Christmas tips

With cold financial winds beginning to blow this Autumn, we're all looking for ways to save money on Christmas. If you're trimming your holiday budget this year, take a tip--or 20!--from Real Simple.

This compendium of money-saving ideas covers includes lots of common-sense solutions--and a few fresh and creative ideas to celebrate without breaking the bank.

We liked the clutter-cutting benefit of this tip:

Skip the tree skirt. Instead of buying a fancy tree skirt that makes an appearance once a year, buy or use a tablecloth or a piece of fabric that is four to five yards long. Wrap it around the tree’s base during the holiday season, then wash and reuse it as a tablecloth during the rest of the year.

20 Ways To Save During The Holidays

With the season moving toward the New Year, it'll soon be time to remove and store holiday decorations. Somehow, "putting away" isn't nearly so much fun as "getting out"; too often, decorations are bundled away quickly, but not well.

For an easier Christmas, 2008, try these time-saving storage tips from the Common Sense Community. One we like:

For a super timesaver, keep your artificial tree intact. Only remove delicate ornaments, leaving the lights and garland on so it's ready to go next year. Use a light paint cloth to cover your tree to protect it from dust and debris.

Shedding Light on Holiday Decorations

You've made the list, checked it twice ... and now there's a mountain of gifts ready to be wrapped.

Take heart--and simplify the job--with these tips for efficient gift wrapping from RealSimple.com. They'll organize and speed gift-wrapping chores:

Gift Wrapping Strategies