The Dollar Stretcher Dollar Stretcher Community Baby Boomers
Family
Green
Home and Auto
In Critical Condition
Just Starting Out
Lifestyle
Money

 
Updated - Nov. 1, 2009


Decorating

Inexpensive Holiday Decorating
Inexpensive, easy, and quick projects that anyone can do with fabric to give your home a fresh look.

Use What You Have Holiday Decorating
Easy ways to take ordinary items you already own, and turn them into one of a kind holiday decor.

Frugal Fall Home Decorating with the Kids
It's never too early to teach your children the joy in creating a home for the ones you love.

Inexpensive Holiday Centerpieces
Our readers give their best inexpensive holiday centerpiece ideas.

Natural Decorations for Fall and Winter
Decorating for Parties on a Shoestring Budget.

Terrific Holiday Tables
Entertaining this holiday season can be easy with table settings that are fun and thrifty.



Recipes

Make-Ahead Recipes to Freeze for the Holidays
Ways of trimming down our kitchen time and energy over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Holiday Dinner for Two
If you don't want to have turkey leftovers for breakfast, lunch and dinner the following days!

Company's Coming!
Crowd pleasing recipes that are quick and inexpensive.

Spiced Beverages
Make these wonderful beverages using herbs and spices from your kitchen. The smell is heavenly and the taste is even better!




Festive Party Punches
There is something festive about a bowl of punch served in dainty glasses from an old fashioned punch bowl.

A Tasty Holiday Tradition
Holiday cookie recipes that your family and friends will love.

Make-Ahead Turkey
Shouldn't the cook also get to enjoy the festivities?

Holiday Stuffing Recipes
Stuffing recipes to stuff any poultry you may be serving for the holidays.

Let's Bake a Tradition
Starting holiday baking traditions is a great way to get your younger children involved in the festivities of the season.




Entertaining

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

Opening Your Home for the Holidays
As the host or hostess do you tend to get stressed? Try these tips!

Gormet Holidays: Buffets
How high-end hotels and caterers set up, arrange, and organize their buffets so that they seem expensive, but keep the overall costs low.

How to Plan Your Party
Keep your sanity and improve your holiday entertaining this year with these guidelines from a professional caterer.

Planning Party Platters
How much should you plan per person?


Recipes - Entertaining - Crafts and Homemade Gifts

Just for Thanksgiving

A Frugal but Elegant Thanksgiving
A full menu for 10 to 12 people that won't break your budget.

5 Quick and Cheap Thanksgiving Décor Ideas
Bump up the autumn splendor in your home, while saving that spending money for other things!

Your Thanksgiving Table
Creative placemat, napkin and napkin ring ideas.



Feast on these Thanksgiving Savings
Some practical ideas for saving money on your holiday celebration.

A Child's Thanksgiving Tree
Why not start a new holiday tradition with your children with this fun and simple activity?

What Makes Your Thanksgiving Special?
Readers share what made their Thanksgiving special.



Get Ready for December

Get a Head Start on the Holidays
While you may not want to think about Christmas now, a little planning can't hurt!

An Early Start on Christmas
Tips from our readers for saving on gifts by starting early.

Keeping Up During the Hectic Holidays
A few tips that will help make the holidays joyous again.

7 Tips to a Debt-Free Holiday Season
How to prevent charging your way through the holiday season.

Things You Can Do Now for a Simpler Christmas
Consider these positive steps you can take now to ensure a less hectic, more meaningful Christmas celebration in December.

Holiday Spending Worksheet
To plan your savings for the holiday season, you need to know how much all that merriment has cost in the past.

Tips for Stretching Your Holiday Budget
We convince ourselves that breaking from our budget and using our credit cards a little more freely just this one time is all right.



Crafts and Homemade Gifts

Cinnamon Treasures
A smell that reflects the warmth and charm of a cozy winter home more than any other.

My Story: Homemade Christmas Gifts
How to get your children involved in making things for others.

Gifts in a Jar
Recipes that can be used for holiday gift-giving.

Freezer Gifts
Give a gift of healthy home cooked meals!

Homemade Christmas and Hanukkah Gifts
Readers ideas for creative, inexpensive gift ideas for Christmas/Hanukkah gifts for friends and family.

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

Homemade Bubble Bath Gifts
Some very imaginative bath jelly jars!

Christmas Gifts Kids Can Make
Gifts that will be treasured by grandparents, aunts and uncles.