When you ask people what their favorite part of the holiday season is, often they answer enthusiastically it's all the great food and the decorations. Cookies, candies, pies, and other special sweet treats are at the top of most everyone's list, and everyone loves a festively decorated home to make Christmas even merrier. But you don't have to be a Christmas grinch worrying about how much all these special treats and decorations will take from your holiday budget.  With some creativity and a quick inventory of what you already have on hand it can really be quite simple.

One of most affordable treats you can make is yummy cookies made with homemade dough.  Generally speaking, it's usually pretty simple for even the most challenged bakers to make. And if you're pressed for time and choose to use the ready-made cookie dough from the grocery store, that doesn't mean you have to do without fun holiday-shaped cookies. It's very simple to choose a design or two that you like, trace it onto wax paper or aluminum foil, cut it out and use as a pattern to trim your cookie dough around.

If you're serving these cookies at a party or open house with coffee or hot tea, try getting creative with some sugar cubes as a sweet decoration nearby.  Take the sugar cubes, stack in a pyramid-fashion, and perhaps place some small colored marshmallows on toothpicks and place carefully in the cubes, and you'll have a festive looking, snow-covered decorated outdoor Christmas tree.  Then the cubes can be used for the tea and coffee, and the marshmallows can be used for the hot cocoa.

Focus your decorating around colors and themes you already have in your decorations collection. Red and green are both bold colors that really pop once you add a golden or silvery accent to it.  If you don't own vast amounts of decorations, focus on decorating one particular area of a room, such as the corner the tree stands in, or the fireplace mantelpiece. To complement your decorating, don't overlook anything in your possession as something you can use.  Maybe you have a Christmas sweater that you wouldn't wear. Put it on one of your children's large teddy bears and set him in a corner chair, and he may become a hot topic of conversation at your holiday open house. 

Votive candles are a quick, affordable decoration.  Place a cluster of three of them on holiday plates, light them, and scatter them on coffee and end tables to add a nice, soft glow.  Floating votives in a fishbowl or other festive serving bowl made from clear or colored glass is an easy addition to your decorating scheme. Bouquets of candy canes tied with Christmas ribbon and placed in red- or green-colored drinking glasses add just a touch of Christmas cheer, and make a sweet treat to send home with your guests once your open house or party is over.

But the most important ingredient at your holiday table or gathering is the Christmas spirit.  Remember the reason for the season.  Your guests will surely feel the same Christmas cheer once they arrive at your home.

Shopping at the last minute can not only rob you of your energy and Christmas spirit, but it can zap your bank account in the process.  If these are two Christmas holiday traditions you'd like to learn to live without, there's good news. With some creative thought and planning, you can give thoughtful gifts that will not only be appreciated your recipients and won't empty your wallet at the same time.  

The greatest gift you have that you can give anyone is the gift of your time.  With that in mind, the first thing you should do is talk with your friends and family and reach a mutual agreement not to exchange gifts.  When you don't have to worry about what to run out and get for one another, you can focus on spending quality time together, which is a big part of what the holiday season is all about. 

For those that are on your gift list, think about what you can do to help them, such as a service you can provide to make their life a little simpler.  You can print coupons out for everything from free babysitting for a family member or friend with a new baby, lawn mowing services for an elderly neighbor, or errand running for a homebound person.  Keep each person in mind when you do this and take special care to make sure you're not stepping on any toes and that your service won't be seen as an intrusion or inconvenience.

For the smaller children on your list, consider making a gift for them.  Children love stories, so why not write a story about that child for them?  You can either type it up and illustrate it using your computer, or write it in big block letters and illustrate it with pictures you've clipped out or drawn yourself.  You can also make things such as modeling clay or bubble blowing liquid.  Check your local library or internet for more great ideas for children.  The best part of these gifts is the time you spend with the youngster playing with the clay or reading the story time and again.

And though it may seem a bit more difficult to think of a gift for older children and teenagers, they also cherish the gift of your time.  If you have a special skill, such as cooking, baking, or painting, why not take the time to pass it along.  Purchase a canvas and some paints and show your favorite young person how to paint landscapes or pass along a favorite family recipe by teaching him or her how to prepare it. 

Consider donating some of your time to places that really need additional hands around the holidays.  Your local soup kitchen, homeless shelter or neighborhood nursing home might need someone to help serve food and clean, or just simply to spend time with their residents.  Your time and help will be greatly appreciated by the staff and the people they serve. 

The holidays shouldn't be a time of stress and worry over how much money you've spent on gifts, but about togetherness and generosity.  Giving the gift of your time is probably the most generous gift any of us have to give, and the one that most people are most appreciative of and enjoy receiving.

