15. Shop for weddings at Christmas. Even if your big day is a year away, holidays are a great time to get a deal on bridal gowns and bridesmaids' dresses. "This is the slowest time of the year for bridal apparel shops," says Fields, who also co-authored "Bridal Bargains: Secrets to Throwing a Fantastic Wedding on a Realistic Budget." "No one goes shopping for wedding dresses in November or December."
16. Get married during the holidays. Shopping for a wedding date? December offers some pluses in the budget department. "Most churches are already decorated for Christmas, which means you get to save a lot on flowers," says Fields, who estimates that couples can cut at least $500 from their budgets by planning Yuletide nuptials. The downside is that because of holiday parties, many caterers, bands and DJs are booked for the season, which means it's not a great time to plan a huge event. But if you have your heart set on an intimate gathering, you can have the wedding of your dreams and a nice nest egg to start your new life together.
17. Take a vacation. Resorts and cruise ships are hurting for business, says Edward Hasbrouck, author of "The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World," which makes this a great time for a luxury getaway. "They've paid for the hotel (rooms), and that's a cost they're stuck with," says Hasbrouck. "Similarly, cruise lines are in particularly bad shape."
"If you want to get away, you will see all kinds of hotels offering truly unprecedented bargains," says Hasbrouck. "For not much, if anything, more than Motel 6 prices, you can have a much nicer hotel. This will make it quite tempting to get away over the holidays."
But shop around. The same room at the same hotel can fetch vastly different prices depending on how it is booked. Look up the hotel online, through a broker and through the hotel chain's website; chances are the prices will be different, and you might need the special codes listed on those sites to get the deal, according to Howard.
"What I like for people to do with hotels is try various online search sites, then call the hotel directly and call central reservations," says Howard. "No matter what price is quoted, act shocked. Say, 'Don't you have anything better than that?'" Just like hotels, rental car companies are hurting for business and offering some good deals -- daily rates for less than $20, according to Howard -- so do your homework.
18. Remember the reason for the season. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, keeping the holiday's spiritual message front and center is a good antidote to the holiday gimmies. "Instead of spending weekends leading up to Christmas in the mall, it would be a lot better gift to spend your time with your family," says Howard.