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Something about fall makes me want to make things. I start thinking about putting up garden produce, knitting winter hats and making Christmas gifts. Then Thanksgiving and Christmas get closer, and those ideas have to fit alongside the grocery list, the decorating and everything else that needs doing.
When money is tight, the holidays can make even familiar plans feel expensive. I spoke with Katie Cullum, White County Cooperative Extension Service agent for family and consumer science, about making do without turning the season into another project we can’t afford. Her advice starts with something much more manageable than learning a new craft or cooking an elaborate meal: plan ahead and look at what’s already in the house.
Start With the Holiday Meal
Grocery budgets are already stretched thin, but with a few back-to-back holidays, even the best-laid plans can feel daunting. Before making the grocery list, Cullum suggests deciding how many people are coming and what you actually want to serve. A dish doesn’t have to stay on the menu just because it’s always been there. In her own family, her in-laws stopped making dressing when they realized only a few people were eating it and served something more people enjoyed. Changes like that free up budget space for what your family actually looks forward to. If pecan pie is a favorite you make only once a year, the nuts may be worth the expense, especially if you skip a side dish that often goes untouched.
Once the menu is settled, check the pantry, refrigerator and freezer before shopping. Cullum points out how easy it is to buy pumpkin for Thanksgiving without realizing you already have two cans at home. Also, check the cupboard for spice blends. A recipe may call for pumpkin pie spice, but you might already have the individual spices on hand to make a blend yourself.
Take that finished list to the store and think twice before adding extras to the cart. A holiday display can make an unplanned purchase seem like a necessary part of the celebration. Knowing what you came for makes it easier to decide to move past things that don’t fit within your budget.
Plan for the food after the meal, too. Cullum suggests thinking about how you’ll use leftovers or freeze what you won’t eat soon. You may find cooking a turkey breast is more economical than cooking the whole bird. Buying and cooking less of a dish can save both the cost of the ingredients and the work of finding something to do with it afterward.
Decorate With What You Have
The same approach works when the decoration boxes come out. Before buying another centerpiece or a new set of ornaments, unpack what you already own. A tablecloth with a loose hem may need a little mending before it goes back on the table, rather than a replacement.
Decorating supplies may be outside, too. In Forage Christmas Decor from the Arkansas Woods, I shared ideas for using natural materials in holiday decorating. Combining a few gathered materials with decorations you already have gives you something to work with before you head to the store.
Christmas lights can make the repair-or-replace decision a little more frustrating. Cullum and I talked about taking down a tree and discovering that part of its lighting no longer works. Before replacing the whole tree, check the manufacturer’s instructions for troubleshooting and replacing bulbs. Unplug lights before working on them and replace damaged strands with frayed wires or broken sockets.
If the tree itself is still usable, a separate, sound strand of lights may get you through this season. Cullum suggests considering whether a replacement can wait until after Christmas, when you can look for a sale. That gives you time to decide what you want and plan for next year instead of making an expensive purchase in the middle of decorating.
That’s useful beyond the tree. A decoration you’d really like to have can go on a list for later. You can still enjoy this year’s holidays while deciding whether to budget for it next season.
Make gifts that fit your skills and supplies
Homemade gifts appeal to my crafty side, but Cullum reminds us to consider what we already know how to do and what supplies we have. Yarn, fabric, jars and pretty packaging all cost money. A project that uses your stash is a different proposition from one that requires a shopping trip for every part.
If you knit, crochet or sew, start by looking through those supplies. A hat, a small sewn gift or a fabric cover for a jar can put leftover materials to use. Friends who craft may be interested in exchanging supplies, especially if each of you has something the other can use.
Cullum has taught a Christmas canning class in which participants made cherry jam and apple butter. Preserved foods can make useful gifts, but they’re also a reason to learn the process before getting started. Extension’s food preservation resources and classes can help you choose a tested recipe and the appropriate equipment and method.
Baked goods are another option. Cullum recommends making them close to the time you’ll give them or freezing suitable items ahead. Include clear directions about refrigeration, freezing or serving, depending on the food, and keep hands, utensils and work surfaces clean.
For a simpler project, she suggests dry soup mixes in jars or a simmering blend made with ingredients such as dried citrus and cinnamon sticks. Include preparation or use instructions so the recipient knows what you’ve given them. Keep the packaging simple, too, so the bags, ribbons and labels don’t become the most expensive part of the gift.
How to Get Started
You don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Arkansas’s Cooperative Extension Service has an office in all 75 counties, with resources for meal planning, food safety, budgeting and learning practical skills.
Cullum encourages people to call or email their local office with questions. She can often arrange individual help, and county offices offer classes year-round. Some are free; others have a fee to cover supplies. Your office can also connect you with Extension Homemakers groups, where members share skills and make items for community needs.
Check your county’s website and social pages for upcoming opportunities or call to ask about something you’d like to learn. You can get help with this year’s holiday budget while finding a class that interests you for later.
I still want to make things, but I can start by checking what’s in the pantry and pulling out the supplies I already own. A little planning leaves room for the food, decorations and gifts I enjoy without feeling like I need to do everything.
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