Without some planning and forethought, having company during the holidays can be a very stressful and difficult time for all involved.  But if you think ahead and plan accordingly, your guests will feel welcome and comfortable in your home, and you'll provide a stress-free environment so you can enjoy their company.

Be sure that you decorate your home and tree for the people who will enjoy it. Antique Christmas ornaments are likely to get broken if small children are admiring them. And the likelihood of your best tablecloth getting a marinara stain on it is pretty high if you're serving guests of all ages. You are happy your guests are in your home, so take it upon yourself to ensure they feel welcome, comfortable and wanted.

Start the process in the guest room your company will be staying in, and make it special.  If they'll be with you for more than just a couple of days, provide drawers they can put things away in so they can easily find things and get ready each day.  Make sure your guest bathroom has plenty of clean towels and that you are stocked up on the necessities like toilet paper, shampoo, soap, and toothpaste.

Also, be sure you have plenty available to entertain your younger guests.  Board games, crayons, coloring books, and movies help pass the time while the adults visit.  Encourage the little ones to draw a pretty Christmas picture that you can display in your home for the holidays, or provide them with enough craft material such as glitter, yarn, glue, tape, and construction paper to make fun Christmas gifts of their own.  An outing to a Christmas pageant or a night out caroling or watching the local Christmas parade provides fun for all ages as well. 

Try to find out ahead of time if any of your guests require special accommodations, attention, or have special diets they must adhere to or have any food allergies.  The last thing you want to have happen is for one of your guests to have an allergic reaction to your oyster stuffing.  It might feel awkward to ask, but your guest will appreciate you thinking ahead on their behalf.

Most importantly, try to keep the environment calm and relaxing.  After all, it is the holidays and both you and your guests have taken time off work during the holidays, so make sure you take the time to sit back and take it easy with your company.  Keep the days entertaining, but not crammed full of activity. Be sure to schedule in activities they enjoy.  Perhaps there's a special exhibit at your local art gallery or museum they'd like to see while they're in town.  If so, offer to watch the kids while they go, and then take the kids to see a movie or ice skating.  If these options are a bit too energetic for you, they might also enjoy playing a board game or watching a movie or television program at home. The gift of your time will be fondly remembered long after your guests have returned home.

Sometimes it can be hard to find time to get together with friends and family during the holidays when you're so busy with all the other things you're trying to get done.  Between shopping, baking, wrapping, and chauffeuring the kids around, there just doesn't seem to be much time left.  But you can have a great time decorating your tree by inviting friends and family over to help.  It's a wonderful way to celebrate the lighter side of the holiday. And since there's no such thing as a perfect Christmas tree, there's no worry about having your decorating finished since the guests are there to help accomplish that.

Of course, the first thing you need to do is make sure your tree is set in the stand correctly and skirted.  Find some of your favorite Christmas music and if you have a fireplace, light a fire to help set the mood.  Candles and votives provide a soft glow and sense of warmth if you don't have a fireplace. Set up a buffet with foods that are easy to eat while being active, such as trimming the tree or helping the kids. 

Tree trimming parties work great in the afternoon or evenings, just be sure to indicate on your invitations what you intend to serve so guests can plan accordingly.  The holidays are famous for sweet treats, so cookies and other goodies are a good choice.  Be sure to serve plenty of hot drinks and egg nog, and provide juices for the kids.  Appetizers work alongside cookies and other goodies nicely, and offer guests an alternative once they've filled up on sweets.  If you choose to do it on a weekend, a brunch with bagels, muffins, fresh fruit and a breakfast casserole or two would work great. An afternoon chili and stew buffet would also be easy to prepare and quick to clean up.

You can choose to have guests hang ornaments you already have, or you can provide materials for guests to make their own ornaments.  If there's small children in attendance, be sure to provide age-appropriate materials for them to construct their own decorations. Add a festive touch and protect the craft area at the same time by covering the surfaces in holiday wrapping paper.   In either case, be sure you provide enough material so your guests can also make an ornament to take home with them as a souvenir.  Have your guests sign and date the ornaments that are hung on your tree so you can appreciate them for years to come. Whether or not there will be children present, you can set up a table for guests to make their own ornaments to take home as a party favor. Simply choose the craft based on the age and craftiness of your participants. In another area, you might also provide beads or popcorn and cranberries for guests to string.

It's a wonderful way to trim your tree and remember the reason for the season.  Enjoy your company, the great food, and your beautifully decorated tree.  Happy Holidays! 

