Hacks to avoid overlooked holiday expenses

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Hacks to avoid overlooked holiday expenses

Men still drink more than women, but the gap is narrowing, a new study suggests. (Thinkstock) — **Hostess gifts** It鈥檚 typical for many holiday partygoers to grab a last-minute gift for the hostess, but Woroch says a little bit of planning can take the burden off your budget. Grabbing chocolates or wine from the local store can add up, she says.聽Instead, she says going to a warehouse store at the beginning of the season to get a bulk purchase of chocolates and discount wines can help with costs. (Thinkstock)

Family toasting at Christmas — **Party attire** Don鈥檛 buy a new outfit for all parties that pop up around the holidays 鈥� recycling a few staple outfits is a better option. For women, a simple black dress paired with different accessories for each party can help you look appropriate聽without spending too much. Also, cheaper clothing options can be found at consignment stores or online versions such as , Woroch says. (Thinkstock)

Children with Christmas presents behind backs — **鈥淲hite elephant鈥� gift exchanges** You may not want to spend a lot of money on gift exchanges or 鈥渨hite elephant鈥� gifts, so Woroch says thrift stores and garage sales can be great places to find items. Also, regifting is acceptable in times like these. 鈥淢aybe it鈥檚 old holiday d茅cor you no longer use, those are the types of items you can give at those exchanges,鈥� she says. (Thinkstock)

Gift boxes and wrapping paper rolls — **Wrapping presents** The cost of gift wrap can add up 鈥� it can add another $5 or $10 when it鈥檚 all said and done, she says. Instead, the Dollar Store can be an excellent option for cheap gifts cards, bags and bows. Get wrapping material in solid colors so if you don鈥檛 use it during the holidays, it can be utilized year round. Also, consider alternative and creative ways to wrap gifts such as with old circulars or newspaper, Woroch recommends. (Thinkstock)

According to a Washington Post poll, more parents are scaling back on work to take care of their children. (Thinkstock) — **Child care** Shopping with the kids can be tough, so more child care can come in handy around the holidays. However, mounting child-care costs can put a dent in your wallet. Woroch recommends getting together with neighbors to develop a type of co-op for baby-sitting. Also, websites such as and offer quality care at a better rate. (Thinkstock)

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WASHINGTON 鈥� The holidays can get costly and unexpected expenses can make you feel like a Grinch, but there are hacks to make sure your bank account isn鈥檛 drained by the time you鈥檝e opened all of the presents.

Andrea Woroch, a consumer and money-saving expert, shared some tips to anticipate some of the overlooked holiday expenses that can bust your budget.

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April 23, 2026 | Ways to avoid overlooked holiday budget expenses (Andrea Woroch, consumer and money-saving expert)

Sarah Beth Hensley

Sarah Beth Hensley is the Digital News Director at 海角精品黑料. She has worked several different roles since she began with 海角精品黑料 in 2013 and has contributed to award-winning stories and coverage on the website.