Published: December 02, 2008 09:49 am      

Holiday Money-Saving Strategies

Those wonderful, cheery holidays can also mean a boatload of budget woes for working parents striving to make ends meet. Here are a few tips to keep your wallet a little fatter this Christmas season.

• Visit second-hand or last-season stores for like-new items. Half-priced bookstores carry hardcovers for a fraction of new-book prices, and retailers like T.J. Maxx offer never-used items that have simply been moved off the shelves of regular outlets to make way for more product.

• Give the gift of food, and save time as well as money. Bake a slew of cookies – possibly in Christmas shapes, decorated with icing and sprinkles for an added kick - and package them in decorative tins. Much cheaper than buying individual gifts, and easier than scouring malls for the perfect items. For a personalized feel, include notes to each person describing why you’re thankful for them this holiday season.

• Take advantage of post-Christmas sales. Stock up on items for the next year after Dec. 25. You’ll save asignificant amount of cash, and will be thankful in 2009 when most of your holiday shopping is already done.

• Fraction it out. Go in on gift buying with more members of your family. If you and your siblings all pitch in on that new kitchen table your mother has been craving, the split-up price won’t break your bank, and one large gift can be just as generous as several small ones.

• Do online homework before hitting the stores. Don’t pigeonhole yourself into going to one store where you “always” buy your electronics or sweaters. Take a few minutes to comparison shop with online catalogs first, so you’ll know where to find the best deals.