Top 20 holiday cost savers for families

Are you looking forward to the holidays, but dreading the high price tag that comes along with cooking, entertaining, decorating and buying gifts? We've got you covered with our top 20 cost savers to help you and your kiddies celebrate the holidays -- all while sticking to your budget.

Between your quest to find kid-friendly gifts that won't break the bank to whipping up sumptuous entrees that will make everyone's mouth water to entertaining the kids while they're on a holiday hiatus from school, you're feeling extremely overwhelmed! Take a deep breath and follow our no-stress tips on how to save money during the holiday season while still having fun.

According to Stop & Shop consumer advisor, Andrea Astrachan, the key to saving money on holiday meals is to plan ahead. This means to check the inventory of food you have in your refrigerator, freezer and pantry before finalizing your shopping list. With a list in your hand, you'll not only save money by buying less on impulse, but you'll also avoid last minute trips to the store for missing ingredients.

No matter how rushed you are, before you go on your shopping expedition you must eat something! According to Lisa Beels and Christine Naylor, classically trained chefs and founders of Petite Palate, having something in your belly prevents impulse hunger buys that can bulk up your bill. So grab a piece of fruit, a granola bar or another healthy snack to fill you up before you head to the grocery store.

Clipping coupons is no longer solely the domain of polyester-wearing, middle-aged housewives. In fact, take a quick look next time you're shopping and you'll see many other like-minded moms breaking out their coupon stash! You can clip coupons from magazines, Sunday newspaper inserts or coupon sites like Coupon Sherpa, which provides access to thousands of online store coupons and discount codes. And what's great is that with the Coupon Sherpa app , you don't ever need to clip. You can just show the digital coupons on your smartphone at the register.

Sure, your kids would rather have Toucan Sam's mug on their box of Fruit Loops as opposed to some copycat no-name brand cereal. In this economy, however, they're just going to have to pour their milk on it and eat it! Don't worry: Most no-frills brand items are comparable in quality to their more expensive branded counterparts.

When planning your holiday feast, purchase staple items in bulk. The best case scenario: You'll have plenty of food to satisfy those growing teenagers and visiting relatives. Worst case: You'll freeze the leftovers and have dinners ready to go for the next two months!

Declare a potluck holiday feast and assign each family member a side dish or dessert. They'll feel good about being able to contribute in some small way, and it will help you shave off the overall cost of the meal -- especially since other than cooking the basics like turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes, you would've made a beeline for the deli counter or bakery for those extras.

Head to Freecycle.org, a free classified system, where you can find people in your area offering free goods -- from electronics to new clothes to toys. The only catch: You'll have to quickly respond to the product of your choice and pick it up.

Although it doesn't sound all that exciting, the truth is that you can often buy the same present for your child a week after the holidays at a big discount. If you can manage to tide them over with an IOU , you'll save a load of cash on your gifts. And with the extra cash, you might even be able to get yourself a little something too!

Forget the expensive gift bags and wrapping paper of years gone by. This year, breathe new life into your old newspaper and magazines and let your kids cut and paste their favorite images together to create themed gift wrap! If your daughter loves fashion, let her leaf through some old issues of Vogue and wrap her presents with pictures of models dressed to the nines. Remember it's all about saving and using what you have!

The old saying that kids can be happy playing with a cardboard box is true. Put together a snowman kit with a hat, carrot stick, buttons and a tie. Wrap it in a pillowcase and tie a ribbon around it! Go through your jewelry box and wrap up a pair of earrings or a necklace you haven't worn that you know your daughter has been eyeing! Use your skills to create gifts for your family -- whether from cooking, knitting or woodworking.

Next up: How to save on holiday decorations >>

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Forget the expensive Swarovski crystal centerpiece! Take your kids on a scavenger hunt right in your own backyard or the local park for some pinecones, evergreens, colorful leaves and shiny rocks to create a holiday centerpiece you will all be proud of!

Instead of holding your breath while your kids sip grape juice over an antique white linen table cloth, get a roll of brown craft paper or white butcher paper, which costs less than 5 cents a foot. Set a few bowls full of crayons on each table and let all the kids doodle and draw during and in between courses.

Who needs Pottery Barn for high-end decorations? Check out thrift stores, garage sales and Craigslist to get everything from Christmas wreaths to placemats and stockings to ornaments. By shopping used, you can get holiday decorations and home accessories for pennies on the dollar.

Get together with other families for a holiday decoration and ornament swap. Bring all the items that you want to trade or give away. Whatever doesn't get swapped at the end of the night can be donated to a local charity. A swap is a great way to get together with friends and neighbors while you also revamp your holiday decor without spending a dime.

Author Helen Coronato of Eco-Friendly Families suggests decorating a tree living in your yard instead of buying a cut tree to save money and add a little bit of green to your holiday routine.