BANGALORE: What do you first imagine when you think of Diwali? Spending time with family at home? Bursting crackers with your siblings? Visiting your extended relatives? or maybe a big fat family dinner? The bright and sparkling season of festivity that is most predominant in our country may spell doom for you rather than delight! Familiar?

Probably because you are spending way too much on gifts and other items during the festive period try to give more and spend less. Let’s see how you can spend less this diwali:

1. Prepare a Diwali List now

Lists are a great help during Diwali. List out all your possible expenses from new furnishings, clothes, Diwali decorations and crackers, sweets and of course the 'baksheesh'. Yes, everyone from your building watchman, to the postman whom you barely see once in a year, will turn up at your doorstep. Budgeting for all of these things in advance will help you in spending within your limits.

2. Go Green and Go eco

Bursting crackers is synonymous with the festival of lights. However, a more environment as well we pocket friendly approach would be to avoid buying as well as bursting crackers during this festival. There are myriad other ways to celebrate, by the way!

3. Make Diwali Sweets at Home

Ok, so your wife or partner may not necessarily ‘Ok’ this idea, but there is no harm in suggesting it, nevertheless. Make something simple, not elaborate. Homemade sweets are always more welcome to guests rather than the ones from the market.

Diwali is synonymous with sweets, but with such a lot of food adulteration around, you can never be too sure. So instead of buying big boxes of Mithai for friends and family, try making some sweets at home. The simple delicacies you can whip up at home will not only be far more relished but will save a substantial amount of money. The bonus is of course the praise you will gather from your loved ones.

4. Office Diwali Party

If you are the employer and habitually throw an office Diwali party, think of options to cut down the expenses there. Why not host the part in the office premises? This will help saveo do a potluck. Not only will that be fun and help in team-building, it will help you save cost on getting food from outside, too.

There are numerous ways in which you can not only spend less during the festive season, but also do much more! Enjoy the festivities!

5. Clever Makeovers for Your Home

Before you go the whole hog with the repainting and refurnishing of your home, ask yourself how much of it is really required. Try out innovative solutions such as using wall decals, changing the arrangement of your furniture or changing just the cushion covers and rugs. Not only will you give your home a facelift, you could do it all at a third of the cost you had in mind.