Saving Money

'Tis the season where visions of sugarplums dancing intertwine with the craving for your grandma's freshly baked apple pie. With the holidays fast approaching and the travel industry still reeling from economic woes, U.S. consumers are feeling the financial pinch.

There have been a slew of reports indicating that between new travel fees and increased ticket prices, the cost for holiday travel is nearly double that of holiday seasons in the past.

Traditionally, the holiday season is a financial boon for the airlines as annually the pilgrimage to visit friends and family occurs across the nation. Statistically speaking, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the heaviest travel day of the year. Only around 5 - 6 % of holiday trips are by air with the remaining bulk of travelers navigating the roadways.

Regardless of your holiday plans, there are some simple ways to save some cash in the process. If you plan on driving, you can find a carpool buddy via Craigslist.com to share some of the expenses and always drive the speed limit to avoid burning excess fuel.

However, some distances are just too long to drive. So if you plan on making a trip:

• Buy your tickets early: Everyday the prices are going up and with many airlines cutting down on their number of flights, chances are there will be very limited deals on last minute travel
• Travel on the day of celebration: It may bum you out not to partake in your families morning traditions the day of the big feast, but the money you can save will certainly cheer you up. Claire, a Los Angeles resident, recently saved a whopping $300 on her airfare to Montana by deciding to catch an early flight Thanksgiving morning instead of flying in the day before.
• Travel Off Peak: Airports are swarmed with travelers the day before the big festivities. By avoiding the peak travel days and flying in a couple days earlier or leaving a few days later can save you both money and transportation stress.
• Comparison Shop: Online shopping makes bargain hunting easy. Travel sites such as Kayak.com, TravelZoo.com and Farecompare.com are all portals specializing in travel bargains. Using them will save you cash.

Despite all these tips, if you find that there is no way to fit holiday travel into this years budget, video conferencing is the next best thing to being there. By buying video cameras (or using the ones already built into your computers) for all involved parties and plugging in, you can break bread, have a chat and feel like part of the celebration, even if you are miles away from home.

With unemployment rates at record highs and money not growing on trees, celebrating the holidays on a budget is the goal of most Americans.

One of the biggest expenses of holiday celebrations is the cost of food. Generally, the turkey is the biggest expense of the meal. However by making some swaps here and there you and yours can still enjoy the holidays on a limited budget.

If the bird is the guest of honor during your holiday feast, then budget accordingly. Wal-Mart is offering 12 pound gobblers for $5 (40 cents a pound).

That price may fluctuate based on where you buy your bird and the special characteristics it may have. (Kosher, free range, organic, etc.) the price could exceed $5 a pound. Buying your turkey directly from a supermarket and not a gourmet store will get you the best value. Some other holiday shopping tips include:

Buy Seasonal Produce

Asparagus is tasty, but its peak season is spring and the current pricing reflects that. Brussels sprouts peak season is November making the veggie much more affordable.

Cost: Asparagus $4.99 per pound vs. Brussels sprouts $1.99 per pound

Fresh Mashed Potatoes

Instant mashed potatoes may seem like a great time saver but for nearly $3 a box, it is not worth it. Take the time to make it fresh and by keeping your eye on the grocery circulars by the time you start shopping for your feast, you are more then likely to score a 5-pound bag for a steal.

Cost: Instant mashed potatoes (16 oz) $3 vs. of fresh mashed potatoes (16 oz) $1 ( potatoes, milk, butter, salt)

DIY Crust

No thanksgiving is complete without a delicious pie for dessert. Whether you want pumpkin, apple or berry pie, crust can be easily and affordably made out of pantry staples (flour, butter, sugar and water).

Cost: Ready made pie crust $3-$6 vs. freshly made dough 75 cents (enough for two shells or a top and bottom)

When it comes to budgeting for a tasty holiday feast:

• Properly count the number of attendees to your feast, add one more (just in case) and multiply it by how much you would like to spend per person. So ten guests times $10 gives you a $100 budget. Then stick to it.
• Write out your menu plan and shop your cupboards first. You may have already stowed away some canned corn or pumpkin during last years season
• Clip coupons and watch. Competition for consumer dollars is fierce and the closer to the holiday you get, the more bargains you can find
• Take advantage of your guests offers to bring something. Nearly everyone has a family favorite they would be more then willing to bring to your feast. Go ahead and ask as the more the merrier, especially when it comes to good eating.

There is nothing like celebrating the holidays with friends and family. When it comes down to it, it is the conversation, act of celebration and general merriment that makes this time of year most memorable.

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