2013-11-09

Everyone knows the Santa picture hut at the mall. You wait in an absurdly long line, stick your kid on Santa’s lap, and pay $10-$20 for a 4×6 photo that you could’ve taken for free!

Not only is this way too expensive for a little picture, it doesn’t give your child a chance to talk to Santa. Instead of frequenting the mall Santa, look for local businesses that offer free pictures with Santa.

Not only do these businesses let you take free pictures with Santa, they are often much quieter and less busy than the mall. Your child can talk to Santa and tell him what s/he wants for Christmas. Not sure where to look? Start with banks, children’s toy and clothing stores, historical societies, and churches.

Snag 100 Days to Christmas: A Daily Dose of Inspiration & Motivation for a Busy Holiday Season. Grab an ebook that begins on September 16, and leads you day-by-day toward a peaceful and meaningful holiday season. Also included is a companion workbook containing 31 interactive lists from ListPlanIt.com for all of your holiday gift, card, party, and meal planning needs! eBook buyers will get a code for a FREE 60-Day trial to ListPlanIt.com!

View the whole 100 Days of Saving on Christmas here.

Day 1, Shop Groupon and Other Deal Sites

Day 2, Use FFD and Other Deal Blogs

Day 3, Use Kohls Coupons for Freebies

Day 4, Use Swagbucks

Day 5, Save Your Change Throughout the Year

Day 6, Recycle for Cash

Day 7, Sell Old Items on Ebay or Craigslist

Day 8, Have a Garage Sale

Day 9, Create an Etsy Store

Day 10, Eat at Home

Day 11, Buy From the Thrift Store and Save the Difference

Day 12,  Shop at Garage Sales for New Items

Day 13, Make Lunches to Take to Work

Day 14,Turn Your Thermostat Up or Down

Day 15, Shop the Dollar Store for Gifts

Day 16, Bake or Make Gifts

Day 17, Give Acts of Service

Day 18, Start a Family Tradition of Volunteering

Day 19, Stockpile Gifts Throughout the Year

Day 20, Make a Christmas Budget

Day 21, Drive Less During the Year

Day 22, Trade Babysitting with Friends

Day 23, Sign Up for Goldstar

Day 24, Sell Your Clothing to a Resale Store

Day 25, Sign up for Plink

Day 26, Try Ebay, Craigslist, and Local Facebook for Gifts

Day 27, Create Gift Baskets

Day 28, Trade Services

Day 29, Use Coupons at Restaurants

Day 30, Find a Work at Home Job

Day 31: Shop Garage Sales for Christmas Decorations

Day 32, Downsize Your Gift List

Day 33, Sell Your Service on Fivver

Day 34, Enter Blog Giveaways for Gifts

Day 35, Save Your Tax Refund for Christmas

Day 36, Get a Seasonal Job

Day 37, Use Discount Halloween Candy For Gifts and Baking

Day 38, Find Free Christmas Events

Day 39, Buy Gifts on Fivver

Day 40, Join Survey Panels for Extra Cash

Day 41, Wrap Gifts with Magazine or Comic Pages

Day 42, Buy Holiday Bonus Giftcards

Day 43, Sign up for Jingit

Day 44, Swap Christmas Decor with Friends

Day 45, Buy a Fake Tree to Re-use

Day 46, Host a Christmas Potluck

Day 47, Get Baking Supplies at Thanksgiving

Day 48, Do a Name Draw for Gifts

Day 49, Start a New Tradition in Lieu of Gifts

Day 50, Do a White Elephant Gift Exchange

Day 51, Get a Free Letter or Call from Santa

Day 52, Buy Decorations on Clearance

Day 53, Shop Online Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Day 54, Save Kids’ Christmas projects for Next Year’s Decor

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