The Working Woman’s Guide to Gifting, Dining and Memory-Making without Over-Spending  

The holidays are already just around the corner: parties, gift exchanges, and dinners with friends you’ve been meaning to see all year mark your calendar, making for a busy — and fulfilling — time!  But it can wreak havoc on your finances if you’re on a budget (or like me, in the throes of a home remodel!).  However, regardless of how lean your disposable income may be during this time of year, you can still have a great time – so here’s how to survive the coming holiday weeks, without breaking the bank.

1. Plan & Buy Your Gifts Now
You can find incredible deals online, but the closer you get to the holidays, the faster those sales end. Black Friday, of course, is a great opportunity to buy gifts online (or in store if you’re brave enough to face the crowds) at a steep discount.  Also, remember that if you are customizing your gifts (i.e. photo books, custom artwork, etc.), it’s important to have several weeks of lead time too.

A practical note: if the sales or custom-made gifts are not good enough reasons to get started early, remember that if you wait too long to order gifts online, you’ll pay for procrastinating!  The difference between standard delivery and overnight/2-day delivery is substantial.  It’s also worth remembering that the best thing you can spend on someone is your time, so select thoughtful, deliberate gifts, rather than worrying about the actual money spent (i.e. berating yourself for not being lavish).

2. Limit Your Holiday Dinners & Plan Meals in Advance
During this festive time of year, you may be invited to multiple holiday dinners at lovely restaurants. Be selective in those that you decide to attend, and consider the possibility of hosting a dinner at your home in lieu of going out.  Eating in is generally far less expensive than dining out, and the holidays are a great time of year to try new dishes in a slow-cooker or crockpot; I personally love that I can make my meal in the morning, and come home from work to delicious, hearty fare!  Your friends will undoubtedly also appreciate the opportunity to save money.

3. Consider Renting Your Holiday Outfit, Instead of Buying
If you’re on a budget, but still want to show up to holiday parties in a brand new, head-turning dress, consider renting a holiday outfit. RentTheRunway.com has everything from sassy cocktail dresses to formal black tie attire for rent at a fraction of the cost of purchasing.  If you need some great accessories to go with your stylish rented dress, check out Bag, Borrow or Steal – a great option for renting designer bags, jewelry, and more!

4. Make Meaningful Holiday Memories
Just because you won’t be spending the holidays in St. Tropez doesn’t mean that you won’t have an extraordinary holiday.  Make it meaningful by planning holiday movie nights, cookie contests with friends, spa days, or gift-wrapping parties.  Turn on some good holiday music, heat up some hot cider, and enjoy each other’s friendship.  Another idea:  instead of doing a gift exchange with friends, take a day trip together to somewhere you’ve never been.  The memories will last a lifetime!

5. Limit Gifts for Yourself to One!
You know how it goes: you go to buy a gift for your best friend/colleague/sibling, and you wind up buying one for you too. There’s nothing wrong with this, as it is the perfect time of year to pamper yourself.  Unfortunately, the cost can really add up.  So this year, treat yourself to one gift, and one only.  This will force you to focus on buying yourself something you really want or need, rather than a bunch of impulse buys that wind up hurting your bottom line.

There’s no reason to feel like a Scrooge if you’re on a budget this holiday season. Get creative with your plans and gifting, and you’ll be surprised that you not only survive the holidays, but have more fun than ever this year.