You know from previous holiday seasons that there is always a long list of things to get done in order to properly prepare for the holidays.  Instead of waiting until the holidays are upon you, try tackling some of the bigger jobs earlier when time isn't so pressing, and relieve some stress in the process. 

Have you completed all of your fall housecleaning chores yet?  If your garage is a mess and you have no idea where you buried the Christmas decorations and there's still fallen leaves everywhere, get busy and get your garage cleaned out and organized and get the yard work completed.  If you haven't already done so, prepare your outdoor plants for winter, drain your hoses and sprinkler systems, and clean your garage completely.  It will make the hunt for the holiday decorations a non-issue because you'll be able to go right to them.  It's also a good idea to take an inventory of their condition, and make a note to replace anything that's broken.  Check your lights at this time, too.  While you're at it, get out your outdoor lights, and hang them up after checking them.  When the holiday season rolls around, all you'll have to do is flick a switch. 

Get your indoor deep cleaning done at this time as well.  If you know you'll be having overnight guests stay with you, make sure your guest room is ready for company.  If you're using it to store things in, clear it out.  Make sure there's available dresser drawers and closet space for your guests to put things away if they'll be with you for an extended period of time.  This is also a great time to put away summer clothing and bedding items and get out your heavier clothing and bedding. 

And though some might not consider addressing Christmas cards a heavy chore, it can become quite time consuming depending on the length of your list.  If you can verify you've got correct addresses early on, it'll make this chore go more smoothly when the time comes.  While you are updating mailing addresses, it's a good time to make sure you've got correct phone numbers and e-mailing addresses as well, as both are quick ways to invite people to an impromptu holiday open house or party.  You might consider addressing and stamping your envelopes in small groups while watching TV each night.  That way they'll be ready to pop in the mail when the holiday season arrives. 

Another chore that can be tackled early on is your holiday baking and cooking.  Some baked goods freeze very well when prepared ahead of time, as do quick meals such as chili and spaghetti sauce.  Then when the busy holiday season arrives, you'll have some of your baking out of the way, and when you need a quick meal, you'll have something that can easily be popped into the microwave or crock pot and can serve a hot meal to your family.

Tackle those big chores now so you can enjoy your holidays fully later!

The Christmas season can quickly zap a budget when you're shopping for gifts, food, wrapping paper, and chauffeuring your kids to their Christmas pageants and parties.  One place that you can really save some money and let your personality and creativity shine is when trimming your tree.  Why not make your own decorations?  It can be a fun activity for the whole family to get involved in, and it can be done very affordably.

For instance, you can decorate colored glass balls you already have by using adhesive spray and glitter, or get your glue gun out and glue on some special sequins or jewels you found at the crafts store.  Yarn, ribbon, raffia, stickers and even old buttons can be used as well.  If you have old bits of lace, velvet or other favorite fabric, try trimming them into a special shape, such as a star or a heart, and affix them to the glass ornament. 

We all receive beautiful greeting cards in the mail each Christmas.  Why not use some of those favorite ones from the year before and decorate this season's tree?  You can use the entire card if you like, or you can simply clip out the pictures or scenes on the front that are your favorite and use them to make an ornament.  You could also use these to decoupage a glass ornament. 

Small children's toys work great as ornaments as well.  Small cars, dolls, farm animals, blocks, beads, and even puzzle pieces can be creatively worked into a theme for your tree.  Look around your house and see what old toys you can find and incorporate them into your scheme.  You could even work in some larger sized toys to decorate around the base of your tree.  

You could even bake ornaments for your tree.  If you're a baker at heart and your family and friends love your treats, a cookie tree would be loved by all. Gingerbread boys and girls would be lovely, but you can place a small hole in the top of any cookie you bake and hang from the tree using a pretty ribbon.  Embellish your cookies with some pretty colored sugar or icing, or simply make up some dough that you can bake and then paint and decorate later.
 
Children young and old can get involved in the ornament making fun.  Get out those crayons, paints, colored construction paper, and glue and put them to work! You could incorporate your favorite Christmas wrap and ribbon as well.  Have children date each ornament they make, so you'll all be able to enjoy it for years after.  You might have so much fun doing this that you might want to have an annual Christmas tree ornament making day each holiday season before it's time to decorate your tree. 

And don't be afraid to use things that are just lying around your house that you'd probably otherwise toss or leave in the bottom of the junk drawer.  Old earrings and jewelry, feathers, felt, colorful pencil erasers, canceled stamps, and fish aquarium marbles and rocks can all find new life as part of your decorated or homemade ornaments.

You're only limited by your own creativity, so toss around some ideas with your family members and get to work!

