Family get-togethers, parties, gifts, far too many
expectations from young and old…when you don’t have a big budget, what can you
do? Well, with planning and creativity, a little money can go further and do
more. Find some great ideas on how to save money this December in books at your
local library.
Need to host a party?
Diane Warner’s Great Parties on Small
Budgets can help you make cost-saving choices for parties for all ages.
This book has fun and affordable ways to pull it off on a small budget,
including everything from the invitations, to the decorations, entertainment,
and party menu. It includes party plans and tasty yet affordable recipes for
beverages, snacks, appetizers, adult fare, and children’s party foods.
You’ll need to cook. There are lots of cookbooks at your
library, but some of them have you in mind instead of just the ingredients.
Canadian Living’s The
Affordable Feasts Collection: Budget-Friendly Family Meals is a cookbook
that helps home cooks stretch their grocery budget without sacrificing flavour
or quality. Recipes are family-focused, with options for both day-to-day
dinners and special occasion meals.
The
Frugal Foodie Cookbook : Waste-not Recipes for the Wise Cook by Lara Starr
features recipes like “Exponential Chicken” that stretches the bird over five
different courses! With hundreds of dishes and expert advice, this cookbook
helps readers live well and eat better. Just thinking about the food prep takes
up a lot of time and energy. 
But there are other fun things to do in the month of December.
Decorating can be ridiculously costly or homemade and meaningful. Fun Christmas Crafts to Make and Bake:
Over 60 Festive Projects to Make with Your Kids by Anni Rigg and Craft It Up : Christmas Around the World :
35 Fun Craft Projects Inspired by Traveling Adventures by Libby Abadee are
two books on fun and beautiful crafts that will involve all members of your
family, teach new skills and promote learning about other cultures. 
And lastly, you will feel the pressure to give. Gourmet Gifts: 100 Delicious Recipes for
Every Occasion to Make Yourself and Wrap with Style by Dinah Corley is a
book that can help. No need to brave the malls when you can make unique and
valued gifts in your kitchen at low cost! The recipes range from simple to
sophisticated, including chapters on Small Tokens, Big Batches, and Penny Wise
for budget gifts, as well as level of difficulty and prep time.
May this December be a season of peace for you and yours.
Laura Bilyea, Librarian, Mississauga Library System
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