Top 10 Money Saving Tips for Christmas - #2 Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards - Originally posted by Shopping Diva

Sending Christmas cards; some people love it and some people loathe it, but almost everyone does it. Over the next few weeks postal services all over the globe are going to be swamped with millions of Christmas cards. Between buying the cards, buying the stamps, and driving to the Post Office a few hundred times the expense can really start to build up. Here are a few of my top money saving tips …

Save the Planet

Don’t send Christmas cards or at the very least reduce you list to the bare minimum. Most of the people we seem to give Christmas cards to we see everyday anyway; all those co-workers and friends. One option is to send e-cards instead. Another is to make a pact with co-workers or friends that none of you will exchange cards. A great idea to go with this is for everyone to donate some of the money they save to charity. Save the rainforests, give to charity, and save some money all at the same time … could it get any better?

Shop in the Sales

The best possible time of year for buying Christmas cards is January. It’s a little late for this year I know, but every year I put a reminded in my calendar for January to stock up on Christmas cards. No-one is ever going to know that they are the design from last year … and even if they do, do you really care. While this does require some organisation, you can normally save at least 50% of the normal price. Well worth it in my book.

Get Creative

Make your own. I have to confess that this is one that I never do. I am not the most artistic person in the world by an stretch of the imagination, but if you are then this can be a great money saver. All you need is some plain card and some creativity. For those of you with children, getting the children to decorate the Christmas cards can be a great way to keep them occupied over the holidays. Even if they are too young to draw, red and green painted handprints will always be appreciated by doting grandparents.

One word of warning for all you scrap-bookers. This only works as a money saving tip if you resist the urge to spend a small fortune in the craft shop while creating great works of art. Always remember come January, that card you spent a small fortune making is likely to already be in the trash.

Creative not costly is the key here.

Recycle

Save your Christmas cards from the previous year, and then cut them in half to use as postcards. Not only do you save on buying cards, but you also save because the cost of posting a postcard is generally far less than that for a card.

One word of warning here as well. It pays to do each card at a time. Nothing worse than sending your great-aunt the same card she sent you the year before.

Get Some Exercise

Hand deliver cards. Save some money on gas and burn of some of those calories that you are about to absorb by the thousand - who can resist Christmas pudding with double cream after all. Even if you can’t hand deliver all of your cards, most of us can make the effort to walk to the local post office rather than driving.

You are of course excused if you live anywhere that is currently experiencing sub zero temperature or is under 6 foot of snow.

Best of the Rest;

One thing I am particularly keen on is highlighting posts from other bloggers that relate to my posts and that I believe are worthwhile additional reading. I plan on including these ‘Best of the Rest’ links is as many of my posts as a I can.

• Frugal Living in the UK: Frugal Christmas

• Money Watch: How Much Do Charities Earn from Charity Christmas Cards?

• Thrifty Mommy: Frugal Friday 33 - Saving Money on Christmas

• Million Dollar Journey: How I (try to) Save Money During Christmas

• The Bargainist: 10 Ways to Save Money This Christmas