange because we help and do alot for each other all year.makes Christmas affordable and no stress

[@hollyashton7009]

I used to buy gifts for my mom in-store & then ship to her (we don’t live in the same city). Shipping kept getting more expensive. Now I online shop & have the gift delivered right to her house. I also keep a ‘save for later’ Amazon list too, for myself, so if I receive an Amazon gift card, it’s easy for me to see all the saved items at a glance. I have some books saved that I’d like to buy, but they’re a bit pricey, but I I get a gift card, I’ll purchase them with that.

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Holly, great point about the "ship to" for online shopping and saving the postage!

[@bevanbuckwheatshea5520]

My mom liked tinned peaches so cans of peaches were her Christmas gift from me!!

[@lindamcteer]

Christmas is so commercialized causing the real meaning of Christmas to get left behind. I have trouble shopping online for clothes too. Almost every item of clothing I've ever purchased online didn't fit, and I had to send it back.....sometimes having to pay return postage. Rather than receive an expensive gift, I would much rather get a gift from Dollar Tree for $1.25 if it's something I want and can use. Love the video, wonderful tips.

[@gladyschandler6724]

It's best to give money to salvation army for Thanksgiving meals. At my Temple, we collect canned goods for the food bank Austin.

[@rebeccafrazier8619]

During Thanksgiving and Christmas my family does a potluck snacks suck as fruit with dip, veggies with dip etc. works out really well. That way no one family has to be out all the money for dinners.. cookie swaps with those at church, so you have a mix of homemade cookies for Christmas ..Just some food for thought.. lol!!! 😊

[@conniekline9881]

Great ideas Jennifer! Our immediate family has decided to draw names, gift price limits, and have produced a displayed chart with everyone’s suggestions for they will ant or need. Time and money have contributed to making a move this way.

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Connie, the displayed charts are fantastic! Great idea ❤️

[@yasmeen6790]

I just LOVE your videos - I learned so much and I am much better with money in general than I used to be, bc YOU changed my perspective... Sometimes I fall off the wagon, but you put me right back on track. THANK YOU ❣Also: you are not preachy or extreme - just a voice of reason 😊

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Awww....thank you for letting me know. You made me smile. 🤗

[@TinaLaMonaca-z3m]

I use the Gift List App to set a budget by person and in total. It holds ideas with estimates, purchases, items received and then wrapped. It’s helped me stay on track

[@hollyashton7009]

Thank you for suggesting this, I’ve just been keeping my list in notes. I’m going to download the app

[@angielay3313]

Thanks for sharing- this app is AWESOME!! Just downloaded due to your recommendation. Definitely a GameChanger!

[@bessycorrales6405]

Unless we don’t care about local businesses, we should highly consider and encourage shopping locally to support our local economies. Otherwise, the only option to shop will be Amazon, and local businesses will shutter. We may pay a cheaper price now, but we’ll end up paying dearly in the long run.

[@hollypepen4012]

I’m a crafter, so my favorite gifts to give are homemade ❤

[@bevanbuckwheatshea5520]

Good idea and the gifts are also very special for the recipient.

[@gladyschandler6724]

I do a holiday play with friends. Our theater has cheaper tickets, but you need to purchase them in September.

[@BeyondTshirts]

I give DIY gifts; what I pay for supplies is less than what I'd spend for ONE gift and I can make 10-15 gifts with them! For my two adult kids, I tell them the only thing I want for Christmas is for them to come to our church's Christmas Eve candlelight service and we'll bring the grandkids' gifts to the church with us. It's worked for the last three years! LOL

[@jenniferwatts4042]

I crochet treasure keeper pouches and stuff them with candy and send them out to family for holidays or birthday

[@Midwestmomvolunteer365]

Good afternoon - About tenish years ago I started a holiday notebook. (I also have s gardening notebook, I like my notes). So I have one place where I keep notes about the holidays, one for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas. I list everything. For example we are self employed and do holiday cards, I note how many we sent, how much they cost and where I bought them (Yes I have a spreadsheet for cards). Another example, on Thanksgiving, I have two guests that like to look through the Black Friday printed adds, so I make sure someone goes out the night before and gets a paper. I plot out food for the day and can shop sales accordingly. Post event I will note, who was left over etc. When you are on a budget, or trying to pare down, the details are what will save you. Great and timely video. Enjoy the day everyone.

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@susannahkassler2396]

Great video Jennifer! Another crazy waste of money in my opinion - I know some people really love doing this, however - is the matching pajamas for the whole family every year. Most of those pajamas don’t get worn much, if ever, after the photo shoot. It would kill me to spend money on that 😂

[@kristinaadams1889]

I have one ugly sweater (that I bought at the end of the season for $1.50), and I will wear it every year till it falls apart. But I will not buy another one. Family gifts, we adults have decided that socks are an awesome gift. We can always buy what we want through the year, so socks are fun and relatively less expensive overall.

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Kristina, socks are great, especially slipper socks 🤗

[@KathyJacksonSanDiegoRealEstate]

love your ideas!!

[@oh_my_godshall]

My family did a gift exchange where everyone chose a family member (either assigned by Grandma or picked at random) and bought for that one person. Everyone got a gift and no one was left out or stretched for cash

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

I love Grandma getting to assign the gift exchange 🤗

[@barbie_miller1]

Your hair looks so good!

