When your family and friends ask you about gifts this year, no need to explain the extra details of your cash flow -- or the lack thereof. Instead, let them

know you're focusing more on the real meaning of Christmas, you know, togetherness, love, and all that jazz. Then slide in a hug for good measure if they really need

feel like they've received something from you!

Take a tip from Great British Bake Off star, Mary Berry, and just slip them a simple IOU. Now, Mary's family does this so they can take their time, after

the busy holiday season, and really search for thoughtful gifts -- we say, thanks for the excuse, Mary! No need to explain your brokeness to the entire congregation. And you

can even decorate the IOU for a personal touch! Ha! 

Now, fam this one requires a little sacrifice of your time, but for a great cause! The angle here is you were too busy giving to a good cause to

stop and buy gifts. Who would argue with that? To sell this, you will actually have to volunteer -- don't cut corners here -- and take plenty of pictures, you

know, for evidence. 

We all have family and friends constantly asking us for favors. You know that attic your moms been begging you to come over and clean, or that computer your aunt

needs you to set up -- set aside some time and give the gift of your assistance. You can even get creative and write the task into a cute holiday

card or email if that's your thing. You would've ended up doing these things anyway, you know it. It's simple and best of all, it's FREE .99!

If you feel the need to or are pressured into giving some sort of gift and have any sort of basic reading ability, you can bake! Whether you choose a

basic store bought cupcake mix or cookies, fam it is super inexpensive. Hunt down your local dollar or 99 cent store and HAVE NO SHAME! Cake mixes, frosting, cookie mix

and even the pans to cook this all in, can usually be found. Take some time, search around. A $10 bill can make enough cupcakes, muffins, or cookies to spread

a little Christmas cheer to everyone! #JustDon'tBurnDownTheHouse

Now hear us out, we know how bad this may sound but let's lay out the facts. You're broke. You don't want to admit to said brokeness. Your family is

expecting you to show up with gifts in hand. The benefit to faking sick is A) you can make other plans for once B) No decent human is going to

be upset the sick person didn't get out of bed to go Christmas shopping. Fam this is a smooth out, unless you live with said family then check out the

other 9 options. This is also PERFECT for getting out of the office Christmas party!

Listen, we know working is the last thing you want to be doing over the holidays! But this is a great ideas because A) you need the extra money anyways

and B) your angle even IF you take Christmas off is that with the extra work load lately, you had no time to shop. 

Hey, we know this is a reach, but maybe decide to take some time and see what some other religions are about. This "experimentation" buys you some time, considering Christmas

is Christian, you can say you aren't observing so you can be true to the experiment! We said it was a reach but hey, desperate times.

Sometimes there's no point in fighting it, your family and friends may see through your excuses anyway so if all else fails, just be real. Tell them the truth, you're

not giving gifts this year because you aren't going to make your debt worse buying gifts with money you don't have! Stand your ground. And if they STILL have the

nerve to want gifts -- check out our section on the IOU!

Embrace your heritage and celebrate your African culture this holiday season! Kwanzaa is a celebration of tradition and values, and it starts the day AFTER Christmas. This buys you some

time on the gift giving front, but we suggest you also brush up on your Shahili and the core principles if you go this route.