When (economic) times are tough, maybe the tough don't necessarily go shopping (then again, maybe they do—see #3), but they can certainly enjoy the holidays without the doom and gloom that comes with a little belt-tightening. Whether you're looking to save a few bucks or make a little extra, read on for some unconventional tips on how to make the best of the season, even during difficult times.

1. Throw a Party

When companies slash their budgets, holiday parties are the first things to go. It might seem counterintuitive, but inviting a bunch of friends/acquaintances/colleagues over is the cheapest — and most fun — way to ring in the season. Here's how:

• Uncork some wine, set out glasses, and let guests serve themselves. Contrary to popular belief, there are tons of high-end, delicious wines available in the $10-20 per bottle range.
• Serve cheap—yet chic—appetizers: things like baked pita chips, crudite, and different varieties of hummus look gourmet without the gourmet price tag. Decorative bowls are knives are found dirt-cheap in the discount bin of your local department or Dollar store.
• DJ's are so 1990's: in the era of the iPod, it costs next to nothing to have your guests rockin' out!

2. Negotiate

Every high-level business executive will attest to the fact that everything in life is negotiable:

• Call your credit card companies and negotiate lower interest rates
• Check in with your landlord. In an economic downturn, he or she doesn't want to lose good/reliable tenants. Use that to your advantage and renegotiate a lower monthly rent.
• Donald Trump, Jr. — my friend and real estate mogul in the making — told me that his advice to anyone who's been hit head-one with the housing mortgage crisis is, "Don't just sit back and accept defeat. Negotiate directly with the bank. It's a huge pain, and expensive, for a bank to foreclose on a home, and they're willing to work with you."

3. Go Shopping

According to wardrobe consultant Dale Sudakoff, having tons of style doesn't mean shelling out tons of cash. For the stylish consumer who wants to rein in the holiday spending, she recommends the website Shopittome.com: once you sign up, it proactively sends you (via email alerts) clothing that matches your size and brand preferences as soon as it goes on sale online. It's a win-win situation — you don't have to spend hours trolling for bargains and can still buy great presents for all your favorite people this holiday season (ahem, including yourself, of course!).

4. Pack Your Lunch (It's Better for Your Wallet...and Your Waistline)
According to nutritionist and dietician Alexa Fishback, author of the forthcoming The Daily Fix, going grocery shopping and packing your own healthy lunch (and foregoing that Thai takeout with your co-workers) can save you hundreds of dollars a year, not to mention hundreds, or even thousands, of calories. Really motivated? Take a few extra minutes every day and pack up a couple of healthy snacks (nuts, fruit, veggies and dip, fiber crackers, etc.) to avoid spending those daily dollars on your mid-afternoon slump snack at the vending machine or deli down the street.

5. While You're At It, Hoof (or Bike) It

It's as easy as making the decision to walk or bike the store or work in the morning, and the advantages are threefold: you'll save all that gas money, make a contribution to the "green" movement, and get some exercise to boot.

A quick online search will direct you to where to find used bikes in your area, and sneakers are available, well, everywhere!

6. Travel

With 65 million Americans hitting the road during the holidays, it would only be described as Scrooge-like to stay put. Here's how to travel like a princess on a pauper's budget:

• Sing up for fare alerts and last-minute airline travel deals and discounts from hotels and resorts, which abound. If you're flexible, you'll be on your way to warmer climes in no time!
• Kayak.com is the best clearing house for hotels, cars, and flights. Plug in your cities and dates and they calculate from the very cheapest to the most expensive, using every single other source out there (e.g., Expedia, Orbitz, etc.) in an easy-to-follow grid.
• Luxurylink.com is the way to do a high-end vacation for a third of the price. Happy hunting!

7. Rent Out Your Pad

Whether you live in Altoona or Manhattan, there are always people looking for a room(s) at the inn, especially around the holidays. Utilize Craigslist, or any number of websites that offer posts of local housing, or put up flyers at local business, to advertise your space. If you're not stranger-adverse, rent just a room and stay at home as a hostess. If you prefer, crash with a friend and pocket the extra cash!

8. Earn Extra Money

If slinging drinks or dog-walking isn't your idea of a good time, you can still earn a little extra holiday cash. Try:

• Undercover shopping. You can make up to $20 an hour checking out the customer service chops of workers at big stores. Check out MysteryShop.org for a list of FTC-approved opportunities.
• Sit in a focus group. You can earn anywhere from $75 to $500 for two to three hours of work participating in a focus group for market research firms, which use average people to give their opinions on every consumer product out there. Head to AdvancedFocus.com or Greenbook.org for a list of companies — sign up for a few to increase your odds of getting picked.

9. Don't Give, Give Back

This holiday season, instead of showering each other with gifts as we usually do — and spending astronomical amounts of money that we don't have in the process — my family came together and agreed that we would buy just one small gift for each person and then as a family spend two days of the holiday week doing volunteer work. Our charity of choice? Habitat For Humanity.

10. Trim the Fat: Unlike Suze Orman, we're not going to tell you to deprive yourself of your daily latte or weekly manicure if that's what you love. However, cutting out a few little holiday frivolities can save you big time. For instance, you don't need wrapping paper — instead, do what my friend does: cut pretty pages out of magazines and then use those to wrap presents down the line. And forget greeting cards: they can run between $2 and $5 each. This holiday season, make your own, handwritten cards for a special touch.