SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) From getting your home ready for guests and finding the perfect gifts to preparing a delicious meal, the holidays can seem overwhelming and expensive – but they don’t have to be. Take the following steps to save time and money on seasonal essentials.

Prepping Your Home

To get your home ready for holiday hosting, begin by decluttering surface areas such as tables and kitchen counters. Next, take an inventory and purchase any additional cleaning supplies you’ll need for a deep clean. Remember, air care products like festive candles or sprays can freshen cleaned spaces. Next, decorate by sprinkling different holiday décor pieces in the rooms’ focal points. For example, add themed table settings in the dining room and wrap holiday garland around fixtures such as the fireplace mantle or staircase.

Making the Menu

Food is a unifying component of any holiday celebration. To get started, set a menu that consists of a variety of appetizers, light snacks, side dishes, entrees and desserts to accommodate guests’ cravings and preferences. Consider using healthier variations of the season’s comforting and tasty dishes with DG Better For You recipes, which include Potato Crusted Chicken and Green Bean Casserole. Before heading to the store, write your grocery list in advance and make a plan to purchase private brand products to stretch your budget further.

Gift Guide

Shopping for the perfect gift for everyone on your list can be easy when using DG’s holiday gift guide found at dollargeneral.com. Consider placing three self-care products such as soap, a face mask and a bath bomb into a decorative basket with tissue paper to shine on presentation. To have children of all ages jumping for joy, save on national toy brands at your local Dollar General such as Melissa & Doug, LEGO, Fisher-Price, Play Doh, Barbie, Pokémon, L.O.L. Surprise!, ZURU 5 Surprise and more.

For additional savings, use DG’s app for digital coupons and weekly ads with new sales and promotions.

By planning ahead, you can celebrate this season in style and within budget, giving you more time to create lasting memories with friends and family!

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