Baking & Recipes
for Guests and for Gifts

Traditional Christmas Crafts
Pomanders and herb balls.

Inexpensive Food Gifts
Easy-to-make, clever and cost-efficient!

Easy Homemade Candies
Still looking for something for that hard-to-shop-for person?

Holiday Mix and Gift Recipes
Recipes for various mixes that you can give for special treats, and even for whole meals.

A Tasty Holiday Tradition
It's the time of year to bake, and bake, and bake some more.

Holiday Decorating...for Less!

Oh, Christmas Tree!
Finding the best tree for your budget.

LED’s = Yuletide Savings
The holiday season just got a little brighter.

Never Too Late to Decorate
10 simple ways to get your home in the holiday spirit in a hurry.

Inexpensive Holiday Centerpieces
Whether it's for your holiday table or the annual banquet, these inexpensive centerpieces will have your table looking festive!

Great Holiday Decor
You don't need a huge budget to make your home an inviting place this Christmas season.

Frugal Christmas Decorations
The nicest holiday decorations are the ones you make yourself.

Inexpensive Gift Ideas

Imaginative Gifts
Good gifts don't have to cost a fortune.

Too Much Christmas
When you can't afford the Christmas that the kids expect.

Overgifting
Are too many gifts spoiling your Christmas?

Christmas Gifts Kids Can Make
Much more treasured than any store bought gift.

Great Gifts
Readers share their best ideas.

Thoughtful Gifts for Teachers
Frugal ideas that your child's teacher would really appreciate.

I Gave at the Office!
Inexpensive office gifts.

Thrifty Gifting - Holiday Parties - Money Savers

Bankrate's Thrifty Gifting

Find Frugal -- but not Cheap -- Gifts
Give Santa a run for his money without busting your budget -- buy gifts that are frugal, but not cheap.

4 Places to Slash Holiday Costs
Holiday giving can quickly burn a hole in your budget. But gifts are hardly the only expense during this season.

7 Common Holiday Budget Busters
Here's a list you better check twice: the seven top ways not to shop for a frugal holiday season.

7 Splendid Homemade Holiday Gifts
We've searched to the North Pole and beyond for easy, yet impressive, things you can make at home.

6 Tips for Savvy Holiday Shipping
Learn how to determine what shipping options will get your gifts to their destinations safely, on time and without busting your budget.

12 Ways to De-commercialize the Holidays
Sick of the overspending and commercialism often attached to the holidays? Check these ideas for lowering the cash flow while raising the joy of the season.

Real or Artificial: What's Best for You?
Aroma, feel and tradition all play a part in this decision, and the comparative cost factor is nothing to sneeze at, either.

Be a Gracious Host...and Guest

Throw a Great Holiday Party without Tossing the Budget
You can cut costs by applying smart shopping strategies to your décor, food and beverage purchases.

Tips for Holiday Tipping
If you depend on the services of such people as day-care workers, baby sitters, dog walkers, manicurists, parking attendants, personal trainers or limo drivers, they'd all appreciate a special "thank you" this time of year.

Opening Your Home for the Holidays
Will you survive holiday visitors?

Other Christmas Money Savers

Create a More Meaningful, Less Expensive Christmas
Ways to create more Christmas with less money.

Holiday Time Savers
Who couldn't use more time right about now?

Holiday Travel Tips
Trying to get "over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house" can be quite a challenge.

Making Christmas Memories
Great memories are the most valuable gift you can give.

Wrap It for Less!
You don't need to go through rolls and rolls of wrapping paper!

Holiday Treats Made Simple
If you would like to save time, and have a variety of goodies available for the holidays, try a cookie swap party.