Is Your Holiday Spending Spiraling Out of Control?

At this time of year, I hear many of my friends and family complaining about how much money they are spending on decorations and gifts for the holiday season. Are you in the same boat? Is your holiday spending getting a little bit out of control? I read that the average American family spends between $1,000.00 - $4,000.00 during Christmas. That just seems like too much to me!

This year I wanted to find out how to save money during the holidays so that my own family doesn't go into debt over buying presents and putting up a tree. The number one thing that I am doing differently this year is shopping early, so that I am not paying for overnight shipping! Last year, I procrastinated to the point where every gift I purchased for family out of state had to be shipped overnight. It cost us a fortune!

This year, I am making a lot of homemade gifts. From cookies to dolls, I have found a long list of great ideas online to make gifts for many of the people on my list. Don't forget that people love food! You wouldn't believe the reaction I've gotten to a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies! I have set aside time to actually complete these tasks and I hope that people appreciate the effort.

Are any of you sending out homemade gifts this year, too? What ideas have you come up with to save money this holiday season? Post a comment to let us know!

And don't forget that PhoneHog is another way you can save lots of money during the holidays while you keep in touch with family and friends. Sign up today!