[@aridamenendez1247]

I get pay monthly so i start buying gifts for my family in August. Less stress

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Great idea!

[@truleegarewal5949]

I'm a maximalist, I work at Michael's, thrift shop all the time and love holiday decor. 😅 I love a frugal approach to the holidays but my Christmas list is long and that's just it 🤣 I love your channel though girl you always have good ideas.

[@rebacarmack8335]

I decided to not give the adults in my sisters family this year. I told her that I intend to buy for the 3- kids but if ok with them that the adults would not exchange gifts this year. They said, it sounded good to them. My bank has available a Christmas club savings. You put how ever much you want into it each month. Should save me from taking 2024 Christmas debt into 2025.❤️

[@bex438]

Hey Jennifer, I hope you're having a good week so far 😊 I loved the tips & ideas & was just thinking that a donation to a person's favourite charity would be a great present when you told the story about the 8 year old donating the money they received in lieu of their Birthday presents which I thought was lovely it really made my heart smile 🥰

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Bex, it warmed my heart as well. Have a wonderful week 🤗

[@That.Lady.withtheYarn]

Small Christmas are going to happen, that’s a given. So I flatly told my tiny human the truth, family and food on the table are the important part of a holiday.

[@Missfoxtooyou]

My sister and I are grown, I don’t give gifts to anyone. Just hanging out is enough.

[@gladyschandler6724]

I make a list every year and keep what I gave them for birthday or holidays.

[@rebeccafrazier8619]

I usually purchase restaurant cards for families, gas cards for teens, or sometimes yearly passes to experiences.. they seem to love it.. have a great holiday.. 😊

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

That's a great idea!

[@nagarcia76]

It makes me sad that the 90's Christmas sweaters that i wore as a teen are now portrayed as ugly. Sad.😢😢😢😢

[@Mahoney2866]

If you like it, that's what matters. 😊 Enjoy your sweaters, your an interesting individual!

[@purpledonkeylover9988]

Thanks for the great ideas!! I love your videos.

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Thank you for watching 🤗

[@gladyschandler6724]

I already have all my friends' gifts and 3 friends that I get birthday gifts for.

[@lesleyhoban6559]

Chk 2nd hand shops after x as to find another sweater .. and leave ur used there for some else to have fun

[@jenniferwatts4042]

With my kids we do something to wear something they need something they want and something to do (arts and crafts) or read

[@peggythomason2100]

I think the workplace need to reevaluate their seasonal traditions. The exchanges get out of hand cost wise. The $5.00 limit turns out to be $20.00 to out gift the other person. People are struggling financially today. ❤

[@sarahWall4154]

I only give gifts to my grandkids and that is cash. I am not making any credit card bills. I do not want to be sad in January like some people are because they spend too much for Christmas.

[@gladyschandler6724]

Jennifer, what great ideas

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Gladys, thank you!

[@SpatchG]

Jennifer, you'll laugh but ugly sweaters are pushed by some stores here at Christmas where I live in New Zealand. Christmas is at SUMMERTIME, when the last thing you want to wear is a sweater! So ridiculous.

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Wow!

[@thebestwillow]

Still reckon you're right about the phrase "sinking funds". Sounds like something is failing.

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Yep!

[@karenball331]

Thank you for this one.

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Thanks for watching! ❤️

[@gladyschandler6724]

My half-brother gets a Christmas bonus and gives to everyone (adults & children) and then has no savings for himself.

[@jenniferrosenthal7731]

Thank you for the video

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Thanks for watching!

[@maria_w311]

Hi Jennifer 👋🏻

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Hi Maria 🤗

[@KathyTomlinson-e1o]

When my in-laws were still alive we would have 100 gallons of propane delivered. We would also buy a small gift for them to open.

[@tressalewis7004]

We could buy someone an experience ❤

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

Yes!

[@judysbakeryandtestkitchen1654]

I think people really spend way too much on gifts. It really is the thought that counts. Not the television set.

[@deloresredman4792]

I go the other way. I dont believe in just gifts to kids. Then they get over indulged If my family knows that there is a kid whos already gettting enough.They dont need their 10th gift from us. Save that for someone in your family who may have nothing or only 1. Kids dont need more useless junk while we overlook others

[@gladyschandler6724]

I mail my gifts the day after Thanksgiving, with no lines at the P.O.

[@THEJENNIFERCOOK]

That's a great idea!

[@Keepitcurious1685]

❤❤❤

[@lorecarabailey935]

I give money don't to much eating from other people because sometimes there house is nasty and they have inside dogs and cats it smells in their house and hair is everywhere and dog hair can get in food

[@bevanbuckwheatshea5520]

I dont bother with Christmas decorations.

[@gladyschandler6724]

At the office, I would baked holiday cookies for them.

[@margaritaruiz1827]

A

[@riahall45]

No gifts for anyone. It’s Jesus Christ’s birthday - not anybody else’s.

[@KathyTomlinson-e1o]

When my in-laws were still alive we would have 100 gallons of propane delivered. We would also buy a small gift for them to open.

[@thebusybees2006]

Thank you for the video