Admit it. One of your favorite parts of the holidays is all the sweet treats!  They're available at your office, at your child's holiday school party, and at the open houses and parties your neighbors and friends are hosting.  Yet baking can consume a great chunk of your time if you're trying to make a host of goodies for your family and friends to sample.  Invite your friends and family members that love baking these sweet treats to bring a goody or two with them and come to your Christmas goody exchange!

During the party, everyone shares in one another's treats. This gives everyone the desirable variety, and yet only requires baking one or two treats at the most. Have everyone bring a little extra for the party table, and you'll have quick and simple refreshments for your party.

Ask each guest to bring either a dozen or half dozen cookies or treats for each attendee, plus a dozen for the party. Be sure to have plastic wrap, storage bags or portable plastic containers available for those guests who didn't bring something to take home their goodies.. The goodies will maintain their freshness and flavor best if they're stored separate from the other goodies and cookies. Ask your guests to provide enough copies of their recipes to share with others. You might even want to supply decorative gift bags with handles for guests to place their bagged treats in once it is time to leave for easy transport.

Spread out a decorative holiday tablecloth on a large table, and put out a big serving platter or basket for each guest to place their treats.  Then place a larger tray in the middle of your table; this will be for the treats that will be enjoyed during the party.  If you haven't finished your Christmas decorating by the day of your party, be sure the room where you'll be hosting the party is festively decorated.  Be sure to play Christmas music to get everyone in the holiday spirit.  Since most people are doing their shopping, decorating or other holiday activities later in the day, mornings are a great time to host an exchange party.  This is a great time to exchange ideas for affordable gifts, homemade gifts that are simple to make, ideas for homemade Christmas decorations and the different holiday traditions in your family.  Be sure to serve hot mulled cider or egg nog as beverages, along with coffee, tea, juices and milk.  Cookie and goody exchanges also coordinate nicely with choir practices or play rehearsals for Christmas or church pageants, something to keep in mind once the holidays roll around and your church or school begins to plan for the holiday season.  It would also be a great way for your family, friends or co-workers to exchange food gifts, even though you might have all previously agreed not to exchange store-bought gifts.  

So get out your address book, invite a few friends over, and get ready to enjoy all those delicious holiday treats with one another!

The holidays are a natural time for gathering with friends and family to celebrate the season.  Set a shining example of the perfectly set table and decorated home by following a few of these simple tips. 

The first thing you'll want to do is to choose a favorite color scheme or theme for the party.  If you're on a snug budget, take inventory of what you've already got to decorate with, and go from there.  Once you've decided on a theme, finding and making more decorations will be simple. 

Many people love to display the Christmas cards they've received in the mail for the holidays, so try to plan ahead to make sure your party invitation is attractive and ties into your theme or color scheme.  Christmas wrap, ribbons, stickers, glitter, and the like all work great to decorate your invitations as well as your gifts. 

A great place to make a strong first impression on your guests is right at your front door. Turn it into a huge Christmas gift and wrap it with decorative paper, use a huge bow, and accent it with a wreath or swag.  Luminarias work great for softly lighting your driveway or walkway.  You can even cut festive designs into the sides of each bag that tie into your theme. Take special care to ensure the bags are adequately weighted and provide enough sand to stabilize the votive.  

Candles work great as centerpieces.  Use candlestick holders and surround the base with a small flower arrangement.  Accentuate the area around the centerpiece with either glitter or sequins that can be sprinkled around easily. 

Be sure to have a wide variety of Christmas music to play.  If your evening is more intimate, stick to the easier listening music.  If your theme is a bit more energetic, be sure to complement that with snappy tunes. If possible, think about placing a stereo speaker outside so your guests can hear your selected Christmas as they are arriving to help set them in the right mood as soon as possible. 

Be sure to carry your theme over to your table or buffet.  Sprinkle glitter around the table, but be sure it doesn't end up on plates or serving platters.  Your food can even be decorative with a little thought.  Something as simple as red spaghetti sauce and a nice green salad mix ties in nicely with Christmas colors.

Consider a small gift at each table setting for your guests.  Tree ornaments work nicely as they can be simple to decorate, and can double as place cards. 

Have a simple holiday decoration in every room that your guests will enter. They'll remember they left their coats and handbags in the room with the pretty wreath, or that the restroom is the door down the hall with the candles and flowers on the counter. If guests must walk down a hallway, do the best you can to make it look warm, festive and inviting. 

You're only limited by your own creativity when it comes to planning the perfect party.  Look around when you're out shopping or visiting a friend.  You'll be surprised where you gain inspiration and gather ideas.

