photo by tinywhitelights

This holiday season, many families are avoiding advertising and consumerism and are opting for a simpler celebration. Some call it an old-fashioned or homespun holiday, but the common thread is the desire to set reasonable expectations and budgets, and get back to basics.
The following are frugal holiday strategies from readers.
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Bargain shoppers of all ages and incomes know that thrift stores have hidden treasures waiting to be discovered, such as surprise deals on home furnishings, books, antiques, clothing and electronics. Many items are new and make wonderful gifts. This makes them the perfect place for those looking out of necessity, savings, collecting or for fun.
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photo by tbisaacs

The holiday season is almost here. For some men, shopping for the women in their lives is a frustrating mystery. I’ve witnessed many men shopping around the holidays, and they appear not only clueless but downright desperate. In all fairness, some women have high expectations, so it’s understandable these men are completely stressed out from the pressure.
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photo by sensescape

Our lives are often filled with small frustrations, like peeling boiled eggs, getting the baked-on grease off bakeware and the cabinets that you’re afraid to open for fear items will launch an offensive. Help is here. The following are simple solutions to these issues and a few more pearls of wisdom.
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DEAR SARA: Have you tried Disc Doctor or similar Compact Disc/DVD repair kits, or do you have a frugal way to repair a fairly scratched disc? — Denise, Colorado
DEAR DENISE: I have tried repair kits and have had success with them, if the scratches are minor. Avoid using toothpaste, alcohol and ammonia because they can cause worse damage. Instead of buying a repair kit, call your local video store or game store and see whether they do repairs. They often offer a repair service that costs less than $5.
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