Gift Ideas When Short On Cash

BOSTON (CBS) - Christmas is 18 days away. And Hanukkah starts today!

If money is tight at your house you may be thinking gift giving is not going to happen.

Now we all want the holidays to be wonderful especially if we have kids. If money is tight, what can you do?

There are resources out there that will provide toys and presents for your kids. But you will have to ask. Our local food pantry, Loaves and Fishes, makes sure the kids and their parents have something to put under their tree.

Where can you find some extra cash this week? I started with our loose coin crock. Last year I found $64, not that much this year. To save more of that change get some coin wrappers and wrap them yourself and take them to the bank.

What gift cards do you have that have not been used. You can sell the gift cards or use them to buy gifts. If you have a restaurant card use it to take a friend out to lunch or dinner as a Christmas treat.

Cash in your frequent flyer miles or your credit card points. What can you get with them? You can convert your points into gift cards to such places like Panera Bread or Chili's as well as the Gap or Macy's or get a prepaid credit card.

So what have you got to sell? Try Craig's list. You can shop there for Christmas gifts but you can sell your stuff there also. And often times you can sell something quickly and have the cash in your hand immediately. What do you have that you have wanted to get rid of?

Outgrown toys, clothes, furniture. Stuff that you no longer need or use. I would suggest pricing the stuff to sell quickly. There is a buyer for most everything. I sold my old snow tires and wheels the same day I posted them.

Old gold jewelry can also produce some cash for you. What about those books that you read over the summer? Find a used bookstore or use Craig's List.

One more thing: Christmas and Hanukkah are not about "things"! They are about people, those we love!