Decorating the outside of your home for the holidays can turn into an expensive venture if you're not careful.  But it doesn't have to be.  A popular and simple way to bring a warm glow to the outside of your home during the holidays is to decorate using luminarias along the pathways, sidewalks and driveway of your home.

A luminaria is a votive candle set inside a small decorative paper bag weighted with sand. The bags are usually colored and often perforated with designs through which the candle inside shows as bright pinpricks of light. The custom of luminarias comes from Mexico and was practiced in New Mexico for many years before spreading throughout the United States. It derives from a similar holiday custom of the Pueblo peoples in New Mexico. On Christmas Eve they build a bonfire, called a luminaria, outside each house.

Take a look around your home and decide where you want your luminarias to be located.  Measure the length of that pathway or sidewalk, and then double it as you'll want both sides of the path to be lit.  Calculate how many luminaria bags you'll need.  Plan on placing them approximately nine inches to two feet apart; the closer together you place them, the more bags and votive candles you'll need and the more light they'll produce.

You can purchase red and green lunch-sized bags if you'd like, or you can use brown lunch bags.  The regular brown lunch bags are a bit more transparent and will allow a bit more light to shine through. 

If you're feeling creative, you can stencil a design on the side of each of them that faces the pathway, and cut them out.  Angels and stars are popular and actually quite simple to design.  .  Stencils are available at crafts stores or in the school and office supply aisle of discount stores. You might also find something in your home that you can trace and make a pattern from.

Purchase enough sand to put about two cups per bag.   You might want to consider purchasing candle votives in short glass candle holders so the flame is contained.  It's important to keep safety your top priority when using luminarias to decorate with.  Make sure you set the candle down deep enough in the sand that it is secure. They work best in dryer climates, which makes it imperative that you keep a close eye on them and make sure they don't tip over and are kept away from debris that can easily catch fire.  Don't use them on breezy nights, and if the snow or rain starts to fall, try to get them inside as soon as possible so they aren't ruined.

Luminarias add a nice, soft glow to the outdoor area of your home and give it warmth.  They're a wonderful touch for a Christmas open house or party, and are inexpensive and easy to make.  If you choose to use the colored bags and cut stencils into the sides, they also light up the indoor areas of your home nicely.  Just make sure they're placed in areas where small, curious hands or animals can't accidentally knock them over.  You can purchase scented votive candles such as cinnamon or sugar cookie, which would add another dimension to your holiday decorating scheme. 

It's so easy to get caught up in the preparations for the holidays.  Shopping, baking, cooking, wrapping, cleaning, and chauffeuring the kids everywhere they need to go.  As you make your list of things to do, be sure to include some fun activities that include your friends, family members, co-workers and neighbors.  After all, fellowship and companionship is a big part of the holiday season, so make sure you spend some quality fun time with those who mean the most to you. 

Christmas caroling is a fun way to not only include people you already know, but a great way to break the ice and meet new neighbors and people.  Print up some lyrics, grab a portable stereo with Christmas music, and tour your neighborhood singing Christmas carols.  It doesn't matter that you're not the best singer.  People of all ages will enjoy this old tradition carried into the modern holiday season.  If you don't feel comfortable caroling in neighborhoods or at houses you're unfamiliar with, consider having a mobile caroling bus that goes to the homes of those you know to carol.  Take a bucket of candy canes or Christmas candy to pass out to the homeowner as you leave. You might also consider caroling on behalf of a favorite charitable organization.  Construct a secure donation bucket or box that clearly shows the name and address of the organization you're helping.  Some people might not be comfortable donating to you personally, and that's okay.  Hand them some preprinted slips of paper with the organization's name, address and phone number along with a short statement on what they do, and encourage them to donate directly. 

Ice skating is another great activity to do with friends and family.  Not only does it promote getting some exercise, but it's a great way to spend time outside enjoying the crispness of the winter air if you live in the right climate.  If you don't, most towns have local skating rinks.  Check their schedule in advance and send out invitations to several family members or friends and make an afternoon of it.

Consider encouraging your friends and family join you on a volunteer excursion to help out at a local nursing home or homeless shelter this holiday season.  You can sing Christmas carols with the nursing home residents, or help dish out hot bowls of soup and pass out blankets for those in need.  If you know of a family in need this holiday season, perhaps your friends and family could put together a holiday gift basket and fill a laundry basket full of food, baked goods, and small Christmas treats and gifts for the children of the family.  It's a great way to teach children the importance of giving back to their community and helping those that are less fortunate then themselves. 

Remember the reason for the season, and spend some time with your friends and family, and maybe even help out others in the process.  Have a great holiday!