Ask Liz Weston

Some things are a real waste of money, like appetizer trays from the supermarket or deli. (What, you can’t chop a few vegetables?)

Other expenditures may seem like splurges, but are well worth the money. Here are my nominations; feel free to add yours in the comments.

Valet parking at the mall in December. They could charge me $20 or even more, and I’d think it was a bargain to avoid the endless circling looking for a parking spot. So far, though, the most I’ve paid is $8 plus a tip, and many places charge less.

Oil changes. I used to do this myself—yuck. Now my trusted mechanic does it, and checks all the tanks and belts and other do-dads while he’s at it. He also has to dispose of the oil properly, another yucky task I’m happy to delegate.

Date night. Even when money was tight, hubby and I went out to eat once in awhile. There’s something about being out of the house, where we weren’t constantly reminded of all the chores we had to do, that helped us relax and focus on each other. Now that we have a kid, date night is even more important.

Preventative care and screenings. We have a high-deductible health insurance policy, which means we pay out of pocket for a lot of our health care. I don’t enjoy shelling out huge wads of money when a trip to Paris isn’t involved, but my mom died of a cancer that could have been detected and cured with a simple screening. So spend it we do.

Charitable donations. MSN contributor Donna Freedman has written frequently about how important she feels it is to give, even on her super-tight student budget. Through thick and thin, we’ve tried to keep up our giving, as well. This year, we feel especially blessed, and it’s been fun to involve our daughter in our end-of-the-year donation decision-making. (She likes cheetahs, so some of our contributions will be going to a cheetah preservation fund.) We’re also making a donation to Heifer.org, so I get to say, “I’m getting a water buffalo for Christmas!”

Whatever holiday you celebrate, may you have a joyous and peaceful one and a happy new year.

Some gifts are guaranteed to cost the recipient a small fortune (like, say, gaming systems). Others can offer a thrifier 2010. Here are my five nominations for the best money-saving gift ideas:

A better carry-on bag. The right roll-on can help you avoid checked baggage fees, which now run $15 and up at virtually all airlines (JetBlue and Southwest are two exceptions). But the wrong one will leave you blocking the aisle, trying to stuff a too-big, too-heavy bag into a crowded overhead. My vote: The Delsey Helium Fusion Expandable Suiter Trolley, which I’ve owned for more than a year and absolutely love. It’s inexpensive (around $80), lightweight and tough, with a basic built-in suiter that allows me to keep jackets and pants from getting too wrinkled. Consumer Reports liked it, too.

Sandwich and snack wraps. I like the selection offered by ResuseableBags.com, which range from clear to colorful. Made of cloth or non-leaching plastic, these cost about $5 to $8 each and replace throw-away plastic bags and wraps.

Rechargeable batteries. Now that our house is littered with Leapsters and other battery-operated toys, I’ve finally seen the light and started using rechargeable batteries. I like this Energizer charging gizmo for $20 that plugs into any outlet and allows you to shut off the charger.

A subscription to ShopSmart. This is Consumer Reports’ answer to Real Simple. ShopSmart magazine is a nicely designed synopsis of CR recommendations, with a “Buy this! Don’t buy that!” spin and a tagline of “No hype. No ads. Just great buys.” I especially like the fashion feature in each issue, where noted stylists offer their advice on how to update your wardrobe for less. A subscription is $18 for six annual issuers.

The right crock pot. Not eating out can save a ton of money, but many people are too tired after work to think about cooking. The solution: a crock pot, which allows you to start a meal in the morning and have it ready when you come home. You’ll want one with electronic controls that allow you to delay cooking and automatically reset to “warm” when the cooking is done. Unfortunately, too many slow cooker these days aren’t; the manufacturers have set them to heat up too fast, so you’ll want to read user reviews before you buy. I like the Hamilton Beach Set ‘n Forget model, which retails for $60 to $70.

I knew I liked Ron Lieber. He clearly dislikes gift cards as much as I do.

His recent New York Times column “Redeem all of gift card, or give store a present,” discusses the incredible $5 billion lost each year to “breakage,” or the amount of money put on gift cards that never gets spent.

His article is more circumspect than my MSN rant, “Gift cards are the new fruitcake,” but we make the same points. And the advice is the same: if you get one of these buggers, spend it fast, before the store goes out of business or fees eat up what’s left.

photo credit: christopher.woo

The countdown to the holidays has begun, and if you’re like most people you’re trying not to spend a fortune this year. If the usual “make a pretty basket of soaps!” advice isn’t cutting it, here are some suggestions that might work for you:

Start later. Shopping all year round can help you snag some pretty good deals, but typically, the longer you shop, the more you spend. Retailers have been saving their biggest discounts until late in the season, so if you can stand to wait, consider doing the bulk of your shopping in one concentrated burst later in the season. (One example: DealNews.com says high-end, name-brand flat-screen LCD TVs were 8%-12% cheaper last December than at any point in November, including Black Friday and Cyber Monday.) Free shipping offers start to get scarce about a week before Christmas, but DealNews CEO Dan de Grandpre predicts you may be able to find free shipping as late as Dec. 22 or 23 at some sites. If you opt to do your shopping last minute at the mall, be sure to bring your helmet and pads.

Have the talk. The easiest way to trim costs is to trim the gift exchange. Many families buy gifts only for the kids, or pull names from a hat, or gang up to buy more expensive presents (which is a great approach for teenagers, mothers-in-law and other picky recipients). Suggest to friends that you bypass presents in favor of experiences—coffee out, a pedicure together, a movie and popcorn.

Use your rewards. Most credit cards these days have some kind of rewards program attached. You may be able to can use your rewards points to buy merchandise, gift cards and magazine subscriptions. If you’re feeling really generous, you can use frequent traveler points to get someone a free night at a hotel, a free airplane ticket or an upgrade to first class.

No “Secret Santas.” The recession should have killed this half-baked notion of buying presents for co-workers and others whose tastes and proclivities you shouldn’t be expected to know. If not, counter with a better idea: the white elephant gift exchange, which is at least fun for all participants. Set a low limit on the amount that can be spent ($10 is good, $5 is better), put the gifts in a pile and give each person a chance to pick. Each subsequent person can pick from the pile or steal from the previous pickers. Hilarity ensues.

Give heirlooms. Don’t wait until you’re dead to pass on family jewelry, china, photos or Great Uncle Phil’s banjo-playing taxidermied frogs. Declutter while you’re still around to enjoy the reaction.