How to afford a great Christmas if money’s tight this year

Sign up for CNN’s Adulthood, But Better newsletter series. “You might not think about them as they’re scattered through the house,” Riker said, “but if you bring them all together — put them on your mantel or add them to the centerpiece of your coffee table — you can really make a beautiful layout.” That’s using creativity instead of money, said Jodie Kammerer and Julie Lancia, the creators of The Design Twins blog. With a bow or burlap tied around it, “it’s immediately a Christmas decoration.” Some of these stores also sell wreaths they have constructed out of clippings for only several dollars each. And “if you’re putting ribbon on a Christmas tree, you don’t need to have a whole spool to wrap around it,” Riker said. “Everybody doesn’t need a gift; everybody doesn’t want a gift,” said Judy Woodward Bates, “The Bargainomics Lady” behind her eponymous blog and author of “A Bargain to Die For.” “Don’t get all upset because you can’t afford to buy gifts for everybody, because the purpose of Christmas is just to let each other know how much you care about each other.” Those who want to keep up tradition can try the following for gift giving or alternatives: Send e-cards instead of print cards, or make homemade cards with materials you already have.