1.  Hanukkah is early on the calendar this year, so it comes first on this list.  One of the traditional parts of the holiday is to eat foods cooked in oil, and luckily, one of the most popular dishes is also very cheap to make.  You don’t have to be Jewish to love latkes.  They are freshly made, delicious potato pancakes.  If you have the money, buy some applesauce to serve as the traditional accompaniment.  Here’s a great recipe.
Latke Recipe
 
2. Whatever holiday you celebrate, you need not blow big bucks on food.  If you’re broke, forget about the big dinner where the entire family eats on your dime.  Do dinner for the immediate household and invite everyone else over for cookies.  Or arrange a potluck.

3. Beautiful, lacy paper snowflakes are fun to make, and will decorate your home for nearly no cost (just pennies for some sheets of paper).  Hang them on your tree, on your windows, or string them together for garlands.  Here are a couple of sites to find printable snowflake patterns:
DavesSnowflakes.com
KindArt.com
 
4.  You can print a nativity scene too.  Use this printable nativity to make one.

5.  Add a touch of fresh greenery from your yard – if you have evergreens or pine cones, bring some into your house to decorate with.  If in a warmer climate, other foliage is fine.

6.  No money for cards?  Use email, naturally.  I create my own e-cards with clip art or a favorite photo – but you could also try a company like Hallmark, where some cards are free and others are 99 cents.
Hallmark.com

7.  If your gift budget is zero, there are a couple things to try.  Arrange a swap meet, where you and your friends or relatives swap stuff you aren’t using.  Or comb your kitchen and see if you have ingredients to make cookies, fudge or homemade bread as gifts.  Another idea: use your computer’s built-in microphone and record yourself singing or reading stories – this is a nice choice for grandparents/grandkids especially.

8.  Of course, there’s always the dollar store.  It’s chock full of good and cheap gift items for everyone, and they have inexpensive cards and wrapping paper too.  I’ve even seen DVD’s at the dollar store!

9.  Kids love coloring books – you can find lots of really nice printable coloring books.  These are not just generic coloring books – you have your choice of popular characters such as Barbie and Harry Potter.  Print the pages on heavy paper, punch or cut holes and bind them together with ribbon or string.
Coloring-Book.info

10.  Here’s a thrifty gift idea for adults: magazine subscriptions.  You can find some amazing bargains on Amazon.  For example, you can buy a year’s subscription to Cosmopolitan or Smart Money magazine for only five dollars, and there are many other choices.
Cosmopolitan Subscription
Smart Money Subscription

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

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A Mr. Cheap Stuff Christmas: How To Celebrate For Little Or Nothing

1. Create a budget before writing your invite list.  Then you’ll know how many guests you can afford to entertain.  Nothing worse than having the whole neighborhood show up to find you empty-handed.

2.  Go team!  Why burden yourself with all the costs?  Get a friend to co-host the party (and share the expenses) with you.  And of course, there’s the classic potluck party.  Divvy up the main dishes, appetizers, side dishes and dessert assignments among your guests.

3. Be a borrower – chances are, some of your friends and family own some good holiday decor, dishes and table linens they can lend to you for your event.  Of course, you’ll invite them to your party.  Then they can just take their items back home with them.  Also check out your local library for holiday CD’s and movies.

4. Open the cupboard to see what you already have on hand. Then find recipes that use up those ingredients, rather than having to make a big and expensive food shopping trip.  Go to Recipeland.com for ideas.

5. Dessert night.  Dinner too costly a concept?  Invite everyone for dessert.  Have a cookie-decorating party; it’s fun, easy and inexpensive.

6. Deck the halls over brunch. Why not party and get your decorating done at the same time?   Eggs, bagels or muffins, and other breakfast fare is relatively cheap.  And you can scrimp on (or avoid) liquor costs for an early-hours party; at most you can offer a mimosa or bloody mary but even that’s not really necessary.

7.  Save money on booze.  Alcohol is a huge expense when entertaining.  Have a wine/beer liquor potluck where your guests supply the spirits.Or consider serving a spiced cider to reduce your expenses. Old fashioned, non alcoholic holiday punches are another great idea and are typically much more affordable than alcoholic drinks.

8.  Organize buffet food by cost: Put less-expensive, filling foods such as breads and veggies at the head of the buffet table, where guests will start filling their plates. Put the pricier shrimp and meat towards the end of the line. Partygoers will naturally fill up on the less expensive items before hitting the costlier grub.

9.  Dollar stores are your best friend.  For a mere buck, you can find all kinds of party snacks, soft drinks and candy, plus scads of festive holiday decorations, candles, plates, glasses and plastic cutlery.  My personal favorite is Dollar Tree.

10. Organize a volunteer party instead.  In times like these, there are many people in need.  Do some searching, identify a good local volunteer opportunity and invite your friends and family to join you in helping your community.  Try VolunteerMatch.org or RedCross.org.  Or host an event at your home where your guests can contribute to a charity project.  For example, you could collect toys to donate to Toys for Tots.

Dean adds:

-Hosting a holiday lunch is usually cheaper than hosting a holiday dinner.  Something to consider when planning your holiday party.
-Always remember it is not about how much you spend but how much fun you and your guests have.  The best food in the world don’t mean much if the party is dead.  Be creative and plan some social interactive games or ice breakers to entertain your guests.
-If things get tough you can always charge cover at the door.  Just kidding, but if you do hire a bouncer :p

Photo Credit

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Make Merry, Not Broke: A Cheap Guide to Holiday Entertaining